Highest quality denim brand for tops and bottoms?

[mr.loverman]

I'm looking to purchase at least one denim shirt and perhaps a pair of premium denim pants as well. I'm looking for classic items of exceptional quality that will fulfill my denim requirements for the next 5-10 years. I want to avoid trendy styling.

What brand should I look to?

45rpm, RRL, LVC, other?

 

[mikecch]

Originally Posted by mr.loverman

I'm looking to purchase at least one denim shirt and perhaps a pair of premium denim pants as well. I'm looking for classic items of exceptional quality that will fulfill my denim requirements for the next 5-10 years. I want to avoid trendy styling.

What brand should I look to?

45rpm, RRL, LVC, other?

Go for a pair of The Real McCoy's, Joe McCoy's, Studio D'Artisan (higher end ones), etc for absolute quality in denim & construction

 

[westinghouse]

RRL

I can think of a $420 pair of jeans and $395 denim shirt from them. How much better quality do you want?

 

[mikecch]

^ Price does not guarantee quality.

Sure, RRL is pretty good quality, but I wouldn't consider them high-end for denim nerds - any of the brands I mentioned above have quite a few models of jeans to beat the best of RRL (we're going into the realm of nerdism though, and here it's the minutest of details that make all the difference ).

E.g. On RRL's best, up to 5 different types of threads are used in constructing the jeans...whereas for Sugar Cane, even for their basic 1947 model, 18 different thread types are used.

These Japanese specialist denim companies are a different breed - for them it's denim and indigo, 24/7 everyday of the year - I would go to these guys for denim that'll fulfil your requirements for the next 5+ years (don't be stuck wanting to upgrade, never a good feeling, bad for the wallet too).

 

[enigma77]

Rogue Territory for the shirt for the shirt for sure; their double indigo shirt is legendary. They also sell great jeans, but they're not "ultra premium" or whatever. They will, however, last for a long time and are free of "trendy styling." http://www.rogueterritory.com/ Self Edge and Blue in Green have more expensive/more premium kinds of denim from all kinds of brands.

 

[macuser3of5]

power bottom?

 

[Pangolin]

45RPM is a good choice.
You could also look into Kapital, they make excellent denim products (might be a bit cheaper than 45RPM too).
The problem with most companies is that their current americana denim style could feel outdated in a few years.

 

[shademore]

Originally Posted by westinghouse

RRL I can think of a $420 pair of jeans and $395 denim shirt from them. How much better quality do you want?
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[xchen]

^ That's not obnoxious at all. (10)

Mister Freedom is definitely worth considering. I got a denim western from Skull Jeans in the mail yesterday, and I am very pleased. 45rpm, Sugar Cane are also both high quality. For chambrays you could also consider Buzz Rickson.

 

[somatoform]

Shirts:

I got a RRL one wash selvedge denim shirt of ebay. It's fantastic. They can be had down from $225 retail for maybe $80 - $100 depending on your size.

I've heard nothing but good things about wrangler bluebell denim shirts. The jeans don't get nearly as much attention as the shirts. It's like they specialize in making awesome denim shirts or something and the rest is whatever.

 

[ma1]

Iron heart. End of thread..