In January’s “Steal of the Month” column, written by Esther Adams, actress Michelle Monaghan confesses to having a longtime love affair with denim. It began years ago when her unofficial school uniform consisted of baggy acid-washed jeans. “Madonna was a big influence then!” she told Vogue, laughing. Nowadays, the actress prefers a more polished style, like the Rag Bone denim trousers she’s seen wearing above. Her look speaks to the latest revival of jeans in their original true-blue shade, which has designers once again turning to the classic and versatile fabric and elevating it in a way that’s all their own—take, for example, Balenciaga’s indigo skinny pants or Acne s skirt. In honor of this resurgence, we tracked down the best denim pieces out there—from vests to skirts and even boots—that are all under $500.
See the slideshow above.