A reader wrote me a query recently: Something I have been struggling with lately is buying a good pair of jeans. I’m a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy, but some of my stand by jeans are now wearing out and when I look at American Eagle type places they all have those pre-fab holey jeans, and I refuse to into an Abercrombie & Fitch. Thoughts? Thanks for the question CC.
The world of jeans is so vast it’s scary. I don’t blame you or anyone else on the planet unable to find their go-to jeans brand on a regular basis. I have a couple things to say before I make a few recommendations:
1. Every man has a different shape and size. A lot of jeans won’t fit you and that’s normal. Try a couple pairs on in different stores and you’ll see differences in brands.
2. Go for a dark wash (coloring). It’s classic, slimming and can be casual or dressed up a bit. A light wash might make you look like a cast member of Saved By The Bell…so, don’t do it, Preppy.
3. There are TONS of super expensive jeans…I say you can find awesome quality jeans at a reasonable price. Consider paying $40-80 for a good pair of jeans that you’ll have for many years (instead of $20 jeans that you’ll have for one year).
4. Find a sale on the jeans you like–$60 can become $40 with coupons or seasonal discounts.
A few I like:
Levi’s Loose Straight 569® Jeans in Blue Steel $40
(previously mentioned in the blog post on Details Magazine Alternatives)
Gap’s Selvage Authentic Fit Dark Rinse $88 (Other Authentic Fits go for only $50 too)
(also: I wouldn’t usually recommend cuffs like this photo)
I’m a huge fan of the Levi’s 514. I own a lot of jeans, and I pretty much only wear my 514s. I have three different pairs (all towards the darker end of the spectrum) and I couldn’t be happier. They don’t have the same flair as some other jeans out there have, but they’re nice and reliable, without being dumpy.
http://us.levi.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3634466&cp=3146842.3146844.3146854.3691994.3195585
I had the exact same problem! I have purchased 1 pair of American Eagle jeans every year for many years (and worn them every day, more or less). But last year I went in and found that same thing – holes in all of their jeans.
I ended up buying the least-holey pair I could find. I actually just patched the one “fashion hole” that was in them, as it had gotten pretty big.
Once I leave the house to buy clothes, I’m not doing it again for at least six months, so I better come home with something.
I like Levi’s 559. They are “relaxed straight” rather than the “loose straight” fit of the 569. My old pair (5 years?) are still in wearable condition with no holes, but they have a couple permanent stains. I was afraid they didn’t make them anymore, but after looking a little harder I bought a new pair just the other day.
I have had other jeans that I really liked too, but if I wear them a few years I have a hard time finding a replacement. It’s nice with Levi’s to have models that are constant over time, and to not kill half a day looking for something that fits.