One religious pair of jeans - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

One religious pair of jeans

em

So I don't like jeans. I feel denim is too rough against my skin. I have one pair of jeans that must be over 10 years old by now. Three or four years into them, they got a hole in the knee, so I patched them and only wore them for gardening.

The ripped knee worsened beyond repair, and now they have to be the holiest jeans in the world. I still wear them for yardwork, but because of the holes, they are too fragile to be washed. I don't think they have been washed for 5 years.

I have decided I want a pair of jeans that can be thrown in the washer. But I would still only wear them for yardwork...which is maybe 2-3 hours a week 4-5 months of the year.

I feel weird buying something that will immediately be dirtied and perhaps even torn. I am not sure what kind of jeans to buy (inexpensive, certainly) or how to approach this conundrum.

What would you do?

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

danskogirl

I would buy a pair of inexpensive jeans at Old Navy.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Find something you like better than jeans to wear for yard work. Maybe thrifting to try a few options. If you got 10 years out of the last pair, a less durable fabric should still last quite a while. I suggest shopping the outdoor stores (Cabelas, REI) etc to see what else is out there.

Anonymous

Go to Goodwill. You will be amazed at the quantity, selection, and price.

JuniperGreen

Veteran

Seconding Goodwill! Particularly if you don't like the feel of denim against your skin, because this way you can find pairs that have already been softened and broken in.

K.M.

Veteran

I second the Old Navy suggestion. Their jeans are surprisingly good--last well through many washes, fit well, are comfortable etc. And they have so many options. A little stretch in the fabric would help with the feel against your skin.

rachylou

Veteran

As a person who hates denim and doesn't wear it, what I do have comes from Target. I also second the idea of another type of pants. All the nursery workers where I live wear khakis or camping pants.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like all three suggestions:

1. Try a different fabric for your gardening pants. Maybe some technical (gear) fabric or khaki.

2. Buy a pair of Old Navy jeans.

3. Go to Goodwill or similar and try a bunch of used ones on.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Thrift stores were my choice, too.

Anonymous

Goodwill and/or Old Navy.

D'Ellen

Veteran

What about Nordstrom's "fade mud" jeans - pre-dirtied, but at $425 not inexpensive. Just kidding!

I wear a pair of old loose-fitting khaki pants for gardening. (Cooler and more comfortable than jeans IMO.) My local Goodwill has a huge selection of such pants.

LaPed

Veteran

I vote thrift store. Not just because it's cheap, but because whatever you find is likely to be broken in already, and more comfortable than a new pair.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I can't imagine gardening in jeans! I like roomy, or at least stretchy. But generally if it's gardening season, it's also shorts season.

But if I want legs, I'd go gear. Tough, woven, quick dry fabric.

em

You've all given me lots to think about. The reason I have always worn jeans is because of barberry bushes and tiny rocks, along with needle-type bushes. I get pretty torn up.

I don't wear shorts, either. I like my legs covered. Agree about the heat, though....which is why, in the summer, I do my landscaping in the very early morning. My patio garden is so much easier! I've been known to wander out in a silky nightgown to pick strawberries.

cindysmith

Veteran

Gear. Hiking pants or something. The fabric is supposed to be sort of indestructible. Try Goodwill to see if you even like them before you spend gear money on them.

Joy

Veteran

I needed to do this last year and found my gardening jeans at Savers thrift store. One pair is faded and has been my favorite pair of jeans.