The percentage of stretch in your jeans - YouLookFab Forum

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The percentage of stretch in your jeans

Lulu

(website)

I have come across several "tips" on avoiding bagging in your jeans, I.e., butt , knees, etc., they are recommending high end jeans with 100% cotton. It is said they last longer, hence worth the higher price. Do any of you have any experience with different percentages in your jeans?
Today, Angie mentioned she is wearing jeans with less stretch.
Stretch is great until it bags. I hate when that happens!!

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from rabbit

Joy

Veteran

I won't buy jeans with more than 2% stretch in the fabric. They get too baggy during the day.

Aida

Veteran

I look for 1-2%, much prefer thick not-very-stretchy denim. I do have one pair of 100% cotton jeans, BF style, which are really lovely and broken in just perfectly. That said their thicker fabric does tend to bother the backs of my knees if I'm doing a lot of knee-bending (like gardening).

always trying

Veteran

I am old enough to remember very fondly when all jeans were 100% cotton. Once broken in they were great, Now not only jeans but literally everything has 2% spandex or its eqivalent in it. Spandex makes everything less breathable. In jeans when it is hot makes my legs feel like they are encased in seran wrap.

I buy 100% cotton whenever I find it at reasonable prices. I have 2 pairs of 1% spandex and they are sooo much nicer than the 2%.

rabbit

Veteran

Okay I'm trying to wrap my head around this, because I have a couple of pairs of jeans that are 98% cotton 2% spandex and they are all very different in terms of stretch, from very stretchy, to not at all really.

Also I find that that the stiffer/less stretchy/more classic heavy denim jeans are the ones where the knees bag out, because once that area stretches (and it has to in order to crouch or sit), it doesn't spring back into place the way jeans with built in elasticity do. Or am I missing something...?

Aida

Veteran

Perhaps the quality and weave style of whatever the stretchy fiber is is what makes the difference?

rabbit

Veteran

Aida that must be it.

I looked and I do have one 100% cotton pair of jeans-- J brand boyfriends, and they are nicely worn in and soft. However if they weren't loose bf style jeans the knees bagging out a little with wear as they do would bother me.

ETA: I also think it might just be my pointy knees

Anonymous

My experience is similar to what Rabbit describes. The jeans with more spandex do not stretch out. I can wear them multiple days, sit with my legs curled up, and they spring back perfectly.

KUT from the Kloth Women's Diana Skinny Jean In Beautitude

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BrieN

Veteran

I don't have happy memories of pre-stretch jeans -- heavy bulky jeans that need to be worn for weeks before they start to "break in". My favorite pair has 4% elastane (spandex) and I love them. Not. Going. Back.

shedev

Veteran

I have jeans with 1-2% and never really have a problem with bagging out. I do have a pair of knit pants that do bag at the knees sometimes.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I prefer just a very small amount of spandex (1 or 2%) and if they made jeans softer in 100% cotton I'd much prefer that, but I haven't found much that meets that criteria. I like lighter weight due to the heat here in central Texas. I rarely wear my KUTs because they are thicker so they are winter only for me. The only brands I've found that I enjoy year round are AG, Big Star and some from American Eagle that I bought for like $30 - I stocked up on those AE jeans so I could cut some off for shorts (which I have done).

puppycat

I'm confused by comments about non-stretch jeans not bagging out as I remember my teen years back in the 80s zipping myself into skintight jeans in the morning which loosened into regular fitting jeans by noontime. As I got curvier I gave up on jeans because the lack of stretch made them impossible to fit (although I liked the look). They were always too tight in the hips and thighs and too huge in the waist. I wonder if the folks here who like non-spandex jeans tend to be easier to fit?

Flash forward to around 1998.... I rediscovered jeans after the spandex revolution. Finally denim that fit! Ever since then I wear jeans whenever I can. I work a very conservative job (no jeans or yoga pants per managerial decree). I absolutely love having jeans that give and bend for anything I do on weekends....and I have even bought a few "pajama jeans" style knit jeans for days when stretch denim seems too structured (ssssh don't tell anyone but they are my favorites.)

Anonymous

I prefer stretch in jeans, even if that means they don't last as long. I'm wondering if those who don't are skinnier than me, or with less curves. I don't find non stretch jeans comfortable at all.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

What brand of "pajama jeans?" I've looked at LL Bean's and been very tempted...

I thought my jeans were all-cotton, but I looked at them and they're only about 84% cotton! 14% polyester and 2% spandex. They really don't stretch out visibly at all so I don't know what that means, maybe I've bought them small.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I love the jeans with spandex (or similar mixed in a small %). They are so much more comfortable than the 100% cotton. This is probably the reason I wear jeans much more than I used to.

Muffin

Veteran

I've had jeans with no Lycra, 1-2%, then some much higher. Higher Lycra seems not to last as long (even with hanging to dry)--I think the fibers just stretch and then eventually break. What I really don't like is polyester in jeans--it definitely gives it a more slick feeling.

Runcarla

Veteran

100% cotton is my preference, and 2% Lycra works ok. I had some stretchy jeans before I understood the difference, and hated them. They had to be washed after each wear and bagged out uncomfortably. I donated them after a couple of wears.

rabbit

Veteran

I feel like this is a Mars and Venus trying to talk situation lol, such different experiences.

I seem to remember my whole past history with jeans was washing the jeans with very high cotton content/less stretch after each wear, because they inevitably bag out and don't spring back into place. Where spandex-y jeans, yes, the spandex can eventually break down in some jeans, but I have some skinny jeans that are worn to the ground -- holes, paint and everything, had for maybe 10 years, gray now rather than black, but still fit well, comfortably, and with minimal bag, but a fair amount of stretch because of the magic of spandex.

Maybe the caveat is that I always buy jeans a size below my regular? Since every jean will flex and grow in some way.