In search of quality jeans...

[torpid]

Lately I've purchased a lot of new shirts. They vary from $20 band t-shirts to wacky designer shirts. All of my shirts look good with jeans as far as I can tell. But I still really only have a couple of pairs of jeans. And they are super cheap levis from target.

While I don't mind paying $80 for a nice shirt, I'm not willing to pay $300 for a pair of jeans. Especially because I am slowly losing weight.

What is the difference between $20 and $300 jeans aside from looks anyway? Is the denim more sturdy? I manage to rip or mangle $20 jeans within a few months many times.

What are some good online places for bulk beef^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H jeans? My GF keeps trying to send me to hot topic but I'm unconvinced. I am sure there are jeans in the $50-100 range that are really high quality and look exceptional. I just have no idea where to look.

Those of you who buy one step up from department store jeans... where do you go / shop?

 

[dullard]

I've tried Banana Republic for the last 2 years (3 pair). My conclusions:
1) I've never had compliments on jeans before, now I get them. People just like that look.
2) These things cost almost $80 and don't last even half as long as a pair of $20 jeans. What a ripoff.

 

[mugs]

I'm a big fan of the Ralph Lauren jeans at Costco ($20).
Also have a pair of Lucky Jeans from Costco that I like ($30).
Express Men and H&M are good places for jeans in the styles that would be worn by someone who wears shirts like those. H&M is a lot cheaper than Express Men.

For inexpensive trendy clothes online, check http://www.bluefly.com.

:thumbsup: on the ^Hs.

 

[jhayx7]

I as well have been purchasing BR jeans. You do have to take more care with these jeans it seems. Make sure to wash them on a delicate cycle with Woolite for darks, tumble dry on low. The denim seems to be softer and wears easier.

My wife buys jeans from a designer jean shop in town. They are expensive as all hell but it shows off her assets better than a pair of GAP or Levis

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm a big fan of the Ralph Lauren jeans at Costco ($20).

I :heart: my Ralph Lauren jeans from CostCo :thumbsup:

 

[K1052]

I buy Old Navy/Gap/BR jeans exclusively now since they are the only decent looking jeans that I can get in comfortable sizes (I'm a short/skinny bastard).

They do seem to wear faster than my old Levis but they actually fit right and look better.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: jhayx7
I as well have been purchasing BR jeans. You do have to take more care with these jeans it seems. Make sure to wash them on a delicate cycle with Woolite for darks, tumble dry on low. The denim seems to be softer and wears easier.

Sweet lord, the delicate cycle for jeans? :Q

 

[Tiamat]

I've found that certain really expensive jeans aren't really all that. The material sometimes just doesn't feel as comfortable.

In any case, I typically stick with the 40-80$ range (Levi 567) for decent jeans, AE (20-40$) for jeans that I expect to run down in a few months. Lucky brand is priced just beyond Levi in some cases,Levi has premium jeans priced $100-200, other than that, Citizens of Humanity etc. are ok. Problem is as the price goes up, its tougher to find "clean, cut" jeans that dont have bullsh1t rips, odd blemishes, etc.

Barney's New York should have plenty of 100-200$ range jeans for you to check out.

 

[deerslayer]

I can't justify spending more than $35 on a pair of jeans when I know I'm going to end up staining them or ripping them within a month.

I doubt the more expensive jeans are more durable, but I have no experience with them. Just speculation.

 

[RossMAN]

What's the average life for a pair of jeans?

 

[cherrytwist]

My wife bought me a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch khakis that fit so well, I decided to try their jeans.

Since, I've bought a couple of pairs of A&F jeans and they are by far the most comfortable jeans I own.

The first pair lasted a good 5-7 years with moderate wear without any big rips or tears.

 

[vi edit]

I like my Gap boot cut jeans. Comfortable, look good, and were inexpensive. I wear one pair almost exclusively and in a years time after 50 or so washes they look "like new".

Not bad for $25.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: mugs
I'm a big fan of the Ralph Lauren jeans at Costco ($20).

