I live in jeans. As a result, I go through between fifteen and twenty pairs a year– sometimes it has to do with bad choices/impulse buys (hello, OND), weight gain/loss (hello, Christmas) or the downright abuse that occurs when I fall in love with a pair of jeans (see: Esprit, on sale, for $17. I bought three pair.) I’ve had my True Religion Bobby skirt for almost two years now, and I have a sad feeling it may die sometime this summer. If everything is right in the world, I’ll be able to pick up a pair of Paige leather-trimmed bootcuts this weekend without bursting into tears or killing a sales associate. I like to switch up between premium denim and consumer denim– after all, I’m not wearing a $200 pair of jeans to tend bar where they’ll inevitably end up covered in beer, Jagermeister and who knows what else, but on the other hand it’s still important my butt looks good in them.

So the question here is, folks: what denim are you wearing? When was the last time you bought a pair? Do you mix it up, or are you a fierce loyalist? Are you like my friend, Steven, who stockpiled twelve pairs of 501s back in 1996 and haven’t bought a pair since*? Tell us in the comments because it’s, you know, Talk Shop Friday.

*Seriously dude, it’s been over ten years. Its time to go shopping.


Blinx Friday, 05.11.07 @ 1:14 pm

Can anyone recommend custom design jeans shop in NYC?


Josh Spear Friday, 05.11.07 @ 1:16 pm

I wear Ernest Sewn’s, Nudie’s and a few insanely old Diesel’s… :)


Adam Friday, 05.11.07 @ 1:34 pm

blinx, you can go to the meat packing district and go to Jean Shop or Earnest Cut and Sew. But either are nto cheap (500+)


angelina Friday, 05.11.07 @ 1:50 pm

If you live in New York, there’s no reason to pay retail for denim - there are simply too many sample sales! My favorites for wearing with heels are Salt that I got at Find Outlet for a ridiculous $40, and my faves for wearing with sneeks are 7s with a hole near the crotch, but I can’t part with them just yet!!


Steve Brown Friday, 05.11.07 @ 1:52 pm

Flat Head 3001s, purchased from http://www.selfedge.com.

Most amazing jeans I’ve ever owned. 17 oz denim, stiff as a board and sturdy as a truck.

Your mileage may vary, but for me raw selvedge denim is top of the heap. After wearing these, regular jeans feel like pajama pants.


Danny Friday, 05.11.07 @ 2:19 pm

I’m partial to Paper Denim & Cloth of late. Got a good deal on a couple pair and they’re still going strong. I have two pair of express jeans that are left-overs from college and I love them (sadly they’re dying). Bought a few pair of banan republic jeans and have regretted it since.


Eric Friday, 05.11.07 @ 2:30 pm

I am a die-hard Diesel fan. I have no ass and they’re the only ones that fix that problem. I buy a new pair about every 6 or 8 months… but thats just out of boredom. They last forever. I’ve tried to like Gstar… but they’re just not for me. Every once in a while I do have to pull out the old Lucky jeans though.


notcot Friday, 05.11.07 @ 2:57 pm

Can’t live without…. paper denims, joe’s jeans, and true religions… but have also indulged in many a pair of rock & republic, paige, diesel, miss sixty, earnest sewn, indies, levis….. sad thing is, i can barely remember the days when jeans worth buying were less than 130$ (although gotta love the urbn ones)… its kind of like trying to remember life before the internet.


christopher Friday, 05.11.07 @ 3:09 pm

I’ve been wearing Levi’s since i graduated from TOUGH SKINS in 1981. i don’t wear anything but Levi’s and now that they make them from Organic Cotton i can wear them a little guilt free. last pair purchased Levi’s Eco one month ago, last pair before that was 2001 4 pairs of 501’s that were on sale for 16.99.


Chris Friday, 05.11.07 @ 3:27 pm

J Brand, True Religion and R&R are what I’ve been rolling in lately. The J Brands are great because they’re pretty unpretentious (no graphics on the back pockets, stitching’s not flashy, etc.). Generally affordable too, around $170 after tax.


sygyzy Friday, 05.11.07 @ 4:01 pm

It still amazes me the difference in opinions of what quality is between true afficionados and those who think they are. Check out HonestForums for the hype and StyleForum or SuperFuture when you are ready to get serious. Strangely, it’s often divided among men and women. Almost 100% of the denim-heads are men. And by denim-heads I am not talking about guys with two big R’s on their asses.

