OK, so my old jeans don't fit anymore. They're way too big. So I decide to buy a new pair--no big deal. I only need one pair anyway, since I'm a shorts and khakis kind of guy most of the time. I've now spent three weeks and have returned more than a half dozen pair I ordered from the Polish Macy's: JC Penney, or Jean Claude Penier (pronounced "penyay", LOL) as we call it, or from other places.

I've tried on so many different jeans that I'm all confused! Relaxed fit, loose fit, athletic fit, regular fit, classic fit---stop it!!! Stop the madness! All I want is a simple pair of jeans!

I NEVER have this problem when buying casual pants or slacks, like the ones I wear to work every day. So why is it so difficult to find a pair of jeans that just fit?

Hey chief ... Share your frustration. Some of the best advice I got was from a friend who told me to ignore the sizes and simply go for what fits best. It may take awhile, but it works. This is one instance where size, indeed, doesn't matter. (If your old jeans are too big, start by trying on a size -- or two -- smaller. That might help.)

And, dude, don't just settle for Penney's if you have an alternative. You'll feel better if they fit better, and that might mean shelling out a bit more money for some quality jeans.

Think about what made your old jeans so comfortable for so long?

What brand and model were they?

Have you lost so much weight that your body proportions have changed;could that be the reason for the change in how jeans 'feel'?

IMHO - Every man should own one pair of black 501's; No one over the age of 40 with a waist larger than 36" should ever be seen in public wearing jeans.

If you really know what you are looking for in fit, but just can't find it... how about having a pair custom made?

Rob

Hey Rob, I've got the Midwest on line one...

Custom made??? Dude, I don't want to spend a month's rent on a pair of stupid jeans! Anyone who buys something so basic in the form of "custom made" is a pretentious snob.

Just so you know, you can buy "custom made jeans" from any of the major mfg's now, generally starting for under $100.00.

Frankly I buy off the rack 501's.

You are the one who said you couldn't get a good fit.

If it is so 'Basic' why all the difficulty?

R

You're right! Should we force them to buy $1500.00 suits or just shoot them?

Starting at "just under" a hundred bucks?!? That's ridiculous! Who in their right mind would fork over a C-note for a stupid piece of denim?



Do you have something against $1500 suits, Joe? I'm sure IT Jock's got a half-dozen of them at least. Then again, those might just be too cheap for him.

Joe is just still upset because he wasn't shopping at Goodwill the day I donated.

And I never said "just under", I wrote "generally starting for under" as in a pair of custom Levi's for around $45.00 and up... depending on what you want.

Of course it might come to over a $100 with all those rhinestones you want attached...

R

I've got the perfect pair for you, Crew Chief...they fit great, never bind, and hug your body like a glove...they're called SWEAT PANTS! By the way, what is Polish Macy's?

That would be me. I probably have have jeans at every price point. From Wranglers to Levis to True Religion, Antik, Monarchy and J.Lindeberg. I also enjoy Levi's Capital E jeans.

Your best bet would probably be Levi's or Lee jeans. Cinch jeans are also nice and they are usually sold in western stores and online. IMHO, Wrangler jeans are the best at making the ass look great.

Gap has good jeans, but you sound like a Levis or Lee type of guy. Old Navy may have jeans for you as well.

The best way is to grab a bunch of styles and try them on to see what looks best on you.

Good Luck.

There are jeans for everyone.My personal favorite are jeans made by a company called "Structure" which I believe was bought out by Sears a couple of years ago.Nice looking and very comfortable.




I think Rob's goal is to offend at least one person a week.

Nahhh... I am an equal opportunitty offender, the more the merrier!

BTW - Why do you think everyone just 'flies over' the Midwest?

Rob

In their private jets no doubt.

I like Levi's 501s too, and Levi's will also have these "Limited Edition" versions (with distressed denim, for example) which are a bit more current-looking. Now is the perfect time to buy as the department stores (I'd get them at The Bay or Sears in Canada) have back-to-school sales on jeans.

You might want to get a larger size, as I find that going a size up is a lot more comfortable and the jeans will hang at your hips a bit. (I have a 32 waist, but wear 34 Levi's).

Also remember that jeans (like shoes) take a while to break in. After a lot of wearing (and washing) they'll stretch and conform to your shape.

