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A Rant About Current Jeans

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am - quite surprisingly - replenishing my denim capsule although I am so much more into trousers.

Okay. Back to the point. I'm looking at premium denim and prepared to pay a high price. I have been fitting on all sorts of jeans over the last week - BF, relaxed styles and slouchy skinnies - and I am disappointed in the fabric. All the styles are made of that soft stretchy jeggings denim fabric and not stiff and crisp at all.

I like the feel and look of good old fashioned classic denim. Hard, thick and with little stretch. My jeans - some of which are 9 years old - are made of this type of fabric and that's what I want.

Jeans are going to be harder to find than I thought because I don't fancy the fabric.

*SAD FACE*

and huge sigh.

Dressing

73 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

celia

Veteran

that is not fun at all.Also I think that stretchy denim doesn't last as long as the good old denim.

Thistle

Veteran

That is really bothersome, especially in the premium denim market! One would think there would be more choices and more luxurious fabrications at that price point.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It also bags out more, Celia.

Mona

Veteran

Angie, I know you are looking for premium denim but I got a pair of faded straight denim jeans from Levi's last year and I find the fabric is much more substantial and not as stretchy.

celia

Veteran

I know, and it feels much more casual as if you were wearing some leggings or corduroy pants.

(I think I better drink a tea because I am getting very bitter about denim this days )

Anonymous

Hear hear! I miss good thick cotton denim also. While I do think stretch denim has its place, sometimes you just want real jeans!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Exactly, Ceit.

Mona, I would LOVE to get a pair of Levis 501s but they don't make them in women's sizes anymore. But I'll check out Levis at Macys. Thanks!

Anonymous

Yes, I am going to try some men's jeans I think, as it is easier to get 100% thick denim, but it's hard to find a men's cut that works.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Agreed. That's one of the reasons I'm glad I can sew my own jeans. I have some very nice, non-stretch denim waiting to made into a proper pair of jeans.

Good luck with your search, Angie!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Angie, I hear you!!

Stretchy denim is great if you want a body con legging look. Even there, I much prefer the more substantial ones to the thin ones that seem to show every lump and bump, even if you don't have bumps.

But for a slouchy skinny look, nothing beats a real non-stretch denim!! I LOVE my BR slouchy skinnies, which have no stretch whatsoever. But they are two years old and no longer available. And they are very distressed, which isn't always the look I'm after.

I would love to find something similar without the distressing.

Please let us know if you find something that works for you! I, too, would be willing to pay for exactly what I am after.

Mochi

Veteran

Gap 1969 Sexy Boyfriend. Just one for starters. I'm on iPhone so hard to link right now, but can maybe investigate further later. Signed, Queen Keyword

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I will Suz. I need to try BR again too - the last time I was there with clients trying jeans was Dec. And I want a low rise - so much stuff is mid to higher rise these days. I know I am in the minority for preferring a lower rise, so that's why they are scarce!

Lucky you, Amy!

Ceit, I have tried mens jeans many times and I can't find a pair small enough - even when I wear them slouchy and baggy. And boys jeans are far too short.

I have those already, Nancy. They are cropped. Thanks though

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I hear you Angie! This is my issue with Gap long & lean. Love the fit of the jeans but by the end of the day, they are all bagged out. And nobody wants a droopy behind (unless it's on purpose!).

I have found the fabric of the Canyon River Blues slouchy skinnies to be more along the line of what I prefer - they don't bag out and they are more substantial. But I have yet to find that same fabrication in any other make.

Wishing you all sorts of luck and let us know when you find the perfect pair!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I agree, jeans should be made in sturdy fabric with only a little give. Anything else bags out too much, or reveals more than I'm interested in sharing! I generally prefer mine to be straight legged, mid rise and dark wash, but I have started dreaming of a more faded version for Spring/Summer after today's blog post.

Jamie

Veteran

I hear you! I love my new AG jeans, but even that fabric is not as substantial as I would have expected. Great jeans, though, so I'm not complaining. Keep us posted!

Anonymous

Ah, Angie.... Yes, the fabrics are very flimsy.
The only ones I have seen that still have that sturdier jean feel are American Eagle, but I suspect the rise would not be of your liking.
I actually like the softer fabric but yes, I need my stronger denim too.

nancylee

Veteran

Angie, I'm so glad you posted this complaint. I've been finding the same! Recently, I ordered a pair of my beloved Paige Hidden Hills denim, but when they arrived they were made of the thin, stretchy jeggings fabric you describe and not the nice sturdy denim of my other Paige jeans.

I like a skinny/straight look, but (like Suz said) I don't want them painted onto my legs so every bump shows.

Diana

Veteran

Amen!

I don't usually even look at jeans unless they are no more than 2% spandex. I hate the super stretchy fabric, I think it provides no structure at all. My old Kut jeans are a decent fabric, 2% spandex, a bit too stretchy but also pretty thick and sturdy. I tried some of the colored ones last fall and they still seemed to be decent.

I am also annoyed by how nobody seems to make skinny/slim jeans with a 32" or longer inseam anymore. They are all 29-30", at best 31" (which on me is just barely long enough with no scrunch). At this point almost all my skinnies can only be worn with boots or booties. I want some scrunch!

