Looking for new jeans

[Premise]

Only within the last year have I truly gotten into denim. I’ve found that I prefer low rise slim to straight fits. My current go to is the Levi 511 Rigid Urn, which is a non stretch red selvage stitch made in Turkey. The fit is dead on, looks absolutely tailored on me with no stretch needed. Cool, I’ve found my go to jeans and I have two pairs. The problem? They’re discontinued! In fact Levi’s does not make a single non stretch selvage 511 anymore. I may finally try some premium selvage 501s or the 505 since I actually prefer the zipper, but I still prefer the 511. I’d just suck it up and get the stretch but I find them to be fit more snug since the stretch makes up for it, but I really dislike the fit and feel of them and I fall into that a bit more snobbish opinion that stretch isn’t proper denim.

That all out of the way, if Levi’s doesn’t release another non stretch selvage 511, what would you recommend for a similar fit? An American made option would be a huge plus.

 

[ljl]

You've got to look at Todd Shelton.

 

[Drewill44]

Stretch definitely isn't proper denim, unless you are a lady, then definitely go ahead and show your curves. I like my denim to have proper creases tho. I'm completely biased on the jeans I was tell you to buy and they aren't American made either so nvm.

 

[Premise]

Stretch definitely isn't proper denim, unless you are a lady, then definitely go ahead and show your curves. I like my denim to have proper creases tho. I'm completely biased on the jeans I was tell you to buy and they aren't American made either so nvm.

Honestly it looks like American made isn’t going to happen anyway. If I want selvedge I can get something assembled in America, but the denim itself isn’t made here any more.

 

[Drewill44]

Not all Selvedge is made equal. Some real Japanese Selvedge will change your life. How much would you spend on a nice pair of jeans?

 

[Premise]

Not all Selvedge is made equal. Some real Japanese Selvedge will change your life. How much would you spend on a nice pair of jeans?

Definitely understand that not all quality is the same. Price isn’t a concern. I know my 511 selvedge isn’t the best out there but it’s a good jumping off point. I’m still looking for something very traditional in a slim to straight fit, more slim than straight preferred but definitely not skinny. When I say traditional I mean the typical warp and weft contrast, gold or copper stitching, leather patch, and red line selvedge. I don’t know why, but I really dislike blue and orange line stitch. It just looks out of place to me. I almost bought the 501 White Oak Cone Denim at $285, but they’re just not fitted enough for my body type. I wear standard non stretch 505s for work because I really use the pockets for a lot of gear but I prefer a slimmer fit for when I dress up, which is pretty much any time I’m not working.

 

[LA Guy]

Definitely understand that not all quality is the same. Price isn’t a concern. I know my 511 selvedge isn’t the best out there but it’s a good jumping off point. I’m still looking for something very traditional in a slim to straight fit, more slim than straight preferred but definitely not skinny. When I say traditional I mean the typical warp and weft contrast, gold or copper stitching, leather patch, and red line selvedge. I don’t know why, but I really dislike blue and orange line stitch. It just looks out of place to me. I almost bought the 501 White Oak Cone Denim at $285, but they’re just not fitted enough for my body type. I wear standard non stretch 505s for work because I really use the pockets for a lot of gear but I prefer a slimmer fit for when I dress up, which is pretty much any time I’m not working.

Honestly, you might want to check out some jeans at Blue Owl. https://www.blueowl.us/collections/all-products/mediumweight in the middle weight area. I really like Self Edge, but for what you are looking for, Blue Owl may have more choices.

fwiw, I probably own more denim here than most, and nearly definitely have worn and tried on and seen more denim than most, and though I have a ton of great Japanese denim, I keep on finding myself going back to high to mid-rise jeans, which I wear slouched, with some stretch. It really is quite liberating. I wouldn't discount it at all. It's not just good for showing off your curves - just 2% elastane makes the jeans much more confortable and gives you an unprecedented range of motion.

 

[Drewill44]

I mean, idk what your dimensions are but when you go Japanese Selvedge,

Honestly, you might want to check out some jeans at Blue Owl. https://www.blueowl.us/collections/all-products/mediumweight in the middle weight area. I really like Self Edge, but for what you are looking for, Blue Owl may have more choices.

fwiw, I probably own more denim here than most, and nearly definitely have worn and tried on and seen more denim than most, and though I have a ton of great Japanese denim, I keep on finding myself going back to high to mid-rise jeans, which I wear slouched, with some stretch. It really is quite liberating. I wouldn't discount it at all. It's not just good for showing off your curves - just 2% elastane makes the jeans much more confortable and gives you an unprecedented range of motion.

Man, the spandex and denim for a man is like a cute man or a handsome woman. It ruins the creasiness, the crispiness. It's like steaming toast man...

 

[Premise]

Honestly, you might want to check out some jeans at Blue Owl. https://www.blueowl.us/collections/all-products/mediumweight in the middle weight area. I really like Self Edge, but for what you are looking for, Blue Owl may have more choices.

fwiw, I probably own more denim here than most, and nearly definitely have worn and tried on and seen more denim than most, and though I have a ton of great Japanese denim, I keep on finding myself going back to high to mid-rise jeans, which I wear slouched, with some stretch. It really is quite liberating. I wouldn't discount it at all. It's not just good for showing off your curves - just 2% elastane makes the jeans much more confortable and gives you an unprecedented range of motion.

No offense but I’m not doing stretch. It’s not real denim if it’s not 100% cotton.

I mean, idk what your dimensions are but when you go Japanese Selvedge,

Man, the spandex and denim for a man is like a cute man or a handsome woman. It ruins the creasiness, the crispiness. It's like steaming toast man...

Haha couldn’t agree more. I don’t want baggy jeans, but at the same time I don’t want stretch to make them fit.

 

[Drewill44]

I was in the middle of responding to premise when I saw that LA Guy. I know I haven't worn nearly as much denim as you but unsanforized Japanese Selvedge denim molds to your body if it's good stuff. & It looks amazing. I feel like the man when I wear my Japanese Selvedge not like I'm wearing my wife's jeggings.

 

[LA Guy]

I was in the middle of responding to premise when I saw that LA Guy. I know I haven't worn nearly as much denim as you but unsanforized Japanese Selvedge denim molds to your body if it's good stuff. & It looks amazing. I feel like the man when I wear my Japanese Selvedge not like I'm wearing my wife's jeggings.

Well, I admit that I may have set you up a bit.

I might understand the psychological comfort of armor like clothing than most guys, I like my leather heavy and my jeans super tough, and the jeans that I wear with stretch are also doubled warp ad wefted with something like 55-66% dyneema, and are made for heavy use and motorcycles, so it's hardly "wimpy" denim. They are rated to slide 4.1 seconds without bursting if you fall off your motorcycle, so they are pretty tough, and they range from a nominal weight of 12 ounces to 15 ounces.

When I weigh in at the doctors, my weight varies by as much as 20 lbs depending on how much of my clothing I take off, and that's not counting footwear, so...

BTW, all unsanforized denim is STF, good or bad.

That said, stretch really is great if you are going to do any physical activity, and if you have a significant amount of dyneema in there, your ass is more likely to bust than your jeans.

 

[Willi6]

You might want to try bravestarr I have four pair love em!

 

[Drewill44]

Hmm. Idk anything about riding bikes. You could say I'm too wimpy to ride a bike haha so idk what kind of denim you need for that.

 

[Drewill44]

That's me going to church haha & I drove a Durango not a motorcycle

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

^=This guy hates stretch denim yet he has about 4 pair