American Eagle jeans fit me the best coz im long waisted and they seem to fall on my hips better than most jeans.

I always had good luck with Penney's buying Arizona jeans (either regular or relaxed). They have always fit me well and when they're on sale, I can get 'em for $15. I used to buy expensive clothes when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but thank god I got over that. If it's not a good deal, I won't look twice (or even once, in most cases) at it. I'd rather spend extra money on things I "want" instead of necessities I "need."

I don't know but I'm sure we're all devastated when you do.

OK, I should've mentioned that I absolutely HATE jeans whose material is so hard that I feel like I'm a walking Robocop or Tin Man! They don't have to be as soft as a baby's bottom, but something like comfortable, reasonably soft jeans are preferred.

I was just bitching about this the other day. I'm really short and i can never find off-the-rack dress pants that fit. I don't make enough to warrant custom pants, and nobody seems to make nice kids pants (size 16 or 18). I found some student size Dockers a while back that have worked pretty well, but they are getting old and are no longer made. I bought 3 pair of what i thought would be my size online at the Gap. All 3 fit differently, none correctly. I returned those and bought Old Navy pants that, in the store, felt okay, but after i washed them and had the length altered, the rise turned out to be too short (ouch).

What i wouldn't do for 3 or 4 more inches! <insert your comments here >

If you're talking about Levi's 501 Shrink-to-fits, which is what I buy and are nothing if not stiff as boards when you buy them, then I've got a suggestion. It might work for other brands, but I have no empirical evidence to support that supposition.

What I do is wash the new jeans all by themselves with a full load of detergent and about 1/4 of a cup of salt. This makes them feel like they would after, oh, 10 washings. If you want to fade them, you can also season to taste with a little bleach. Personally I like mine to fade with regular wearing.

It's funny you mention this...I went to Kohls a few months ago to buy new jeans and had the exact same problem. They all these new weird cuts and they don't fit the same as my old stuff. Most of them had the pockets too low and made my butt look big! LOL

I finally found a pair I like....for years I've only bought Levi's, Gap and Old Navy...they all seemed to fit great.

I always been a Levi's kind of guy. and find the Captial E/Skinner Levis the best. Ironically, the three or four pairs that I have bought, were all purchased on ebay - all under $50.00. They fit me great, and I am 41 - and wear a 36/34.

Shopping for Jeans is about my least favorite thing ever. The fact of the matter is that a size 30/31 -34 doesn't exist in regular stock at most stores in Canada unless you go really high end and drop over $200 for a pair. Things have gotten a little bit better since cuffing seems to have come back in style, but generally those are not the sort of jeans that I like anyway.

I asked an aquaintance who works in the fashion industry about why those sizes don't exist very much and he told me that I had a high-fashion body type and shouldn't be wearing "cheap departmant store brands" anyway, so yean not very helpful. Oh and to whoever was complaining about low back pockets, you are absolutly right. They make your ass look like it is sagging, are not flattering at all, and whoever invented them should probably be shot.


Anyway... if anyone has any helpful ideas, I would be all ears.

In 501 Shrink-to-fits I'm a 35x38 which is impossible to find in a regular store, and I live in the city where Levi's has its headquarters. I order my jeans on-line from Denim Express. They probably have every size you can imagine. I've ordered from them for years without a hitch.

I have a similar problem my friend. I can never find jeans in my size (42/36), without ordering on-line, and then of course you can't try them on. I bought some Old Navy jeans last year. I think I bought like 8 pairs and sent 5 or so of them back. It's worth the effort once you find a pair/style you like. I moved on from regular jeans to boot cut. I know...a little late, but I got some compliments on them.

Jeans are so specific to the person. Good Luck!

Rob

I have typically defended some of the things you have said on this board, but your comment about any man over 40 with a waist line over 36" should not wear jeans in public, was to me personally insulting, over the top, and generally in bad taste.

I am 52, (as of last week), and have struggled with my weight for a number of years.
My waistline is now down to 36", and I have a goal to reduce it by another 2 inches. My long term goal is to lose 40 pounds (I currently weigh 210, and am 5foot9inches).

My problem is that I have short legs, and very thick thighs, as the result of competative skiing when I was a teenager. Back then, I couldn't get over 130 if I tried, and was skinny as a rail on top, and huge thighs on the lower. (and yes, I still managed to get them aloft, many many times)!!.