True Religion, Sevens, Joe’s Jeans, blah.

My rotation: Rag & Bone, 5EP, Levi’s STF, APC NS, Earnest Sewn, Nudies, and yeah, a few pairs of Edun, PDC, Saltworks, Michael Kors, and Salvage which by no means are killer jeans but I’d take them over the non-original and boring crap that everyone else is wearing.


alterion Friday, 05.11.07 @ 4:16 pm

In NYC the best denim shop is BIG http://blueingreensoho.com. I have a denim fetish. http://www.superfuture.com ’s superdenim forum helps to satisfy it though. I like sugarcane alot. made with 50% cotton 50% sugarcane fibers gives it a unique texture and feel, looks fantastic aswell.


Rob Friday, 05.11.07 @ 4:18 pm

I’ve got a pretty amazing ass, thanks to my gramps. Finding jeans that fit around it and my 30in waist can be tough. APC does a great job. I buy a pair around October, and then in June, I’ll go swimming in them in the ocean, and give them their first trip to the wash.
The raw denim feel is nice in the winter, and looks really smart paired with sweaters and scarves and such, and then having a softer hand just seems fitting for summer. And, since I’m only buying a pair a year, I don’t mind laying out the $200 so much. It’s simple!


Bud Caddell Friday, 05.11.07 @ 4:47 pm

I’m partial to the new e-series by levi’s — and the pair of paper demin I stole from my girlfriend. I tried on another pair recently, and something has changed big time… nowhere near as good.

I used to be a huge diesel fan, when I was part of the seed program, but now… I just don’t like their quality.


reteptterrab Friday, 05.11.07 @ 5:44 pm

Nudie, Nudie, Nudie and some G Star when i’m feeling pedestrian.


pershizzle Friday, 05.11.07 @ 5:53 pm

American Eagle Outfitters and the only jeans that i will touch now days…they are amazing….


Serge Friday, 05.11.07 @ 7:08 pm

American Eagle? Those are kids in high school. If you have a job you should at least be buying Diesel. American Eagle jeans are such low quality compare to anything else. You might as well buy a pair of jeans off a hobo if you want better quality stuff.


palmer Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 12:16 am

“At least be buying diesel”

Ahah. As if diesel is that much more affordable than anything else…. Snob.

I’ve got some j.lindbergs (love) and some sick joes in the rotation right now … as well as some luckys that I can’t throw out because the wash is amazing and they fit great.

Jeans are jeans though. They all look the same no matter how you cut it/wear it/sew it. It’s the American uniform. If you want to be different wear some plaid or pinstripes.
Or you can be a snob about jeans and be a douchebag.


will Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 12:58 am

every mom and her eight year old daughter has true religions and sevens…


Andrew Ferguson Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 2:59 am

I wear pretty much exclusively Levi’s 569 (relaxed fit, straight leg) in as dark a blue I can get ‘em.

Unfortunately lately I can’t get them very dark at all.

I’m not so much a loyalist so much as I’m unable to tell how I look in any clothes. I’m incapable of judging my own fashion and how I look, so I just stick with something baggy and comfortable.

The fact that I tend to wear 36×32 also ensures that I’m relegated to non-designer jeans.

If someone wants to make recommendations I’d pay attention and go look :P

Oh, and I bought a pair today. Right before I read this post, actually.


Malcolm Thomson Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 4:44 am

Coincidentally I tried yesterday to shop for the Levis 501s I need to replace a recently deceased pair. My quest took me to a variety of stores here in the fabled ’shop-until-you-drop’ malls of Dubai.

Not one store had 32/35 size on offer. Being old is bad enough; being old and pant-less could be a problem.

And, à propos this thread, I thought over-priced jeans were soooo over?


Sam Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 8:31 am

I can’t live without my Rag and Bones.


Serge Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 3:13 pm

palmer - Diesels at least pretty good quality and pretty stylish. I expected that most of the people that visited this site knew good quality and had the money to buy more expensive stuff.


Josh Ehr Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 6:44 pm

A couple years ago Guess could not put out a pair that did not look good on me. Currently, I largely rock my Diesels.


Anders Alexander Saturday, 05.12.07 @ 9:05 pm

So….

