Gorgeous New, More Affordable Denim from A|X and a $500 A|X Gift Card Giveaway

I got a sweet opportunity recently. I got to go on a shopping spree with a $500 A|X gift card so I could check out the new Premium Denim collection and share what my shopping experience was like. Normally, Jennine would do this sort of thing since she’s The Coveted Fashion Editor. But she’s in Germany where there aren’t any A|X stores so I was the lucky shopper. And now you have the chance to win your own $500 A|X gift card so you can have a shopping spree, too.

My Visit
I’ve admired Armani Exchange clothes in magazines but never been to one of the stores. I have to say it was a wonderful experience and not just because I had $500 to spend (although that certainly makes shopping more fun anywhere). I found lots of great items so I had a tough time choosing which pieces to get. But I left with a really good haul, because their new denim starts at $98 and they were having a sweet sale.

I got three pairs of jeans, lots of cool tops, a jacket, and even a beach towel. I also got discount cards to use at a later date when I bought the full-price jeans so I’ll be headed back soon.

What I Liked
• Fit. The jeans fit really well and were very comfortable. I was a little worried when I saw how form-fitting all the jeans were. I tend to wear looser jeans normally. But I was delighted to find they accommodated my “real woman” curves and ample hips and derrière. A lot of times jeans fit me in the hips and butt but are too big in the waist. This wasn’t the case with these jeans. And I didn’t feel like I looked stuffed in like sausage. The fit made me feel sexy.
• Details. I really liked the detailing on the jeans, like the wings on the back pockets of one of the pairs I bought (in photo on the left toward the top).
• Tailoring. I’m pretty tall at 5’10”; but I have a long torso. My legs are actually on the shorter side so jeans tend to run long on me. These were even longer than I was used to. Fortunately, they offer tailoring for free or $10, depending on what kind of finish you want.
• The Look. Personally, I’m not too keen on things with a lot of branding on them. There was definitely a lot of that on lots of the clothes. But I still found many other options I really liked and pieces with subtle branding that I liked – like the jeans with the wings on the pockets.
• Deals. I got a lot of bang for my buck on the new denim, which are a lot less than comparable jeans from Diesel and G Star, and because there were so many good deals in the sale section. Seriously, I got a jacket for $39.
• Accessories. I was really tempted by the purses and surprised to find most of them were only $98. In the end, I decided to go with more tops since I just bought two purses recently.
• Service. The staff was very friendly and helpful – not just to me but to all the customers. They helped me figure out what would look best on me and made great suggestions on things to try.

The New Premium Denim Collection
The new premium collection starts at $98. The jeans come in a variety of washes (light, dark, and destruction), in sizes petite 0 through 14 (short or regular). There are three fits:

• J57 Straight: low rise, classic fit, straight leg with a touch of spandex for stretch. I got two pairs of these – one from the new collection (in the photo above on the left, second from the bottom) and a lighter wash from a previous collection (I’m wearing them in the photo above, at top left).
• J11 Skinny: low rise, slim fit, skinny leg. Unfortunately, they didn’t have these in my size so I didn’t get to try these.
• J24 Boot: regular rise, classic fit, boot leg with a slight flare. I got one pair of these – the ones with the wings on the pockets. Even though they don’t stretch like the J57s, I felt really comfortable in them.

The J57 Straight and J24 Boot are my favorites. As I mentioned above, they fit really well. The rise on them is lower than I’m used to; but I like the change of pace. They would all look awesome with a pair of heels. I should’ve brought a pair to try them on with. Some A|X stores do sell some lovely heels, like the ones you see on the mannequins.

Limited-Time Promotion. You can get a $20 gift card valid on a $100 purchase or more when you purchase any full-price denim through July 15th (this Wednesday). It can be used on a future purchase between July 30th through August 15th.

Where to Get the Goods
I went to the San Francisco boutique on Union Street where they have a selection of women’s and men’s clothes and shoes. Apparently, the location downtown in the Union Square area has more stuff. I want to check out that location, too; but I’m happy I went to the Union Street store, because I really liked the intimate shopping experience. Sheila and RJ were incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable about everything. Definitely ask for them if you stop in.

To find a store in your area, check out the A|X store locator at the A|X website. You can also buy the goods online. Or check out the A|X blog for updates about the brand.

The Giveaway
You can win a $500 A|X gift card to get a haul of your own. The gift card can be used at A|X stores in the U.S. and online. You can enter two ways:

• Blog Comment: Leave a comment on our blog with the names or item numbers of the Armani Exchange Denim pieces you would buy if you won the $500 gift card. You can find names and numbers at ArmaniExchange.com.
• Tweet About It: Tweet this message: “RT @thecoveted is giving away a $500 @ArmaniExchange Gift Card! Comment or tweet to enter: http://the-coveted.com/”

Each comment and tweet counts as one registration. Each person can do up to two registrations. Entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday July 29th. Based on all entries, the winner will be chosen at random by IZEA, the company that’s organizing and managing the giveaway. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents at least 18 years old. Full contest rules are available here. IZEA will notify the winner between July 30th and August 15th.

More Chances to Win: There’s also a Text A|X contest, which you can also enter. You can win a pair of A|X denim every day of the month of July by texting the keyword “DENIM2” to ARMANI (276264). To get more info text A|X.

Good luck, everyone!

Do Tell
What do you think of the goods? Do tell.