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Proper fit = proper comfort in my world was due to skipping fashion trends (well, I had my own puffy shirt affair sometime in the early 70's...). I think women have always had it worse due to marketing and making them into what men, who controlled most marketing for decades upon decades, wanted. Of course, many women went along with it. Who in their right mind would wear skin tight clothes, high heels, etc. without being made to feel you weren't a woman if you didn't? Look at the evolution in the country of women's fashion from the 19th century through to modern times. I think the TV show Mad Men told us what the real story was of how we, as a culture, were so propagandized. As I came of age in the mid to late 1960's, my ideal girl was a preppy type who shopped at places like Talbot's. Ali McGraw's character in "Love Story" was everything I wanted in a woman (save for the foul language). I feel the same today. I like women, so far as wardrobe is concerned, who are quietly stylish, like you, Preppy Climber.

I apologize if the above is a bit incoherent and hope it's not offensive as they're just my observations on marketing and consumerism.
As a photographer, all of my life, I have always been interested in beauty. I photographed models in a Chicago studio. I have photographed lots of weddings. I read the magazines and look at the pictures and the discussions on utube. Other than the RL aesthetic, which I greatly admire, there is French style. Women can be authentic in French style. Not much makeup, a signature piece, like a white shirt, ballet flats, trenchcoat, well fitting jeans. The French women do that really well.
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
As a photographer, all of my life, I have always been interested in beauty. I photographed models in a Chicago studio. I have photographed lots of weddings. I read the magazines and look at the pictures and the discussions on utube. Other than the RL aesthetic, which I greatly admire, there is French style. Women can be authentic in French style. Not much makeup, a signature piece, like a white shirt, ballet flats, trenchcoat, well fitting jeans. The French women do that really well.
Yes, they do.
 
Discussion starter · #45 · (Edited)
These past few days with the new Levis, I find myself wearing ocbds with them and quite enjoy the look. For whatever reason, I never liked the look of one of my ocbd shirts with my Wranglers (which I'd worn for 30 or so years to the exclusion of Levis). I find that a bit curious but it's a great look for me. The shirts are the same, of course, so the only explanation is the cut, color (med stonewash), and fit of 505 Levis on my frame. Call me late to the dance...

Using my phone to take this picture makes it a bit distorted (my torso looks longer than it is) with its wide angle lens but I hope the idea gets across. The shirt is an LLB non-iron ocbd from about 8-10 years ago. Green uni stripes and, while well made, not my usual preference. I think I bought it on a close-out for under $15. But it's certainly large on me now. I was probably 25-30 pounds heavier when I bought it. It's a 16.5/34. The web belt may not be the right choice here but it was already on the pants!
Image
 
As a photographer, all of my life, I have always been interested in beauty. I photographed models in a Chicago studio. I have photographed lots of weddings. I read the magazines and look at the pictures and the discussions on utube. Other than the RL aesthetic, which I greatly admire, there is French style. Women can be authentic in French style. Not much makeup, a signature piece, like a white shirt, ballet flats, trenchcoat, well fitting jeans. The French women do that really well.
One of my dear friends is French. Her style of dress is classy but understated, feminine but not over the top. She wears little makeup. She is breathtaking in her appearance to begin with, but even moreso with what she chooses to wear and how she puts it all together.

Shortly after making the move out here to be with her boyfriend (now husband), my friend was appalled by how sloppy many Americans (both men and women) dress in public. She was especially stunned by the pajamas and slippers shoppers at Walmart.
 
It’s been more than a decade since I sported denim. It is my understanding that 505s are 501s with a zipper fly. They do have multiple quality levels. The highest are the ones at their Levi stores.

Weber does the same with Bar B Qs . The ones at Home Depot are different than the ones you buy from other retailers.

I have 2 pairs of Filson Tin Cloth 505s that I wear rarely. The quality of those pants are pretty high.
 
Discussion starter · #48 · (Edited)
It’s been more than a decade since I sported denim. It is my understanding that 505s are 501s with a zipper fly. They do have multiple quality levels. The highest are the ones at their Levi stores.

Weber does the same with Bar B Qs . The ones at Home Depot are different than the ones you buy from other retailers.

I have 2 pairs of Filson Tin Cloth 505s that I wear rarely. The quality of those pants are pretty high.
Updated: I've returned everything or will be returning the rest of everything I've bought save for one pair of Costco 505s with two more incoming as they went on sale until 10/19. Further experiences below.

505s are said to have a bit more room in the thigh than 501s but they seem to fit exactly the same. But I cannot get on with the button fly so 501s are out for me. As to what quality and where different levels are sold, I'd spent a day shopping locally for the all cotton versions of the 501s and 505s (as well as Wranglers). As they were at full retail, my guess is this was Levi's best quality at these retailers. I doubt there's a Levis store anywhere in my state so shopping at one is moot.

