Help with denim brands (maybe I need therapy)

Hey All, I have a new job where I can wear jeans every day (woohoo!). I am 32 with 2 kids. I have always worn Levi's 501's, because the fit is the best for me. I am 6" 190, and every relaxed fit pair of jeans I have tried on makes me look like I am wearing a tent. My wife says I have no butt. I realize I need to have more brands in my wardrobe, but I have serious problems getting away from my norm (501's). A friend recommended Buffalo and Kenneth Cole. My wife thinks I need therapy when it comes to buying jeans and shoes, she is probably right. I have a had trouble finding Levi's with the stylish modern rinses, although I did buy one pair of their Indigo Storm--love 'em ($60 online). Can someone suggest some brands/styles I should try for a classic fit with a modern look? I have spent hours in the stores trying on stuff, but I always end up back with 501's due to fit (36x32) (and familiarity I guess). Brands I've tried: American Eagle (had high hopes, most styles seemed too baggy) Buffalo (at Macy's --- like these but didn't buy @ $90, maybe I should have) CK - Tried *some* but not an exhaustive search RAGS - not bad Old Navy - Cannot find a good fit to save my life (wish I could because Old Navy is everywhere) I'll buy online if someone can recommend something I have a good chance of success with! Sometimes it's hard to make it to the mall with the kids. Thanks, Andrew

this post should be in the jean questions thread at the tops, but...

The Jeans you have tried out so far are all, well, shite. Most people here would recommend you skip rinsed denim and go straight to raw (untreated, dark, stiff). The good thing about raw denim is that you size them a little too tight and they stretch out to fit perfectly. Another word you hear a lot is "selvedge" which means the denim was made with old style looms and is generally correlative with quality. Since the point of raw denim is to wear it every day, and since you can wear them to work, i would recommend investing in a $200+ pair you can love to death.

A lot of japanese repro(duction) companies have been basing their jean cuts off of 501's. I'll let a more knowledgeable poster help you out with that.

There is a denim thread pinned as well as others floating around. Read through them. I'd help but I have no idea what would look good on you. Be warned that you will not find much denim here that most people would deem practical. About as far from Old Navy as one could stray

If the thread can be moved by a mod, that would be welcome.

I am still a noob so I will have to hang around and learn a bit before I venture into $200 jeans/selvedge/raw.

I need a smaller stepping stone

So are Japanese jeans all the rage?

Thanks,
Drew

People here don't believe in stepping stones-- Why waste money on crap? But perhaps you should look at Gap's selveged jeans when on sale.

Originally Posted by drew2000

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If the thread can be moved by a mod, that would be welcome.

I am still a noob so I will have to hang around and learn a bit before I venture into $200 jeans/selvedge/raw.

I need a smaller stepping stone

So are Japanese jeans all the rage?

Thanks,
Drew

You could make an argument for that on this forum if you exclude all the Dior type wax/ wash fans. Off of styleforum, no. Unless you live in a hipster-rich environment nobody will know or care. Even if you do it might be a stretch

Originally Posted by drew2000

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If the thread can be moved by a mod, that would be welcome.

I am still a noob so I will have to hang around and learn a bit before I venture into $200 jeans/selvedge/raw.

I need a smaller stepping stone

So are Japanese jeans all the rage?

Thanks,
Drew

then why not get a pair of 501 stf to get introduced to the world of raw without spending a lot of money.

Originally Posted by mike868y

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then why not get a pair of 501 stf to get introduced to the world of raw without spending a lot of money.

I agree with this. You can get a pair for $30 - $50 and can probably find them at Macys or Dillards. Do some research on sizing and all that. If you end up enjoying the process and the eventual fit, you could think about stepping up to some LVC 501s or one of the Japanese brands.

Get some APCs

Originally Posted by Cool The Kid

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Get some APCs

Overrated. Quality not on par with the price.

Originally Posted by Prada_Ferragamo

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Overrated. Quality not on par with the price.
He can do like I did and get them on B&S Or if he's of a slim build he could do some 501 STFs. They look terrible in bigger sizes but are nice under a size 32 waist IMO

if you really want to learn about denim, you're going to have to spend a couple hours going through all the posts in the i have a jeans thread.

general guidelines are you want something that is slim. skinner people can pull off tapered jeans, people with wider thighs will need a more straight legged jean to offset the thigh to leg ratio, otherwise it looks unbalanced.

ideally if you can go into a store to try out the brands recommended on this forum, you'll be in better shape than most newbs

APC's are no longer the best entry level jeans. their price point has risen too high.

generally the questions you're going to want to answer are this

1) when looking at different raw denim, how much can i expect them to shrink?
2) how am i supposed to take care of these?

Originally Posted by Rosenberg

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Unless you live in a hipster-rich environment nobody will know or care. Even if you do it might be a stretch

this matters a lot