Sure, my degree is in journalism. And I studied art history, too. But lately, my research has centered on genetics.

Or jeanetics, as the case may be.

My foray into the field began several years ago, when I discovered a pair of Seven for All Mankind jeans at T.J. Maxx for $75. This was before the premium denim craze really hit Maine, and at the time, I had never spent more than $60 on a pair of jeans. Most everything I owned cost $20 or less. But they fit like they were made for me (DNA, perhaps?), so I figured I’d give them a try.

Using my old standbys from Old Navy and the Gap as a control group, I began to experiment with the Sevens. Would they be worth the extra money? And if so, why? What beneficial traits could they possibly possess?

The answers became apparent almost immediately. The first time I walked into the kitchen in my new purchase, ShopGuy gave a very appreciative glance. “Nice jeans,” he said. This from a guy who never uttered a peep about anything from the mall.

Next, I turned my focus toward the tail end factor. Usually, after a day of wear, my Old Navy jeans displayed a droopy butt, which could only be remedied by a hot wash and dry. The Sevens, on the other hand, demonstrated no signs of sagging, even after days of wear.

The real test would come with time, however. I’m a menace to jeans – within a year’s time, they give out at the knees – and not in a sexy, “distressed” way, rather in an ’80s-era Bon Jovi way. After 21/2 years of consistent wear, my Sevens are just starting to show signs of wear.

Despite these positives, I would feel irresponsible if I did not report my negative findings. There are several dangerous and unintended side effects.

For starters, once you go premium, you can’t go back. Trust me, I’ve tried. This has become an expensive habit, which is bad news for a bargain hound like me. I can’t drive to Bar Harbor without stopping at Macey’s to try on the latest Citizens of Humanity jeans. I can’t go to Camden without popping into Emporium to ogle the True Religions and the Sevens, or Josephine to try on Citizens and J Brand. Don’t even get me started on Portland.

The retail price for these brands runs anywhere from $150 to $300. For jeans. Which is ridiculous, even if they make your butt look six sizes smaller. You can wait for them to show up at T.J.s – I just snagged a pair of Habitual jeans there for $29.99, and ShopGuy bought me a pair of Juicy Couture jeans there at Christmastime for $29.99, as well. High-end secondhand stores are also a great bet – I’ve spotted several pairs of Sevens and True Religions at American Retro in Bangor, but you can find them elsewhere if you look hard enough.

You can also buy premium denim at a discount online. Word to the wise: There are a lot of fakes out there, especially on eBay. But there is a way to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. In recent years, a slew of anti-counterfeit sites has popped up, including www.honestforum.com and my favorite, www.authenticforum.com, a message board that allows you to post pictures from online auctions. Within minutes, experts (and these gals are experts) will tell you whether or not your jeans are the real deal. That’s how I got my long-coveted Citizens of Humanity jeans in November. For under $70. These sites also provide a list of trusted online retailers, coupon codes for further savings, and advice on which size to buy.

Another side effect is that premium denim is addictive – once you start, you really can’t stop. I used to be satisfied with two or three pairs of “good jeans.” Now, I’m a bit of a collector – my original Sevens and Luckys are now joined by Juicy jeans, Habituals, Citizens of Humanity and several new Sevens.

And the addiction seems to be contagious – it doesn’t just run in families. I have now infected several of my friends and co-workers with the PD bug, and it shows signs of becoming an epidemic. I now have people calling me from T.J.s with Seven sightings.

Now for my major conclusion: My jeanetic testing proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that premium denim is worth the premium price tag. However, it must be used with prudence.

Dominant jeans

The following is a list of sources in Eastern Maine for moderate and premium denim.

Bangor

The Grasshopper Shop: Moderate brands such as Lucky and Christopher Blue (perfect for moms who don’t like the look of “mom jeans”)

Bella Luna: This boutique carries the ridiculously flattering, moderately priced Silver jeans (as seen on “Desperate Housewives”)

T.J. Maxx ‘n More and Marshalls: It’s catch as catch can, but I’ve found Seven for all Mankind (not to be confused with Seven7), Habitual, Juicy Couture, True Religion and Luckys on the racks there for rock-bottom prices.

Best Bib and Tucker: This shop has carried Christopher Blue for years.

Bar Harbor

Macey’s: This sweet boutique carries Citizens of Humanity, Silver and Christopher Blue’s younger line, Pine.

Camden

Earth Bound: This boutique carries the uberpopular Tummy Tuck jeans and Not Your Daughter’s Jeans

Emporium: This seasonal shop carries True Religion and Seven for All Mankind, in addition to several other brands.

Josephine: This destination for fashionistas carries of-the-moment denim from Citizens of Humanity, Paige Premium Denim and J. Brand (including the Lovestory flares recently featured in Vogue).

Rockland

Black Parrot: Look for Habitual in the clearance room and James Jeans in the front. A small, well-edited selection.

Scarborough

Jean Jungle: A native of The County, Carol Cronin offers almost every brand of high-end denim (and a few lower-priced brands, too) for men and women of all shapes and sizes.

Don?t worry ? be shoppy

The announcement of my departure from the BDN has caused a bit of confusion. Though I won?t be writing feature stories on a regular basis, ShopGirl lives on. So keep reading, and keep sending your questions, comments and obscure shopping requests my way. ShopGirl will continue to run in Saturday?s Lifestyle section, and I?ll update the ShopBlog regularly (http://communityv1.bangordailynews.com/blog.4). E-mail me at kandresen@bangordailynews.net, or send your queries via snail mail to Bangor Daily News, attn: ShopGirl, P.O. Box 1392, Bangor, ME 04402-1329.