I hate shopping for blue jeans

[Inky_Wretch]

My casual, yet nice enough to wear to dinner or even the office, jeans are about to become my "so faded the wife will ask 'Are you wearing those?' when we're going someplace so I can only wear them working in the yard" jeans.

For years, I've worn Gap jeans bought on sale or at the outlet. But the last time I hit that store, the jeans I used to get for $25 are $55. I don't want to pay that much. And even then, they're all colored with washes and fades and whisker-looking stripes on the thigh.

I just want blue jeans. Good ole' American blue jeans. Not "club jeans" (I had no idea such a thing existed) or work jeans like Carhartt.

So I guess I'm looking at Levi's, or maybe Wranglers (the ones you play mud football in with Brett Favre, not the cowboy ones).

What brands are out there for less than $50 that look decent?

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Levi's 550s have been working with me for years. In style, out of style, whatever ... they're not too tight, but also not falling off my fat butt.

I can usually find them for about $30, and if washed in cold water they'll last. (The bonus IMO is that they're available in black, too.)

 

[Batman]

Levi's 550s or 560s (a little baggier but not too baggy) are your best bet. Basic jeans, classic look, will last a couple years.
If you're not above going there, Wal-Mart is actually a good place to find them. It's a slightly different style than what's in a regular mall-type department store, but the Wal-Mart Levi's seem to be a bit looser and more comfortable. As a bonus, I think they're only $25 or $30 a pair. They have Wranglers that are even cheaper ($15-$20 a pair) and look OK, too.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Wranglers (I wear the relaxed fit, they're very comfortable). Easily found at a Wal-mart or most other place for right abound $20.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You should be able to get good jeans at Target or Sears for ~ $20.

 

[BYH]

Loves Blue Jean:



Another vote for Wranglers and Target here.

Steve and Barry's was good, until the assholes managed to **** the golden goose. Still boggles my mind how they messed that up. I still have a couple pairs I'm trying to nurse a little longer.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I checked at Target the other day when getting groceries. Their jeans selection was horrible. Lots of Converse One Star and Mossimo, but the Levis were picked over and scarce.

 

[cjericho]

any outlets by you? even hilfiger and polo jeans you can find for $35-40 at outlets. also costco has decent jeans sometimes. also arizona jeans at wal mart are decent.

 

[cjericho]

Loves Blue Jean:



Another vote for Wranglers and Target here.

Steve and Barry's was good, until the assholes managed to **** the golden goose. Still boggles my mind how they messed that up. I still have a couple pairs I'm trying to nurse a little longer.

After the Saints beat the Vikings my buddy (big Jets fan ) sent an email saying -- ha ha **** Favre. now get ready for another offseason of his bs. they should make him play in no pads next year, just a jersey and those nut hugger wranglers from his f'n commercials.

 

[slappy4428]

Arizona jeans are JCP ... and they fit well...

 

[JayFarrar]

I bought some jeans at Sam's. Plugg, maybe, I'm not sure.
I like them. They fit good and they had them for under ten bucks.
Most of the pants at Sam's can be had for under twenty bucks.
I bought a pair of cargo pants there for twelve bucks just a couple of days ago.

 

[old_tony]

Just bought a pair of Calvin Klein jeans and a pair of Nautica jeans at Sam's Club -- $19.95 for each.

Before that I'd been buying pretty decent jeans for reasonable prices at Eddie Bauer outlet stores.

 

[Moderator1]

My Sam's has Levi's for 20 bucks - not sure of the "number" but they're not the boot cut or "slim fit" or any of that nonsense.

Find a Lucky and get a pair of their jeans on a half-price sale. Even at half off, they're more expensive than most. I'd never pay full price. I never thought I'd pay as much as 40. But they're comfortable as hell and hold up extremely well. My son called me a jeans snob until he tried on a pair. Then he went and got two for the price of one.

Levis still rule the roost. I used to wear Lee when I was younger but I can't find them anymore.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I wear the $15 relaxed fit Wranglers from Wal-Mart. They look jeans are supposed to look. I can't stand all this grunge wash or filthy wash or whatever it is most things come in these days. I used to wear Levis and Gap, but they got too expensive for my tastes. I wore Old Navy for a number of years with good results, but they mostly carry those crappy washes already mentioned.

Here's a challenge, try to find a pair of jeans actually made in the U.S. that don't cost about $75. The last time I needed a pair I searched but with no luck.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Levis all the way for me. The 550 and 560 is OK, but they are too loose for me. I'll go 505 which is just a good, old fit everytime (and unlike the 501, none of that stupid button fly stuff). I usually expect to pay $30 or $35 for a pair of them, but I haven't bought in a while. I don't consider them dressy. More get around pants.

 

[kingcreole]

I too like Wranglers, but the end of the legs seem to shred easily.

 

[ripple]

Your entire post described Levi's to me.
Once you find a fit that, well, fits, you can get them at denimexpress.com.

For me, it's 569. Loose and Straight (there's a joke in there somewhere)

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

I wear the $15 relaxed fit Wranglers from Wal-Mart. They look jeans are supposed to look. I can't stand all this grunge wash or filthy wash or whatever it is most things come in these days. I used to wear Levis and Gap, but they got too expensive for my tastes. I wore Old Navy for a number of years with good results, but they mostly carry those crappy washes already mentioned.

Here's a challenge, try to find a pair of jeans actually made in the U.S. that don't cost about $75. The last time I needed a pair I searched but with no luck.

try these: All made in America and around $35

http://www.allamericanclothing.com/bottoms.html

disclaimer: I have not tried these yet. Stil with Levis.

 

[Jack_Kerouac]

My Sam's has Levi's for 20 bucks - not sure of the "number" but they're not the boot cut or "slim fit" or any of that nonsense.

Find a Lucky and get a pair of their jeans on a half-price sale. Even at half off, they're more expensive than most. I'd never pay full price. I never thought I'd pay as much as 40. But they're comfortable as hell and hold up extremely well. My son called me a jeans snob until he tried on a pair. Then he went and got two for the price of one.

Levis still rule the roost. I used to wear Lee when I was younger but I can't find them anymore.

Couldn't agree with you more about Lucky. I'm normally a Levis guy, but I got a pair of Lucky and a pair of Buffalo jeans at Costco a few months ago, and they are both incredibly comfy. They're regularly $75-$90, but Costco had them for $39.99 each, I think.

If you have a Kohl's near you, they have a great selection of jeans, and they always have good sales, plus you always get an additional 15% to 30% off if you use your Kohl's card.

 

[WaylonJennings]

Dudes, splurge for $40 or $50 or so, at least (I would say a lot more, but small victories ...). These are jeans, the cornerstone to your everyday wardrobe, not a pair of pajama pants. I think there's some psychological barrier to spending the same money on jeans as you would on dress pants. Abandon that. They are respectable enough items of clothing in 2010 that you can spend a little more for a nice-looking, well-fitting pair.

But, to answer the original question, you can't go wrong with Levi's. I mean, don't wear them with a sports coat. But as a pair of functional jeans, they are way nicer for the extra $10 than some Wal-Mart brand.