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Designer Jeans vs. The Classics

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BobbyR

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My wife recently bought me a pair of Rock & Republic bootcut jeans. I have always shopped for myself but over the last couple of years my wife has been picking up new jeans and some designer T-shirts in an effort to update my casual wardrobe.

When it comes to work and casual businesses I've always invested in my suits, shoes and shirts. For jeans and t-shirts, I've been true to Hanes & Levis 501's.

I actually really like all the jeans she's bought me and wear them on the weekends - True Religions more than the new Rock & Republic but I haven't tossed any of my Levi's.

Does anyone here fee that designer jeans like Rock n Republic and True Religion really worth the $200 - $300 pricetag compared to a $40.00 pair of Levi's original shrink to fit 501's?
 
#3 ·
I've had many pairs of designer jeans over the years and they've all worn ok and fitted as they've been designed to. But for comfort, fit and durability it will always be 501's for me. I had my first pair when I was 16 and ever since they've always been the jeans that have fitted me the best. The waist size however has increased slightly over the years :icon_smile_wink::icon_smile_big::icon_smile_wink::icon_smile_big:
 
#4 ·
On the cheaper side of (I guess) designer jeans, I’ve always found Banana Republic to fit quite well and look good.

However BY FAR the best jeans I’ve ever owned and fit perfectly no matter the style (they only do one style a year which changes every year) is Gieves & Hawkes. Not Gieves (the A&F take-off) but the real Gieves & Hawkes. Understated and much more of a “formal” jean than those distressed designer jeans we all see for $300+. They are very well made, very nice colour and are more able to be worn with a sports coat.
 
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#5 ·
Are designer jeans worth $200-$500? The answer depends on whether you value name brands. I believe all name brand clothing pieces are really worth half of what you pay for. One half of what you pay for is the quality; the other half is the name. I happen to find value in name brand items, so I am willing to pay as much as I have to for Gucci, one of my favorites, Burberry, which I don't care for so much, True Religion etc.
 
#6 ·
I like the fit and feel of the designer jeans I have over the Levi's I no longer wear. I tend to stay away from the ones with the dramatic pocket stitching (like the big 'R' of the Rock and Republic) and stick with diesel, 7, or AG. I tried on my Levi's after a year of not wearing them and they felt way to baggy and and my wife says "look frumpy". I think it helps to be in reasonably good shape to wear designer jeans.

-BoX
 
#7 ·
BobbyR said:
For jeans and t-shirts, I've been true to Hanes & Levis 501's.
Click to expand...
It's Jockey and Lee for me. Nothing against Levis as I wore them for many years, but Lees seem to fit me better and wear just about as well. The fact that they are about $10 a pair cheaper doesn't hurt either.

As for $100-$200 jeans, I can't see it. Of course a lot of folks don't understand me paying $50 for a new chrome air cleaner cover for my bike when it has a perfectly good one already on it, so I guess it's whatever floats your boat. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser
 
#9 ·
The problem with "the classics" is that like so many other things, the classics which bear iconic style numbers - 501 for example - are no longer produced in the same manner that led them to become classics. Poor quality denim - from the fibre to the yarn to the dying of the yarns to weaving and finishing and construction - is used and the cut of the 501 currently is not that great, in my opinion.

For those looking for high quality and original styling the japanese brands "Sugar cane" and "the flat head" are the ne plus ultra. The fibres for the yarns come from distinguished cotton, the yarns are dyed with natural indigo. The denim is generally made on old-style slow shuttle looms which make only 30" wide fabric with finished selvages. The stitching is beautiful. What an endeavor to replicate standards of quality from just 50 years ago.

Trendy distressed washes, flap pockets, intentionally twisted side seams...these are not what "design" is about.
 
#10 ·
I love my old 505s, but admit that Lucky jeans are rapidly becoming my favorites.

At less than $100 they are a relative bargain, the fit is excellent, they wear well, and the denim itself has great washes and a soft, forgiving feel.

And the xenophobe in me loves the fact that they are still made in the USA. *looks for flag-waving emo*
 
#11 · (Edited)
There is no reason to pay $200-$300 for those designer jeans when they are at Nordstrom Rack for $70-$90. The only 2 pairs of jeans that I ever really wear are a pair of $200 Seven For All Mankind jeans that I paid $85 for, and a pair of $185 Chip & Pepper jeans that I paid $70 - both at Nordstrom Rack.
I think they also have Lucky jeans for $50-$60.
 
#12 ·
I would argue there's no reason to buy those "designer" jeans at all.

Seven, Rock & Republic, Lucky, True Religion - these brands belong in the closet of a teenager. Nothing makes me sigh like seeing a 40 year old man looking ridiculous in that stuff.

Image
 
#13 ·
jrex said:
Seven, Rock & Republic, Lucky, True Religion - these brands belong in the closet of a teenager.
Click to expand...
For me, it comes to down to fit. The "classics" don't fit me the way I want jeans to fit and those brands mentioned above do. And I don't think there is anything wrong with someone in their mid to late 20's, such as myself, wearing Seven jeans, as opposed to 501's.
 
#15 ·
I am 24. The style of those jeans is terrible. Totally cheeseball hollywood style. Levi's makes a collection of "premium" jeans called LVC which are nice. I also recommend the "new standard" jeans by APC.

FYI all these "designer" denim companies have extremely high margins.
 
#16 ·
jrex said:
The problem with "the classics" is that like so many other things, the classics which bear iconic style numbers - 501 for example - are no longer produced in the same manner that led them to become classics. Poor quality denim - from the fibre to the yarn to the dying of the yarns to weaving and finishing and construction - is used and the cut of the 501 currently is not that great, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
This is true. However, you can get museum-quality reproductions of classic jeans, made in Japan from high quality selvage denim, if you are willing and able to drop some change:

www.aeroleatherclothing.com
 
#17 ·
jrex said:
I would argue there's no reason to buy those "designer" jeans at all.

Seven, Rock & Republic, Lucky, True Religion - these brands belong in the closet of a teenager. Nothing makes me sigh like seeing a 40 year old man looking ridiculous in that stuff.

Image
Click to expand...
Those jeans don't look good regardless of the age of the person. Actually they look more like jeans designed for a young woman rather than a man, especially with that ridiculously low rise. These on the other hand look much better.

https://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan0003fj7.gif

For that matter, even these look better than the ones in that picture.

https://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=00011frn7hf3.jpg

Cruiser
 
#18 ·
Levi's for me. I used to wear 505s, but the girlfriend decided I looked best in 527s, so that is where I am now.

For those of you interested, Levi does make some premium jeans at about $100/pair that are made in the United States - they're the Capital E line.
 
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