Eeew! Off gassing jeans?!? Yikes.

I have read reviews of some recent Gap products that mention this...

You wrote "I'm curious what strategies others take in these decisions."

This is a fascinating subject that I have actually given some thought to in the past. I need to gather my thoughts and catch up on what others wrote. I'll be back later.

I do this too. My problem is that at some point, if the item in question is a true wardrobe mvp, I start getting obsessed and exceedingly picky and perfectionist, sometimes to the point where I can’t find anything that’s perfect because I’m not willing to settle. Too hot, too cold, nothing is just right.
Currently, I’m having this issue with black combat boots. I really need some new ones, yet nothing I see has the right shaft height, heel height, quality, comfort, etc etc.

Oh, and ps. I’ve had the problem with off gassing black denim too. I don’t think I’m quite as sensitive as you, but it’s a gross, pervasive smell and gives me a headache. For some reason it seems to be a problem exclusively limited to black denim - not any other color denim and usually not any other black fabric. Usually I can tell right when I open the box. In my experience the smell does not easily wash or air out so it’s a dealbreaker for me.

Interesting thread. I'm with binkie. Admittedly, I'm not a fit fiend, because I so rarely get a good fit from clothes that I no longer "expect" it, but I can get carried away accumulating versions of the same thing (denim dresses are my downfall, for some bizarre reason). But , I think I have this problem under control now, and simply make do when things are not perfect. Money only goes so far, and accumulating too much of one thing and obsessing over getting the perfect one has run its course with me.

I don't do this as often as I did in the past but I did at one time have at least 4 iterations of the "perfect" chambray shirt. The only one that made the cut is still not worn often. The realization was that I didn't *need* a chambray shirt after all. I've also been known to keep searching for the perfect white summer top(s). I don't have that many because luckily I've gotten better at returning things right away. But I still seem to obsess over it every summer and am disappointed when I can't find the "one." This is my last attempt for this year and the sleeves are kind of the deal breaker - a little too billowy for my taste I guess. And it's pretty sheer and wrinkles easily, contrary to some of the reviews.

Your perfect jeans are/is my perfect jeans jacket. I bought one three years ago and never wear it but I know if I find the perfect one, it will become a workhorse. The difference is that I haven't replaced the one I have because nothing I've tried on is any better than the one I have. Still frustrating but less expensive.

I had another thought about this - and I'm not suggesting this is happening in your case, but......I do find that when I start doing this , I'm usually barking up the wrong tree and going after something that will never be right .

That's interesting Lisa - for me it's something I really need (ok or want a lot) but I can't find the right iteration so I buy something close so I can complete the look of the outfit even if it's not quite right. But there are still things that I can't find and others where I finally nailed it. And no I will take those "mistakes" and their CPW to my grave but I do try and limit the amount and variations on NQR items. Now for that 3/4 sleeve black cropped vee neck cashmere cardi for layering!! Why of why JCrew did you discontinue it!! Nothing has been right since!!

@Greyscale, I haven’t tried this with heavy denim, but with summer weight denim, I’ve actually in the past had very basic jeans taken in by a tailor. The amazing result was that it last for years and work through many more weight fluctuations than anything that I’ve ever bought off the rack. Alas my tailor retired and I haven’t had time to find a talented new person.

I will have to think hard about the underlying question but right now with the pics I feel like the scene from "The Devil Wears Prada" where Andy chokes with laughter when she can't see the difference between several belts and she gets the withering look from Emily and then Miranda Priestly gives her a talking to! Sorry Greyscale you may give me a withering look for not seeing the difference between these 3 pairs of jeans

I know this feeling well of always wanting to upgrade! It can be torture. I am a perfectionist in general, so this plays right into my weakness.

My first line of defense is not to settle unless absolutely necessary. I will settle if I have a pressing need for something. This is pretty rare--it would most likely be some kind of special function or situation out of the ordinary.

The second reason I would settle for something is if I have looked and looked, generally for at least a couple of years, for something and just cannot find exactly what I want. I will then settle IF the price is right AND I am convinced that I will wear the item quite a bit (i.e., the item will be practical).

Once I find what I am looking for, I buy it and enjoy it...and don't allow myself to look for better versions! That is where I can really get into trouble--if I start trying to outdo my great purchase. Let's face it--you can almost always find something better (better quality, better fit, better color) if you keep looking. So I make a conscious effort to stop looking at similar items once I've bought "the one." (And as others have pointed out, asking whether you are willing to stop looking for item X once you have bought the item in question is a good way to determine whether it is indeed "the one.")

I recently bought a faux leather jacket from Express that is about 80% what I want. I settled because I have been looking for a leather jacket for three years now and cannot find what I'm looking for. This one was on sale for $80, and the quality and fit are good. In fact, the fit is amazing, which is what is lacking in all the other leather jackets I've tried. There are a few stylistic elements about it that I'm not excited about, which was my only reservation. I will continue to look for the perfect leather jacket, but in the meantime I will likely get $80 worth out of this jacket, as I have very few jackets.

I just remembered another of my strategies. I buy the thing I think is "good enough" (especially if jeans or footwear, because both are so core and necessary to my life) and wait until next season to look further. If I find I'm happily wearing the "good enough," well, then, it really was good enough! If, on the contrary, I find that I hardly wear it and whenever I wear, it feels wrong, then I let it go at the end of the season and start looking again. Oh, and I just make different outfits that don't require said item in order to do so, sometimes feeling annoyed that I don't have the piece I need, and sometimes finding new combinations that I enjoy in the closet.

Even though I buy denim from multiple retailers, I frequently regret it because of fit issues. I would happily buy from Nordstrom exclusively because of their return policy, but they often don’t carry my preferred size, style, or brand. Regardless of the fabric composition, you can’t predict how jeans will stretch out with wear, and a fit that is or becomes slightly off will leave me wanting for something better.

Conclusions: I sold the jeans from the first photo. I kept the second pair of Levi’s wedgies (photos 2&3) and my boyfriend happened to say, wow those jeans look good on you. So that’s a good sign.

I love the relaxed fit of the Gap jeans (photos 4-6) but even after washing in my magic odor-removing detergent, they still make me feel ill. I’ll wash them a few more times but I am not happy about this.

Greyscale having looked at the photos again I can manage to see that the jeans in pic 1 were not quite as flattering as the ones in pics 2/3. So that's good that you sold the first ones and also that BF likes the pic 2/3 ones so much! Sorry about the Gap ones. No suggestions

I bought your magic odor-removing detergent. Have not needed it yet, but I will and I want it on hand. Thanks for the suggestion.