A more telling experience was buying one pair of each version from Amazon (they were also the sellers, not third party fulfillment). Egypt seems to be a popular location for manufacturing the cotton versions. That's where the local stores' versions were from as well as Amazon's. I didn't get too far with the 505s from Amazon as they sent me a pair of obvious returns and in the wrong color. Those were quickly set aside for return. The 501s were horrifyingly constructed with the coin pocket sewed on crookedly with that piece of material 90 degrees off. The front pockets were also uneven with one being larger than the other. The button hole stitching was awful and those also are going back tomorrow. Counterfeit? I don't think so. Junky quality? Absolutely.

Costco's version of the 505s is incorrectly labeled on their website as 99% cotton 1% elastane. In fact, they are 95% cotton and 5% elastane (3% one type and 2% another). They are made in Pakistan and the quality of the few pairs I bought and sorted through were all pretty good. I cannot find these same constructed pants listed anywhere on Levi's site so I think they're made for sale at Costco. The Costco ones are far more comfortable for lounging because of the stretch denim. I preferred the idea of all cotton for these but I gave up on that. Honestly, it's a nice change from my normal LLB Chinos, especially around the house and running errands in town. As long as they're made OK, it's all about fit and I have to say, the Costco 505 Stretch fits me very well. Frankly, better than my old Wranglers (or any version of the new ones I could find locally).
 
These past few days with the new Levis, I find myself wearing ocbds with them and quite enjoy the look. For whatever reason, I never liked the look of one of my ocbd shirts with my Wranglers (which I'd worn for 30 or so years to the exclusion of Levis). I find that a bit curious but it's a great look for me. The shirts are the same, of course, so the only explanation is the cut, color (med stonewash), and fit of 505 Levis on my frame. Call me late to the dance...

Using my phone to take this picture makes it a bit distorted (my torso looks longer than it is) with its wide angle lens but I hope the idea gets across. The shirt is an LLB non-iron ocbd from about 8-10 years ago. Green uni stripes and, while well made, not my usual preference. I think I bought it on a close-out for under $15. But it's certainly large on me now. I was probably 25-30 pounds heavier when I bought it. It's a 16.5/34. The web belt may not be the right choice here but it was already on the pants!
View attachment 98483
The fit on your OCBD is similar to how the women's RL Polo Classic OCBD looks on me. Very roomy. :) I initially thought that fit didn't look good on me. Not too bad, however, for a casual look. The Custom fit is still ideal for me, although my tailor removed the darts and altered the sides to give it a straight silhouette. Roomier now but less so than the Classic.
 
I've worn shrink to fit 501s for over sixty years and never had a serious problem with them. Growing up all 501s were selvedge denim, then in 1970s that changed.
I have owned 505s in the baby cords and a wheat jean in the early 60s. The wheat jean are hard to discribe, they weren't drill cloth (twill).
 
The fit on your OCBD is similar to how the women's RL Polo Classic OCBD looks on me. Very roomy. :) I initially thought that fit didn't look good on me. Not too bad, however, for a casual look. The Custom fit is still ideal for me, although my tailor removed the darts and altered the sides to give it a straight silhouette. Roomier now but less so than the Classic.
Have you checked out Polo boys' OCBDs. My EX is 5-2, a perfect size 4 in RL she wore a size six in the boys' Polo BDs. Sizing is 2 number up, for example a boy's 6 is a woman's 4. In the 80's many ivy men's shops carried women's clothing. Those shops suplemented their inventories with boys' Polo BDs and sports coats, sold like hot cakes.
 
Have you checked out Polo boys' OCBDs. My EX is 5-2, a perfect size 4 in RL she wore a size six in the boys' Polo BDs. Sizing is 2 number up, for example a boy's 6 is a woman's 4. In the 80's many ivy men's shops carried women's clothing. Those shops suplemented their inventories with boys' Polo BDs and sports coats, sold like hot cakes.
Hi! I have tried out boy's RL Polo OCBD's, but the issue is the sleeves. Too short. Fits great everywhere else. I will say it's been awhile since I last checked out their boy's OCBDs so it certainly doesn't hurt to see whether the sleeves are now longer!

I think RL Polo boy's sizing is differerent now. I believe their big boy's shirts go by small, medium, large, etc., or 8, 10, 12, 14. I"m a 12 in boy's sweaters and typically that size in other brands in boy's sweaters and OCBDs.
 
