Shopping for Men's Jeans (Arrgghh!!)

I decided I should replace the couple pairs of jeans I have because they are getting a bit ragged. I've been wearing Kohl's house brand jeans, Urban Pipeline, because they fit me fairly well and they are inexpensive (when bought on sale.) Had these same jeans on my Christmas list and got a pair that were the same as my previous ones, same size, just in a different color. Regular fit, straight leg, with straight leg opening.

They didn't fit.

Same model number on the SKU tag as my old ones, same description, same size. Same everything. Just didn't fit properly. Felt like I always needed to be pulling them up. When bending over I got the dreaded plumber's butt effect.

Brought them back to the store. Didn't have any in my size, which is 36X34, in Urban Pipeline brand. Decided to try on some Lee jeans. Picked up a 36X34 in regular fit, straight leg and tried them on. The legs were overly long. So long I would be stepping on the bottom hems of the jeans! Seemed to fit properly at the waist, though. I guess I need a Lee 36X32. Of course they didn't have that size in the store.

So now what? I suppose I'll buy them online. I started looking and discovered a whole world of jeans out there.

There are these styles of jeans:
Skinny, slim, straight, regular, classic, athletic, relaxed, big & tall.

There are these style of jean leg openings:
Straight, tapered, regular, tapered at ankle, slightly tapered, and boot cut.
In addition there are 14.5 inch leg openings, 15.0", 15.5", 16.0" and 16.5" leg openings.

They either fit at the waist, slightly below the waist, or below the waist.

They can be distressed or not.

There are regular denim, stretch denim, flex denim, premium flex denim. 100% cotton, 95% cotton & 5% spandex, 92% cotton 7% polyester & 1% spandex, 90% cotton & 10% polyester, 80% cotton & 20% polyester.

Well, I've determined I am a regular denim, straight, straight leg, 15.5" leg opening, sit at the waist, 100% cotton kind of guy. (Whew!)

So I looked up the Lee Jeans I tried on at Kohl's to see their specifications. Guess what? They either fit at the waist or they fit slightly below the waist. What?!



I guess I'll keep wearing my old jeans until they disintegrate. They're already distressed.

 

I've weighed about 205 lbs. for the last 4 1/2 years. I lost a bunch of weight back in 2013. I was 230 lbs.back then. I'm now at 210 lbs., mostly added weight from the holidays.

I bought these Urban Pipelines two years ago (three?). I think either the sizing on the jeans have changed, for example, they might say "fit at the waist" but they might have changed that definition. The jeans I got for Christmas definitely fit lower than the same ones I bought two years ago.

I could stand to lose 5 lbs, 10 by springtime, but I don't think it's my body that's the problem, I think it is the changing definition of sizes. Just look at the picture I posted--Lee jeans apparently has two Regular fit jeans. One that sits at the waist and one that sits lower than the waist.

I will buy whatever jeans fit me the best. The last time I bought jeans it was Urban Pipeline.

Levi's used to fit me until about 10 years ago. I could find some permutation of size/features/style that would fit me pretty well. Now they don't. Again, I suspect they've fiddled with the sizing. I have always had a "flat butt" from Levi's though.

Doubt it. I bought the same sized khakis and dress pants that fit me just the same as they always have. Also bought dress shirts and polo shirts, same fit.

You are correct. The stores are saying there will be more inventory the week of January 7th.

Well, I can try them on at the store and if they don't have the correct size I can buy them online. Obviously, I would try the jeans on first!

LOL. Ha ha! I know, I know. But if they fit...??

Well aware of this from shopping for/with my two teenage, now college aged boys.

The shopping technique you just described is pretty much the way I do it. I bring about five pairs into the dressing room not eight, but I take your point. And yes, I'm vain enough to use the multi-angle mirrors. If I find a pair that fits pretty good, I start evaluating the quality of the jeans. How sturdy is the zipper? Are the pockets deep and is the material used substantial? Gotta have deep pockets for phones these days. Double stitching or triple at stress points? Etc.

I'd probably go to Macy's because they have a better brand selection. There's always The Gap.

Speaking of belts, I bought one of those slide belts recently. They don't use the traditional metal pin inserted into the hole punched through the belt, instead they use a ratcheting track. Gives a more precise and perfect fit. Pretty cool improvement on belts.

 

I've got some Dockers that fit better than jeans and are more comfortable to wear. But a couple days a week I need jeans to wear for work.

Umm...no.

Relaxed fit looks like I'm wearing burlap bags. I still have some v-shape definition to my body so I'm gonna flaunt it.

 

You are correct. That's why a couple years ago when I found the Urban Pipelines I bought three pair, dark stone, light stone, and black.

 

Nope. Relaxed fit are too baggy on me. I used to wear Levi 505's.

 

Nope, they said regular fit, straight leg, regular opening,.

Really?! I'll take a look.

 

Unfortunately, I think my criteria for having the jeans fit "at the waist" is getting into Mom jean territory.

 

Whoa. I'm not saying I'm going to shop for women's jeans. I'm saying the definition of "Mom jeans" are the jeans that fit high on women's waist and that by choosing men's jeans that fit "at the waist" they may start to look like they fit like "Mom jeans."