We Tried 5 Pairs of Under-$30 Jeans That Rival Any Expensive Denim Brand

All the Ways to Wear is a monthly series where we round up the personal twists the Who What Wear team is putting on one particular item, style, or trend. Whether it's the trending denim of the moment or the season's It print, we hope to inspire your daily outfits and up the cost per wear on some of our favorite items.

When it comes to denim, I'm unapologetically picky for good reason. There are a lot of boxes to tick off when searching for the perfect pair of jeans. You have to find a rise that fits just right around the hips and waist, a wash that says, "I've been through things but not too many things," and a fabric that has a bit of stretch but doesn't come anywhere near jeggings territory. (Side note: Remember jeggings?)

With fall shopping at the top of my mind, I've been on the lookout for new, preferably affordable denim. I'd heard good things about the styles from Walmart's Free Assembly, so I finally decided to try a pair of its under-$30 jeans and even enlisted some other WWW team members to do the same. We all got pretty excited about the denim outfits we put together, but we were even more excited about the brand's commitment to sustainability. Free Assembly uses mostly organic cotton and washing techniques that encourage reduced water usage. It's the same care and consideration we expect from premium denim brands minus the hefty price tag. I mentioned that all of the denim we tried is under $30, right? It's pretty cool, as are our outfits if I do say so myself.

Anneliese Dominguez, Editor

"As far as fall fashion goes, I like to keep it classic. Think blazers, black boots, shoulder bags, and most importantly, a really good pair of jeans. (Wide-leg and straight-leg currently have my heart.) For this specific look, I paired my denim with the fashion piece everyone should own: a crisp, white button-down. There's something about the two items paired together that just gives off an effortless feel. I guarantee I'll be wearing this outfit over and over for years to come."

Paulina Galoostian, Associate Director, Influencer Marketing

"I am five feet tall, so I was intimidated by relaxed-fit jeans at first because I didn't want to look like I was drowning in fabric. But I've learned to style them by cuffing the bottoms to my desired length. I feel like these jeans have a '90s vibe but are very sophisticated, which is why I paired them with pumps. And contrary to popular opinion, I prefer light-wash denim for the fall season."

Michaela Bushkin, Senior Fashion Editor

"I'm usually a straight-leg denim girl, but I'm kind of going through a skinny-jean phase right now. Hear me out: They look really cool with flat boots (especially the chunky lug-soled pair I'm currently obsessing over) in a way that wide-leg styles simply do not. I gravitated toward this specific pair because of the rigid-meets-stretchy fabric and the $27 price point. At the moment, I love a look that involves a simple turtleneck tucked into skinny jeans with an oversize plaid shirt layered on top."

Allyson Payer, Senior Editor

"No matter how many denim trends pop up in any given season, I always come back to straight-leg jeans. Finding a great medium-wash pair with a very high waist and a full-length leg is always my main objective in the fall. This time of year, my go-to outfit is the aforementioned jeans, a cute top, a lightweight jacket, and whatever boot trend I'm into at the moment. I particularly love that this lightweight camp shirt can easily go from summer to fall with the addition of a corduroy jacket. And to take the look from day to night, I'd just swap the lug-sole boots for a kitten heel."

Erin Fitzpatrick, Senior News Editor

"I love how the cropped length of this cardigan pairs with high-waisted jeans to create those perfect proportions. I decided to button it all the way up to show off the collar and tortoise-shell buttons. All I needed was a couple of accessories to make this a full fall-ready look, so I added some velvet Mary Janes and a printed bag."