https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 18 May 2026 19:07:47 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284800 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:07:14 +0000 marianna 284800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting thread!</p> <p>I don't think I ever wore Levis but I do remember when my half-brother came to America to visit us from Israel, one of his first requests was to go shopping for Levis. We went to Mervyns (a California store like Kohls that doesn't exist anymore) and he bought himself multiple pairs, plus bought a few pairs for his sister in Israel. He was so excited because they were impossible to buy in Israel.</p> <p>When I lived in Chicago there was a Levis "boutique". Very trendy and hip inside and I remember the jeans were more expensive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284772 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:06:41 +0000 Lisa 284772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is very interesting!</p> <p>RoseandJoan=Thanks for the links! </p> <p>I may have to keep Levis in mind next time I am looking for jeans. I remember when they were $20 anywhere such as big box stores like Costco. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284663 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:29:40 +0000 Katiepea 284663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Count me in as yet another Levi's girl from the 1990's who had to beg and plead for a pair of 501's and who wore them until they fell apart!</p> <p>It is great to finally see a wider range of brands, styles and quality jeans *finally* becoming available in Australia. I can recall growing up it felt like there were Levi jeans, Lee jeans and the generic brand of jeans that could be found at major department stores (such as Big W - US equiv would probably be Walmart).</p> <p>Next time we Aussie girls get together, I must go and try on some "premium" jeans to see if I can tell the difference from the mid-range price-point jeans I normally buy. I can't work out if I would be buying a superior product or buying an incredibly expensive label! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284660 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 07:56:48 +0000 RoseandJoan 284660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lisa, we have most of the US, Aus and European premium brands here and Levis falls between High Street Store denim and premium (but premium denim is much more expensive in the UK than the US)</p> <p>I just had a look at the UK an US websites and whilst they look similar the UK site is all about pushing collections and the look for spring, here's the links<br /> <a href="http://eu.levi.com/en_GB/levis_collections/levis-seasonal-preview.html#ss11" rel="nofollow">http://eu.levi.com/en_GB/levis......html#ss11</a></p> <p><a href="http://us.levi.com/home/index.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://us.levi.com/home/index.jsp</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284600 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 04:22:48 +0000 Lisa 284600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so interesting! I always considered Levis to be the "cheap" brand of jeans. The fit never was bad, but they passed their prime for other brands over the years. The most I see Levis, is on men around here. Any I own were always for horseback riding only. i considered them my beat up jeans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284543 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 01:35:35 +0000 yublocka 284543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kim I don't remember exactly (we are talking early 90s here), but I don't think I could find 501s but found plenty other styles. Are the styles they sell today at dept stores like Sears the same styles that are sold at the Levi's stores? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284355 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:28:37 +0000 Mellllls 284355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't worn Levi' since high school (late 90s) and at that time my parents bought my clothes so I dont know how expensive they are relative to other brands at the time. I liked my Levi's then but I never considered them an expensive, coveted item. Are other premium denim brands available in Europe? I can't imagine Levi's can command such a high price abroad if the quality isnt comparable to other high quality brands. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284348 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:19:44 +0000 Jonesy 284348@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a fascinating thread! Like Mo, I wore the shrink-to-fit Levi's in the early '80s, when I was in high school. They were *the* jeans to wear. In college I abandoned jeans in favor of leggings, vintage dresses, etc., and haven't really worn Levi's since. My SO and son, on the other hand, both wear Levi's all the time. They usually buy them at Urban Outfitters or online; they are some sort of skinny, but not too skinny, cut. I still find Levi's very attractive on men. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284311 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:53:00 +0000 Queen Mum 284311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tam, yes, Levi's of the same style would be the same regardless of the store. Are you saying you couldnt' find 501's at Sears or that they had them but weren't as nice? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284265 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 07:53:21 +0000 yublocka 284265@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm another person who saved up the $100ish they cost in the early 90s to buy a pair of 501s along with everyone else. And yes I wore them with my docs boots too!</p> <p>At the same time I remember taking several trips to america and trying on levis at places like sears and never being able to find 501s or anything as nice. Although the jeans there were much cheaper.</p> <p>Are the Levis that are sold at Sears/other department stores now the exact same jeans they sell in the Levis branded stores? I'd guess not, but I'd be guessing </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284231 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 05:01:11 +0000 Deb 284231@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Levis were the ultimate jeans in the 70s for purists - and yes, they were relatively more expensive than other brands - their closest competitor being Lee.