My preferred way of dressing is jeans and a dress shirt to work. I like khakis, but trust me, they don't like me. For years, the only jeans for me were 501's, but now I buy the levi's relaxed fit, as they're just more comfortable. I also wear a brand that is sold at the Hudson't Bay Company called Nevada. Again, relaxed fit.

To suggest that I should have to dress in order to fit in to your sensibilites, is, for lack of a better word, too gay. I am not a muscle man, a twink, a jock, or whatever the "acceptable" form of gays are now. I am a pretty ordinary man, and DAMN proud of it.

Rant over

ps JR. Don't complain about being short. I find shorter men sexier than heck!!!!!!!

Lksimcoe,

I am sorry, I apologise. I should not have said that. I was a poor attempt at humor.

I am 45yo, 6', 235# and have a 38" waist. Apparently god intended me to be built square like a brick. No, I don't think I look good in jeans, which is why I only wear them for work outdoors.

I was attempting to be a wise ass - and it fell very short obviously. No excuses.

Again my apologies.

R

Rob

And I was probably being too sensitive. Now that we both feel like crap, time for the home made Cabernet Shiraz!!!

Grant

I SWEAR by Lucky Brand. They don't have the 3 inch zippers, etc etc that piss me off about some of the hipper jeans. They generally make a guys ass look great and fit well, PLUS if you look in the right places, they are usually available in Marshall's and TJ Maxx, so that the $90.00 price is not a complete sticker shock for people that refuse to pay that much. (This from the man that buys Issey Miyake, Gaultier, and John Varvatos for sport)

Good luck. I personally can't wait until the low rise jean for men goes away somewhat. I had an argument with a salesman one time that was insisting I looked fine in a pair. Yeah i LOOKED ok but I could not wear them in front of my mom, it was a "HI!! I look like I just shoved a mid size kitten down the front of my pants" moment. All I could think of was that line "Ummmmmm my eyes are up here,"

Good luck!

Me too!!!

Finding the right pair of jeans has been difficult for me for several years.

I have had amazingly good luck ordering jeans online from Landsend. Enormous selection, but I suggest going with the Traditional fit 5 pocket jean (an array of colors available). They are soft and comfortable immediately, waist sizes do not skip by two's (if you need a 31, 33, 35 etc.) and you can order custom inseams down to the 1/4" at no extra charge. Size remains consistent after washing. Shipping times are quick. You can always send them back although I've never had to do that (I've ordered through them several times over the years as I lost weight). Probably cost you $40 with shipping.

If you are aprehensive about ordering online, I believe Sears sells Landsend. I would go try some on and if the fit isn't perfect, get online and order the exact size you need in the style you like best based on your research at the store. It's like getting a custom pair of jeans at rack rates.

Amen to you, Shorejim, on low-rise pants on men.

The last time they were popular was around 1970, and were only popular about a year, thank G-d. I confess to wearing them back then, but I was giving out wa-a-ay too much information. I was young and thin (sigh), and men's clothing was more revealing back then, too.

I'll also use this as an opportunity to rail against sagging. You know, pants worn so that at least four inches of underpants show above the waist band. There's a guy in my social circle who's 42 years old, and built like a stick of gum -- square shoulders, no hips, no ass -- yet he sports the look on occasion. He's a total sweetheart, and can pass for 10 years younger, but needs to be told about the look.

PB, if you're out there, you're 42, not 14. The look isn't flattering on anyone, and on a man your age it's a fashion comb-over.

I have a pair of American Eagle pants that I love to death. They were my only pair of jeans for about a year actually (I couldn't justify buying more than one at $30/pair). I have a few more pairs now, but none of them fit as well as those American Eagle pants (stupid 30/34 body).

I sympathize with your plight. I was once told at Old Navy that they did not have my size in stock in the entire Pacific Northwest (WA, Ore, Idaho) which granted is not Metropolis, but there must at least one other person up here that wears 32/36 pants. I usually have good luck with Levi's but even at Macy's wall 'o Levi's I found one pair in my size and hated the style. I bought them nevertheless, however, since finding a pair that fits is like stumbling upon a pile of gold bullion in mid-town Manhattan. Good luck with your search and let me know if you find any in my size. I'll be right over to pick 'em up.

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