Sure, your $300 pair of Ed Hardy jeans are cool, but it’s time to grow up and meet the denim fanatic who offers style and value to the celebrities — designer Loren Cronk just opened his own retail shop in Greenpoint.
The Nassau Avenue shop, appropriately named LOREN, has custom pants, shorts, and even guitar straps, mostly under Cronk’s new and anticipated brands. But the big difference in these jeans is that they’re made to make you look sexy, no matter what price you’re looking for.
“Loren really understands women’s and men’s bodies,” said Williamsburg resident Guerrin Gardner, who showed up to the LOREN grand “soft” opening party last Thursday. “He strays from the stupid low-cut jeans that show of your thong, and cuts the waist high — they feel and look good.”
Cronk makes all of his garments by hand, and here’s the kicker: they’re affordable. Pairs of straight-leg, rustic jeans for men can be as low as $60, or you can order a completely custom pair like the Kings of Leon did and take the expensive route (up to $1,200).
The men’s jean, offered in a waist size of 29-34, has a slim cut and a straight leg — a favorite among hipsters, but not too skinny. The women’s jean, in sizes 0-4, has a slim cut, a tapered leg, and a rise of about six inches. You don’t need to understand thread count or weave patterns to see that they fit the body well.
Either way, you’re buying a local jean from a guy who says he “considers denim as a painter would a canvass.” And the guy’s got expertise — he’s worked with Levi Strauss and Ralph Lauren, before he broke out with the new brands that he sells in his shop: Soldier & Brave, Melody, Lips Jeans, and BLKSMTH.
LOREN [82 Nassau Ave. near Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, (646) 413-4984]. For info, visit www.lorencronk.com.