I :heart: my Ralph Lauren jeans from CostCo :thumbsup:

Add me to that as well. :thumbsup:

 

[Lola]

I love clothes and i have to say, i have never spent more than $50 on a pair of jeans.
I think each brand is different and looks better on certain people... some jeans run small, some run large. depending on your stature and the like, they will look and feel different.

For me (not that it matters unless someone is emo ) i love Hollister jeans. They are really the only ones (cheap) that fit right in the places that need to fit. i.e. butt, thighs and waist.

I just got a pair of jeans though from Victorias Secret and they are really nice too. I tried on a pair of Lucky jeans and even some really expensive ones (~$200) and i hated the way they looked.

My whole thing is that its the way a person WEARS the jeans. the person should make the clothes, not vice verse.
I have jeans from 7 years ago that i still love and wear. They are filled with holes and rips, but they are still comfortable and i love them. (those were the $35 jeans too)

 

[0roo0roo]

unless its hand made in some fancy place they are all selling you the same stuff made in china. not that its a bad thing...jean technology is err pretty much sorted out...

 

[murphy55d]

I always have a tough time finding jeans that aren't too long. I wear a 32/30 but depending on the company sometimes its 32/28. Anyway I found that American Eagle Loose Fit jeans fit me best, and are pretty comfortable. They're like 30-35 bucks.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's the average life for a pair of jeans?

My three pairs of levi's have lasted me 5 years so far with only wear at the bottom of the legs due to them being just slightly too long.

I had some (2 pairs) old navy jeans that only lasted 1 year.

I had 1 pair of AE jeans and they lasted about 6 months.


By "lasted" I mean started showing significant wallet wear, cellphone wear, etc. to teh point of developing holes.

 

[Descartes]

I think the main thing is just finding a good fit. You could buy $300 that don't fit your body shape and end up looking horrible.

For me, Banana Republic and Diesel (I buy them at Macy's, I think) seem to fit the best. I get a lot of compliments from women on them, especially these antiqued looking jeans I have from Banana Republic.

Nicer jeans just look better. I don't know enough about jeans to know why, but the material just looks a lot classier and more interesting to me.

 

[Kirby]

I usually stick to AE and Old Navy. Fairly cheap and decent looking. I've got a pair of ON jeans that I've had since 8th grade. They're torn to hell, but they're so soft and comfy.

 

[Justin218]

I like the wacky designer shirt, where is that from? I just get gap boot cut jeans because they seem to fit me better than any other brand I've tried. I'm a slim guy though.
edit: I found it, english laundry, cross on the back kills it for me though

 

[Chryso]

You aren't paying for the jeans. You are paying for the tag.

 

[torpid]

Thanks for the tips.

I believe the cross is a greek one and not the standard christian one. I could be wrong though, I'll check when I get home.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's the average life for a pair of jeans?

I can't say I've ever had a pair of jeans wear out. The bottoms get frayed if they're too long, and one of my 3 pairs of Costco RL jeans has a hole in the leg from when I snagged it while climbing over a fence. But other than that, all the jeans I currently wear are about 4 years old and look fine. I don't take any special care of them. I wash them in warm or hot water with Costco's industrial strength laundry detergent (the powdered stuff that comes in a huge bucket; I reserve it for jeans, socks, underwear, and undershirts - the clothes I'm not worried about ruining). I dry them with high heat.

Most jeans get better with age. The only reason I stop wearing a pair of jeans is if they don't fit me or they go out of style.

 

[imported_Imp]

I've had my best luck with Blue Notes and Point Zero. I have 4 pairs of jeans right now: 1 Blue Notes, 1 Point Zero, 1 Gap and another Blue Notes. My favourite pair is the BN and the PZ is ok when I feel like going for a 'tighter' look. The Gap looked amazing and is the most expensive, but it never fit right. Maybe cause they are too small, maybe my a*s is too big... Stopped trying after the PZ.

 

[krunchykrome]

I like American Eagle jeans.