I'll just say I kinda get where the OP is coming from... I'm a small dude (5'5" 130 lbs) and tried on the jeans of a girl I was dating back in 2k7 or so, some 7s. They were unadorned, the only real giveaway was the small pockets.
2 things - the lycra content and low rise - the lycra really is cheating in a way. But it just had an instant 'rock-starred' out vibe. I wore chick jeans for maybe 6 months, just a couple pairs picked up used from a Buffalo Exchange, until I bought a pair of NPC standards, which had the fit mostly down for me and were stretchy, but not the rise. Eventually got some Somet 003s which has the low rise, and the fit mostly (decided I don't like super slim in the legs). After so much time though, decided a bit higher rise is better. But yeah, now I have 4 pairs of $200-300 jeans and wouldn't go back, all tag sized 27 - 29". They work way better than any of the girl jeans did, which really just killed my nads after a long day. Only skimmed the beginning of the thread but I'll just throw out that there probably are reasonably priced options from companies like Uniqlo and Cheap Monday.