</p> <p>That rectangular leather patch on the rear waistband was the status symbol of the Pepsi generation - lol. To be honest ... often a particular model of Lee would be more flattering - better cut, value for money ... but they were not Levis. 'Nuf said.</p> <p>Speaking of the shrink to fit, as someone mentioned above - I remember my older cousins buying 501s, putting them on, and sitting in a bathtub full of warm water until the jeans were saturated. Then they'd get out and keep them on until they'd dried (a full day, at times). But wooo-hooo ... those pants fit like second skin. Come to think of it - you could call them the original skinny jeans!</p> <p>Anyway - yes ... they cost more than their competitors, which were Lee jeans - and far more than the generic Sears/Penneys type brands. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding/page/2#post-284167 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:08:50 +0000 Sally 284167@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They are always over $100 here. I bought 2 pairs of levis when I went to the states last year and lost weight so I'm selling them here online. I'm sure I'll be able to sell them for the price I got them for even though they are 2nd hand now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284102 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:28:27 +0000 bella 284102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My experience is similar to yours Angie. We didn't even have Levi's stores until late 1980s. I remember having to save up for my first pair of 501s in 1992 or 93. My parents wouldn't pay for one. I made a trip to the part of town where they sold smuggled US goods and bought my first pair of 501s and Timberland boat shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284101 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:16:56 +0000 Kristine 284101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, even in the US Levi's has several different lines. I actually wore them faithfully until a few years ago and would wear them again if I could find the right fit. I always thought they did nice things for my backside, maybe it's the angling on the pockets! My boss (very stylish lady) had a pair on today now that I think about it! So I definitely don't think of them as premium but more as standard denim. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284091 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:44:00 +0000 Angie 284091@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! Such great information and I thank you all. </p> <p>Seems to me that Levis has had it's hey day here - but that they are *still* very expensive and sort after abroad. I'm willing to bet that the product is different too. Amazing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284087 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:28:59 +0000 Anonymous 284087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I and many girls started to wear jeans in the 60's and Levi's were considered tops and were affordable. I don't think there were women's sizes available. At least we figured out what we would wear in men's sizes then. I remember in the 80's at least, most places carried Lee's and Levi's. Lee's were cut slimmer so many girls and slim men bought them. The prices were about the same with Levi's being a bit more, as I remember. Lee's were made locally and I knew a Lee fit model. We all envied her great look in jeans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284083 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:52:19 +0000 sarah 284083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting, Medusa. I grew up on Levi's (I loved my 501s), but they weren't particularly expensive, or I wouldn't have had them as a college student. I have a couple of pairs of Levi's now (skinnies and boot cuts), but I do have to say that the denim really stretches out after a couple of hours of wear. I don't remember that happening back in the day, but then again, I think it was sort of 'in' to have baggy 501s in the 80s and 90s. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284081 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:43:24 +0000 Beth 284081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting info. Thanks for the links, Medusa. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284079 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:36:00 +0000 medusa 284079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Levis used to be very good quality, solidly made jeans - they were never super expensive, but they weren't cheap either. And a pair would last for a long time, you'd have to break them in, they would really become yours.</p> <p>Then they stopped using good quality denim and all that changed. The manufacture of good quality denim moved to Japan (apparently Japanese companies literally bought up the old looms Levis used to use), and I believe that by switching to cheap denim Levis basically forced the invention of "premium denim" as consumers looked for something of better quality. Today's premium denim is worse quality than Levis were in the 80s. I'm really bitter about this.</p> <p>Here's a bit of the history.<br /> <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/52497/did-they-change-basic-denim" rel="nofollow">http://ask.metafilter.com/5249.....asic-denim</a></p> <p>Here's a more recent article.<br /> <a href="http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8018652/Yen-for-quality-Japenese-denim.html" rel="nofollow">http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk.....denim.html</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284076 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:30:03 +0000 Laura 284076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Levi's were always affordable, even back into the 70s and 80s. Of course, most jeans in America were affordable back then, in the era before premium denim exploded onto the scene. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284069 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:13:32 +0000 rute 284069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here Levis is still very expensive.. in fact one of the most expensive brands! