Zhao Zhen loves her light blue jeans that she bought four years ago in Edinburgh.

"They cost me nearly 170 pounds ($266). But Levi's are rarely sold in China, so I paid the money without any hesitation," the 27-year-old Beijinger says.

She's just one of millions of Chinese people who are turning to denim because of its fashionable status and cultural connections to the United States.

Zhao's jean collection ranges from the frumpy to the feminine and everything in between — from A-line jean skirts to skinny, straight and boyfriend cut; from black, sky blue to snow-washed.

"I've been attracted to jean stores since I went to university. I didn't have to wear a high school uniform, which enabled me to show myself off freely in different outfits," explains Zhao, who studied at Edinburgh University and now works at a Beijing publishing company.

Zhao learned her fashion theories from magazines and TV programs, but reckons she has her own style, especially when it comes to jeans.

"My whole fashion concept is to learn something new about jeans and how to match with other clothes, shoes and bags. It's a very natural feeling for me, like my second skin. It's my character."

For instance, she pairs a plain white shirt with a pair of skinny black jeans; or cuts straight blue jeans into a pair of shorts; or sews some bright colored buttons along the pockets of another pair of jeans.

There are more than 150 pairs of jeans in her closet, some bought from street fashion stores for 200 yuan ($29), while some from brand-name stores such as Replay, DKNY and Diesel cost up to 2,000 yuan.

"For me, jeans are suitable for any occasion and go harmoniously with other clothes, such as casual T-shirts and serious suits," she says.