[rs525]

I've worn jeans off and on throughout the years. Currently I have a pair of Levi's 505 dark indigo because they were considered versatile. They fitted me well at first but when I moved out of my parents to my current place, I put on weight which I have been unable to take off ever since. Now my jeans are a pain to wear, even when wearing on my hips and not my natural waist. Most of my body fat is in my gut and pants have always been an issue with me. But back to the original topic, I tried to wear my jeans again and it just highlighted how uncomfortable they are. I'm seriously considering giving up on wearing jeans and just wearing chinos, tropical wool and cotton linen blend pants (in warm weather) with high rises and pleats. Anybody else feel the same way about jeans?

 

[Charles Dana]

rs525:

Whether or not you give up wearing jeans altogether is your decision, of course. But why not try a pair of jeans in a larger size?

When it comes to dressing casually, 90% of the time I’m in chinos—twill or poplin. Yet once in awhile I feel like wearing jeans. I just do. There’s something so comforting about putting on an old pair of jeans and a flannel shirt on a cool, rainy Saturday. Yesterday I wore a pair of Lee wheat-colored jeans and a dark green cotton canvas LL Bean shirt.

Man does not live by chinos alone. (I hope not, anyway. You walk into a restaurant wearing nothing but chinos and good luck trying to get service.) Perhaps you no longer have an interest in blue jeans. Come on, though—your wardrobe isn’t complete without at least one pair of wheat jeans.

From Lee, I have jeans in the following colors: wheat, battleship gray, medium brown, dark blue, and a more faded blue. They each have their place in my world. I like having choices. (My gut is still as flat as a board, so perhaps that’s another reason I have no problem with jeans.)

 

[smmrfld]

This has been beaten to death on this site. Jeans are fine, as are your other options. Whatever the fabric, the pants need to fit though. Don't overthink it.

 

[paul winston]

To wear any thing is personal choice.
You gained weight.
Buy trousers - jeans or others - with a larger waist.

 

[Flanderian]

To jeans, or not to jeans, that is the question!

Wear what you like and find comfortable, that is the answer.

I came to prefer khakis by the end of my '40's.

 

[Mute]

Maybe you can try a different brand. My rule is, if it's not comfortable, I'm not going to wear it.

 

[127.72 MHz]

This has been beaten to death on this site. Jeans are fine, as are your other options. Whatever the fabric, the pants need to fit though. Don't overthink it.

Amen on the beaten to death.

Why does it have to be about quitting altogether? It was a natural transformation for me but that doesn't mean that I've quit wearing jeans.

 

[williamkazak]

I like long rise chinos, linen/cotton and wool trousers. Work to Weekend Classic jeans by Haggar work very well for me. I have them in dark Indigo and a lighter blue jean color.

 

[eagle2250]

I've always been inclined toward chinos as my go to casual trouser, but I can't remember ever not having a couple pair of Levis in my closet (that fit me well) to pull on when the mood struck and also because the Mrs. really likes to see me in bluejeans. Even in our 70's she tells me they look sexy! An then, as Conway Twitty tell us in the old iconic tune of his, we real men "always like our women wearing tight fitting jeans!"

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I agree that khakis and other tailored trousers are more comfortable than jeans.

 

[Matt S]

I haven't worn jeans in well over two decades. Chinos have been my go-to in the warmer half of the year while cords are what I wear in the cooler half.

 

[triklops55]

I stopped wearing jeans about three years ago. Chinos are just so much more comfortable, versatile and presentable. There's nothing you can do in jeans that you can't do in chinos, except maybe something with a western theme or background. Chinos are also so much more original in a world where everyone wears jeans nearly all the time everywhere.

 

[Acct2000]

I occasionally wear jeans, but I also think chinos are more comfortable. When I am out taking notes for my blog at basketball, football, baseball or softball games, I never wear jeans.

Once in awhile when I'm not really being a public figure, I like to wear jeans.

 

[drpeter]

I used to wear khakis exclusively, but have now come to wearing jeans on occasion, especially since I found a couple of pairs that fit me well and were not so tight in the legs and crotch. I look for comfort and good fit in all my clothes, and khakis and jeans are no exception to this general principle. As for the OP, I think the reason jeans became uncomfortable for him may have been his change in weight. To accomodate this, I think the best solution would be to find trousers (chinos, jeans, flannels) with a looser cut in the crotch and legs. And as he has mentioned, pleats and long rises will certainly help.

 

[fishertw]

Since retiring 11 years ago, I have moved more into wearing jeans in cooler weather. In warmer times, Khakis are the norm. With Covid, I have certainly relaxed my daily dress and still find that I do tend to think closely about what I wear even if just going out to the grocery or pharmacy, (which are about the only two regular stops I make).

 

[fishertw]

I just had a pop up notice from North Carolina public TV that they are broadcasting a documentary sometime in the month of February of the History of Jeans. An appropriate and timely documentary to this thread. Likely most Public TV systems will have it sometime in February as well.

 

[Andy]

I have a pair of RRL (Ricky and Ralph Lauren) just in case I'm invited to a retro Western party. 🤠 Never really a fan of jeans. Didn't have a pair in High School nor any white socks! 👖

I was once quoted in an article about Denim for the Wall Street Journal "I think jeans are fine if you're under 25 years old and doing gardening or changing the oil in your car".

Sorry, but that's just me; always thinking the of the image any article of clothing projects.:devil:

 

[Flairball]

I have always considered jeans to be the wear of cowboys and 49ers, only wearing them when I knew my day involved heavy equipment and dirty. Lately, and trust me, I struggle to write this, I have been considering incorporating my lone pair of clean jeans in to some type of an acceptable, casual, rig. I am doing so in an attempt to not stay so dogmatically in my classical lane. I’m getting older, but wish to remain flexible in my thinking, and perhaps sartorially ideals will be the easiest to challenge.

Also, I have seen examples of what I call rugged Americana style which I somewhat like.

Please don’t disown me.

 

[215339]

I have always considered jeans to be the wear of cowboys and 49ers, only wearing them when I knew my day involved heavy equipment and dirty. Lately, and trust me, I struggle to write this, I have been considering incorporating my lone pair of clean jeans in to some type of an acceptable, casual, rig. I am doing so in an attempt to not stay so dogmatically in my classical lane. I'm getting older, but wish to remain flexible in my thinking, and perhaps sartorially ideals will be the easiest to challenge.

Also, I have seen examples of what I call rugged Americana style which I somewhat like.

Please don't disown me.

Tweed SC and dark jeans is an easy combo that always looks natural.

http://instagr.am/p/CFhRn6OHbgM/
Good old Ralph

 

[drpeter]

I have a pair of RRL (Ricky and Ralph Lauren) just in case I'm invited to a retro Western party. 🤠 Never really a fan of jeans. Didn't have a pair in High School nor any white socks! 👖

I was once quoted in an article about Denim for the Wall Street Journal "I think jeans are fine if you're under 25 years old and doing gardening or changing the oil in your car".

Sorry, but that's just me; always thinking the of the image any article of clothing projects.:devil:

The English, on the other hand, garden in their neckties...they'd probably change the oil too in their neckties.