This thread has been really interesting for me. I was sort of conflicted about these two jeans too, AJ. I wanted to like them, but somehow they do read as dated to me. But what made it really complicated for me was that I've recently been really infatuated with finding a very faded, light blue boyfriend jean with no holes or distressing. These should have been perfect, right?
Complicating it even more is that fact that I just bought a couple of pairs of AE jeans at Texstyle's suggestion that I love. They are very faded straight legs that I sized up. I'm going to post them soon. I'm waiting for a boyfriend jeans showdown between them, one pair of Current/Elliot boyfriends I ordered, a Gap pair and a few Levis pairs, including a pair of 515 bootcuts. We'll see which ones win.
So, I was trying to figure out what it was about these two that you posted that seemed ho-hum. I was surprised that I didn't like the wash when I looked at it again after reading Una's comment. Oddly, it does seem a little dated. But why? Like I said, I'm in love with lighter washes right now. I can't quite figure out why not the wash on your jeans. I think it may have to do with the contrast between the few darker bits (like around the fly) and the lighter areas. It seems a little '90s stonewashed to me. The AE faded ones that I have don't have the same high/low contrast. They are a little softer and more even.
I think another problem is that these may be labeled as straight leg, but they really are a very full straight leg. They don't just skim your thighs and calves, they are loose. They aren't just boyfriend loose, they are actually loose. I feel like more modern straight leg fits have more contour to them. They go in at your knee, and that bit of curviness in the cut is still there even when they are oversized. That shaping helps keep them feminine. I think a straight leg can work as a boyfriend jean. It just has to be a modern, contoured straight leg.
Finally, I agree that the rear view is a little long and a little mom-ifying. I had this problem with one pair of the Current/Elliot jeans that I ordered and tried on. DH just took one look at the rear view, told me they gave me long butt and I turned right around and took them off. I don't have a great rear view, but it isn't horrible either. The right jeans make it look good. The jeans that gave me long butt just weren't the right cut for me, and I suspect that these are just not the right cut for you.
So, you and I, we are still searching for our boyfriend jeans. I've got a secret, though. I think I'm giving up on boyfriend jeans. I think I'm going for "old friend" jeans. Jeans that look a little slouchy and very worn, like they've been my old friend for many years. We'll see what the forum thinks.