I had a massive range of jeans throughout the years. I still wear a pair of levi’s that have more holes in them than not, but they’re my “Summer” Jeans.

I have a pair of lee denim that are comfy as all hell and I can wear everywhere. Being my Sydney, I also feel to need to own a pair of TSUBI’s to go out in. They are Australian made and are the best jeans I’ve ever owned. I have the “Dee Dee Jean” and they’re skinny legs but don’t feel I’m hiding a pigeon down there.

Coolness.
Anders


Matt Monday, 05.14.07 @ 3:58 am

Anyone that knows anything about denim knows that True Religion, Seven, Rock & Republic, Diesel, etc. are the most over-rated and over-priced jeans out there. Those brands are straight K-Mart compared to the selvege denim from Japan, as well as a few select brands from Sweden, Italy & Australia.

Women are only looking for a brand and something that makes their ass look good, understood. But there are so many good brands out there that girls can get a great wash, a great fit, great quality, and a premium name without getting suckered into those sub-par brands at Nordstrom. “But I have to be able to try it on before I buy, I can’t order”… Go downtown. I guarantee there are boutiques that sell what you need.

I’m a dude, and I’m in love with my Skull Jeans by an Alchemist. Selvedge is the way to go for guys, they will last you for years, and only look better with time. I have several Nudies, and they’re pretty good. I think they will only get poorer in quality as they get more popular. APC is great denim, PRPS looks incredible, Kasil & 1929 are underrated IMO… Flat Head, Samurai, Sugar Cane, & Iron Heart for the hard core Japanese selvedge enthusiasts. My Imperials are wonderful- great fit & so comfy. 5ep, Julian Red, Crate, Acne, Edwin, Earnest Sewn, Blue Blood- It’s all legit and WORTH THE MONEY.


matt low Monday, 05.14.07 @ 10:02 am

For the last few years all I’ve worn is organic cotton jeans. Loomstate have several awesome styles for a while, Edun make some, and now Levi’s have started making several lines, including men’s straight leg vintage 539s for $68.

People think that cotton is all natural, but cotton production uses 25% of all the pesticides and fertilizers produced in the world. These chemicals kill off local wildlife (the bugs that eat the cotton die from the pesticides, but then the birds that eat the bugs also die, and the animals that eat the birds, etc) and waterways (nitrates in fertilizers cause algae blooms which deprive the fish and plantlife of oxygen). Buying a pair of organic cotton jeans means that over a pound of these chemicals won’t be used.


Jonah Monday, 05.14.07 @ 10:26 am

Micah is wearing the overalls I bought in Vancouver at Dutil Denim - http://www.dutildenim.com
they had an amazing variety and those overalls were a find (though pricey)
Micah, can you post photo?


Rob Monday, 05.14.07 @ 11:34 am

Speaking of Tsubi… I finally came across some of their sunglasses this weekend. I’ve had the promo calendar for months now — quite the conversation piece!


Another Rob Tuesday, 05.15.07 @ 4:25 pm

After going through several high-end pairs of jeans (of which have a similar “thin” feel) by wearing holes in the crotch, I’ve sworn off them until I can find a pair that is more durable. Currently, my Levis 514s are more than adequate. I still get the urge to splurge.


Charbel Tuesday, 05.15.07 @ 8:23 pm

Today I’m wearing a pair of bootcut Wranglers: dark denim, nice fit. Yesterday was my favourite pair of Edwin jeans - again, dark denim. Otherwise, my own “The Love Project” denim prototypes from 2 years back.

I prefer the darker denims as I like how they naturally fade. To buy deconstructed, pre-faded and over-faded jeans is a bit too prescriptive for my taste.

Earnest Swen jeans - really sexy. The pair I have though were slightly flawed and the denim fell to pieces. Sad, given the exhorbitant price paid!


Zach Tuesday, 05.22.07 @ 2:52 pm

I bought 6 pairs of American Eagle’s recently on a sale, ohhh so nice it’s amazing. I wouldn’t say I’m loyal, just need a good pair for the right price.


Blair Monday, 06.18.07 @ 12:26 am

What about overalls?? I love them and have three pairs


JaniceLA Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 3:13 am

I saw some mag with the Hilton sisters wearing Ranahan Jeans so I snagged a pair at Larchmont. Makes my butt look great. Also, I really am loving 575s again…it makes my butt look great too.




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