Have you checked out Polo boys' OCBDs. My EX is 5-2, a perfect size 4 in RL she wore a size six in the boys' Polo BDs. Sizing is 2 number up, for example a boy's 6 is a woman's 4. In the 80's many ivy men's shops carried women's clothing. Those shops suplemented their inventories with boys' Polo BDs and sports coats, sold like hot cakes.
So I was curious and did a little searching on Poshmark for boy's RL Polo OCBDs with measurements listed. Boy's 12 is the same--sleeves are at least 1/2" too short for me. Size 14 perfect sleeve length but elsewhere larger than the women's Classic fit. At least now I know for sure!
 
Just trying help. I bough all my EX's clothing and the Boys' Polo saved me bushels of $ compared to the women's RL. I saw your photos on another site, top drawer and rock on.
Thank you so much! And I really apppreciate your help as it prompted me to double-check to ensure what fit works best for me! And yes, boy's RL Polo shirts and clothes in general are much less expensive than woman's. I've been fortunate in that many of the clothing items I've recently acquired and that do fit well are boy's.
 
You absolutely must see Love Story if only for the wardrobes. Not a great movie but it was very much of its times (1969)
Saw Love Story last night. Yeah, not a great movie, but I sure loved the clothes worn. Eye candy. So was Ali MacGraw and her character. She was beautiful and charming in a girl-next-door-sort of way. She's still stunning.
 
Discussion starter · #57 · (Edited)
As to the original topic, one thing I've discovered trying to acquire 2-4 pairs of jeans recently is, as far as sizing, in my limited experience with Levis, sizing is all over the place for the same style in the same size. What I bought at the Costco warehouse vs. what came to me from their online operation were quite different from each other. These were the 505 stretch versions all made in Pakistan with the same waist and inseam. The ones in the warehouse fit nicely when I could find one that was actually well constructed. The ones online, even though ordered in the same wash (medium stonewash), were far darker, had more defects, and much more material in the thighs. Like completely different cuts. I have probably bought 10 pairs and have returned 8. One last pair from online shows up tomorrow and my guess is it'll be the same darker wash (they show the same two shades online as in the warehouse) with the same bizarre fit. I tried washing one online pair which didn't help with fit (inside out, cold water, dry on low). My guess is I end up with the pair in the photo I posted at the top of the thread and a pair of 501s that Amazon was selling a couple weeks ago for half off. Of course, two pairs of jeans is plenty anyway. Sorry, incoherent early morning musings pre-coffee... ;)
 
Discussion starter · #59 · (Edited)
I was able to find another pair of 501's locally in my preferred medium stonewash. Not as good a price as the ones I got on Amazon a couple weeks back (those were made in Egypt). These were from the local ranch supply store and were made in Mexico. A bit better finishing than the Egyptian version. Got the couple pairs of the Costco 505s from online. Again, completely different from what was in the warehouse (darker wash but now, they were 99% cotton, 1% elastane version unlike the ones in the warehouse which were 95% cotton, 3% polyester, 2% elastane) but I kept one pair anyway. So, after all that, 4 pairs of jeans, two 501's and two 505's (stretch) for a total of $160. I'm good on denim now. ;) I'm surprised to find I prefer the 501's over the 505's but they just fit me better as there's a bit less material in the thighs. I tried some all cotton 505's at the ranch supply store but found them baggier there even more so than the 505 stretch from Costco (which is intentional for that cut). I just have that ectomorph frame thing going on. ;)

And, if I haven't said, I've decided they're timeless, not trad even if I wear them with Top-Siders and Wigwam 625s or El Pine ragg wool socks...
 
I was able to find another pair of 501's locally in my preferred medium stonewash. Not as a good a price as the ones I got on Amazon a couple weeks back (those were made in Egypt). These were from the local ranch supply store (D&B) and were made in Mexico. A bit better finishing than the Egyptian version. Got the couple pairs of the Costco 505s from online. Again, completely different from what was in the warehouse (darker wash but now, they were 99% cotton, 1% elastane version unlike the ones in the warehouse which were 95% cotton, 3% polyester, 2% elastane) but I kept one pair anyway. So, after all that, 4 pairs of jeans, two 501's and two 505's (stretch) for a total of $160. I'm good on denim now. ;) I'm surprised to find I prefer the 501's over the 505's but they just fit me better as there's a bit less material in the thighs. I tried some all cotton 505's at the ranch supply store but found them baggier there even more so than the 505 stretch from Costco (which is intentional for that cut). I just have that ectomorph frame thing going on. ;)

And, if I haven't said, I've decided they're timeless, not trad even if I wear them with Top-Siders and Wigwam 625s or El Pine ragg wool socks...
What is your waist and length size? Have you been to Goodwill yet? I got a 505 a year ago almost new there. Yet to wear it. It is quite heavy. Got a white 501 new at Macy's. Yet to wear it. I have been wearing chinos.
 
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