ETA: I am keeping an eye on ebay to see when my old favorite jeans styles (from a few years ago) pop back up. For example, my old Lucky sweet n low bootcuts are fab but I hate the fabric of the new ones, so I'm hoping my exact style (from 5 years ago) turns up there. Ditto with my Vince skinnies.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am thinking that maybe this is one of the troubles with being ahead of the curve. When skinnies first came in, manufacturers must have gone crazy looking for exactly the right amount and kind of stretch to make the jeans work for a tucked into the boot, sleek breeches effect. And that is one reason for a slightly higher rise, too...it's not only muffin top, but if you're wearing tall boots it helps the jeans to stay up instead of creep down as you walk.

So now the styles are shifting and our taste is moving towards a looser fit....but the stretchy fabrics simply do not work for that!

I have a pair of Bleulab reversible legging jeans that I really love --- they are so comfortable to wear and quite substantial in their way because they do have the reversible component. (Substantial enough that I do not wear them except in fall/ winter and early spring because they're too warm for me otherwise.) But as legging jeans, they have a lot of stretch.

I found them in a silver that I just loved. But they didn't have my size -- only two sizes up. I thought I would try them in the hope they might work as slouchy skinnies. But no. With the stretch, they still clung to me, even though they were large, and they just ended up looking like wrinkled elephant skin. NOT a good look!

For slouchy, for relaxed, we need less stretch.

Anonymous

Thank you for posting that, Angie. it's great to hear your opinion that the thin, stretchy denim isn't as wonderful as the marketers make it out to be. I would love to see the thicker, harder-wearing denim make a comeback.

nancylee

Veteran

Suz, I'm laughing the "wrinkled elephant skin" reference...that's an image I'll remember for a long time!

Diana, amen on the short inseams. I'm not even that tall and I'm finding so many pants are skimpy length-wise. It really does limit the wearing possibilities.

Diana

Veteran

I know, right, Nancy? For goodness' sake, I am 5'3.5" and technically petite. Yes, I have long legs but what in the world do tall ladies with long legs do????

Glory

Veteran

This rant brings forth my confession and rationale on why I have so many toppers (way too many to count) and a handful of bottoms. I don't even really try anymore. However doesn't Levi's offer custom made fitting? I may have misheard but I was under the impression that there are several places in the US that take the measurements and construct a pair for you.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Angie, you might look for "raw" denim. I don't know if it is as big for women, but it's a pretty good trend in men's jeans. It is supposed to start out hard and stiff and slooooowly mold and shape and fade as you wear them. It's kind of an artsy concept meant to record your life in the denim... but at least it should be less jegging-like.
http://www.highsnobiety.com/20.....raw-denim/

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, here's some for women:
http://www.rawrdenim.com/2012/.....for-women/

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Rae. Raw denim is nice and stiff but not faded :(. I used to wear it 10 years ago. But I bat for Team Faded because I like light blue.

Nancy and Diana, this is the age of the cropped pant - and I'm 5ft 6. It's a mare.

Suz, I bet retailers and buyers believe they are doing us a favour making almost all jeans out of this soft stretchy fabric. I wonder if it sells really well - and people like me are in the minority. I'd love that information.

Zap, you are right and I have tried AE (I actually like their fit) - and everything is cropped at the moment. I want to scream these cropped lengths are driving me insane. And it's only going to get worse as we head into Summer.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Oh, yes, welcome to my world! I can fully sympathize. Although we find the search disheartening for different reasons, the sentiments are the same. *sigh sigh sigh*

I have another problem which I mentioned on another thread these days - what is with all this low-rise jeans? I have noticed that many stores cleverly include the rise even on the name of the style, some web sites have it as parameter in search criteria, which at least helps dismiss many of the styles form consideration - but that leaves me personally with pretty much nothing to choose from.

K. Period.

Veteran

Angie, I so sympathize. I've also been pretty disappointed in premium denim lately. I tried on a lot in every brand that I had available in shops around me and couldn't find any with the structure that I wanted. I've really liked all of my JCrew jeans that I've bought recently, but all are stretchy, and the faded versions are online only so I have no idea about denim weight.

I've been working very hard to lose extra weight from having the kiddos and was finally able to fit into some old jeans a month or so ago. Old Earl brand jeans. I was amazed by how much more substantial the denim was. They only had 2% spandex, so just enough to add a tiny bit of ease. Comparing them to my other jeans, though, the fabric seems so stiff that it could almost stand on its own. That's what premium denim used to be.

Do you think the washing process that they are using nowadays is a big contributor to the floppiness factor? I've noticed that faded denim anymore always has that "worn so much it is almost ready to fray" feeling to it. Nice in some ways, but I just look at it and think, this is going to be worn out by next year. Like you, I bat for team long term, so transient jeans purchases aren't for me. *Sigh*

Sara L.

Veteran

So odd about the 501's. I could have sworn when I was in Kohl's two weeks ago looking at jeans that they had 501's for women. The only reason I didn't try them on was that they all seemed to be boot cut and I was looking for straight leg. I just went online to check though and I must have been wrong, because, as Angie says, they only have them for men.

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