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284057 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:46:12 +0000 Kyle 284057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've always viewed the brand as a solid workhorse. Not flashy or expensive, with no special cachet. They are an American classic, which is one reason they have historically been coveted overseas, in my opinion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284047 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:30:44 +0000 Beth 284047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like Diana, I've always considered them the "quintessential American jeans," the classic originals. DH wears them exclusively and they're my work jeans on the farm. I've never considered them low-end, more like they're in a class of their own.</p> <p>In the 80s, Guess and Calvin Klein were the rage. I remember having two pairs of treasured Guess that sold for around $80, which was a fortune at the time. My sister and I would put them on our Christmas lists and Santa usually came through for us:)</p> <p>I tried a pair of skinny Levis year before last but wasn't impressed with the stiff denim and the not-so-perfect fit. I'll still wear the classics for work clothes, though. The kind you can still toss in the washer and dryer! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284044 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:24:39 +0000 Queen Mum 284044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that when Levi's were at their peak of popularity here in the US (80's-90's) there really wasn't such a thing as "premium denim". It was more about the brand name. Levi's, Calvin Klein, Jordache... those were the pockets you wanted adorning your backside I couldn't begin to guess what we paid for Levi's back then, but it wasn't comparable to what we pay for premium today.<br /> To Sarah's comment about premium Levi's.. I have seen this too, and I think it is Levi's attempting to break into the premium denim market, but I think this is relatively new.<br /> I agree with Diana to the point of Levi's being the quintessential American jeans. That is probably what the overseas countries are paying for. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284037 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:08:42 +0000 mumtojessandluke 284037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oops got side tracked. In response to your question Ange, they were really expensive in Australia in the 90's but readily available and are now something that is achievable for most at just under $100 a pair here. So still, they are probably much cheaper in the states but are still classed as a 'premium' brand here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284035 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:01:56 +0000 mumtojessandluke 284035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Levis here were very much sought after in the 90's. I remember in high school, the Levis 501's red tag were the Bees knees... I could only afford the orange tag- LOL! But yeah, lots of people checking out buts for what jeans you were wearing.<br /> The look went particularly well with Doc Martin Boots, which I wanted SO, SO badly. Worked for two weeks on my school holidays to acquire a pair, but still working for family and didn't get enough $ together to buy them :(. </p> <p>These days I think people over here are a lot less concerned about branding than back then. It's more about finding the right pair of jeans to fit your body. And Levis have come down in price a tad, still a little pricey but not out of reach. </p> <p>I was so rapt to get a pair of Calvin Klein jeans, when I was younger and wore them until the but was ripped out of them after climbing under a barbed wire fence on a farm. But thinking back, they were probably knock offs as Calvin Klein wasn't really a brand that was sold around here... and I brought them from an open air market. Brands like Guess and Calvin Klein were not readily available and I haven't even heard of Jordache. </p> <p>Thanks for the flood of memories!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284020 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:38:08 +0000 Debbie 284020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If Levi's were ever discontinued my husband would have nothing to wear.<br /> We lived overseas when I was a child and my Mom would only buy Levi's in the states or on the rare occassion they were available in the base exchange.<br /> I don't know why they are so expensive overseas. Something to think about. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-284016 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:31:40 +0000 RoseandJoan 284016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember visiting a Levi store is Las Vegas as Ben was hoping to get the jeans heavily advertised at the time in the UK, but either they were sold under a different name or there are different styles for different countries but the jeans were not available. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-283981 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:19:50 +0000 Kim 283981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to wear Levis back in the 70's. They were always considered the top brand (even though they were not premium denim, never even heard of that back then..) They were affordable and durable and good value for your money as they took a *looooonnngg* time to get to the faded patched up look we were going for back then! LOL</p> <p>Since I didn't have a lot of money then I wouldn't have bought them if they were the price of premium denim now. I probably paid about $20.00 or so for them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-about-levis-branding#post-283979 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:19:16 +0000 rae 283979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, maybe Levi's started making more lower-budget jeans once better materials and stretch fabrics were available for cheaper. They had red tag lines I remember that were still expensive and "premium" like a few years ago. Their men's Offender style can still go for over $200 used. </p>