Hi. Now that I’ve lost a bit of weight, I’d like advice from the massive on where to buy a good pair of jeans.
I currently buy trousers for work and ‘loungewear’ from Marks & Spencer. I don’t know how their jeans compare to other outlets. It has been many years since i bought anything in denim
I want something good quality that will feel comfortable and will look right on a man of my advancing years.
Any thoughts?
Dull and predictable, but you can’t go wrong with Levi 501s. Not cheap new, but generally available for 10 or 15 quid from your nearest vintage store. Whatever you do keep it straight-legged, and preferably in dark denim (though my summer favourites have been a light-weight, washed-out looking pair I picked up from the Oxfam across the road from work).
Levi 501s are the best for an older man.
Joules regular fit or slim fit jeans in a dark, inky blue. Plenty of stretch, lend themselves easily to a crisp turn-up and 59.99 a pair. Levi’s 511 also excellent but avoid the selvedge denim as it has little stretch and the colour fades far too quickly. Where money is plentiful, Edwin and Stone Island are excellent today. My recommendation is always a straight or slim/tapered – not skinny – fit.
I use these people…
https://www.buy-jeans.net
I’m still a Levi’s 501 fan though the Wrangler Texas line fit really nicely so I have a few pairs of them in different colours/cloths.
From bargain perspective you can’t beat these, which we’ve been buying for the boy as he grows a foot a week – look great, study, less than 3 pints to buy.
New Mens Straight Leg Basic Heavy Work Jeans Denim Pants All Waist Big Sizes 30W X 32L Indigo https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0748KYYVN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YYGCDbMPYJYNZ
Another shout for Wrangler Texas fit.
Another shout for Levi’s 501s which are still my go to option (although I prefer the lighter blue denim not dark). I also quite like Old Navy (basically Gap’s cheaper range).
The fashion conscious teenage boy swears by these….
https://www.nudiejeans.com/
Far too expensive for my liking though
Just gave the nudie link a quick gander – My rule of thumb is if they look bad on the model, they aren’t going to look good on me 😉
It all depends on your build but for last few years I’ve bern buying Levi 511s. Quite narrow fit on the leg BUT there is a bit of elasticity in the denim. Not cheap but look smart. Also agree that can’t go wrong with 501s although I hate button flys
Another vote for Levi 501s. I seem to buy a new pair every couple of years or so, which means I have three or four pairs in various stages of wear and fadingness. They are just so comfortable for me and I can trust the sizing – I’ve been 36″ Long for ages so shop around online for cheapest deals and know they will fit perfectly. I’ve used Jeanstore a few times now – currently 501s are £59.99 (strangely, only this week I got a promo email from them), and they were very good about replacing a pair last year when a fly button came adrift after a couple of wears.
Another Levi’s man here. 511s are narrow but still comfy. 505s are more like 501s but with a zip fly. I have 2 narrow pairs of Wranglers too, but can’t remember what style.
I have at least a dozen pairs of jeans…..don’t wear anything else really.
They’re expensive, but we have a factory outlet close by, and can pick up 2 pairs for £100.
What’s wrong with M&S slacks?
Legs are ok. Trouble with the footsie!
Yup, Levi 501s when I can get ’em.
Decent alternative – comfort, fit and longevity – Primark (10 to 12 quid).
Avoid the skinny leg section though – they do look daft on a bloke of middling years (ie me)
I like H&M jeans. Plenty of options (various shades & fits). I go for slim fit in a 34”. Other retailers I would be a 36” so this cheers me up.
dull and predictable but Gap jeans are always reliable. Good selection of sizes too, as I have short legs and get a bit bored with turn ups on everything.
As the son of a one-time tailor, I know that the fit is everything.
Jeans are tricky. Avoid boot cut: Simon Cowell wears them to hide his massive Cuban heel. The fit is everything: slim fit tend to work best, even on the larger gent, as baggy clothes on a big man has a tent-esque feel. Slim but not too slim. Avoid skinny-fit – they do nothing for anyone.
I love boot cut, with their hint of hippy homage, and have a healthy stock of Levi 527s. Perhaps they are more suited to the tall and slim? W31 L32.
Levi’s deffo, surprisingly flattering apropos sizing. As a 36 myself, the 34s fit better. You mention M&S, actually they are ok, I have a decent pair of grey ones of over a decade old.
Depends on your. Legs. Wranglers are more capacious.
Are Lee jeans still available?
Costco sell Levi’s cheap. Stretch ones too.
I used to like Pepe jeans in my youth. Anyone?
Lois
Actually, only had one pair and they were pretty shit. But their marketing was excellent – ‘Jeans, Lois, spread the word, fabulois, you must have heard, they’re marvellois, fit smooth and tight, you wanna look good, they gotta feel right, so there’s only one name, goes without saying for Jeans, Lois. ‘
How could a young boy resist?
Yep, 501s are the best bet. Mr B’s favourite, so he gets a pair from me every few birthdays. Debenhams often have them on sale.
I’ve been wearing Diesel for a few years now. A little expensive but last really well and have a nice fit. Latest are called ‘Larkee Beex’ they have a bit of elasticity.
Diesel? Bloody hell, are you a Bee Gee? My kids bought me pair for my birthday about 20 years ago. I think I wore them about once, so unaccomodating were they for any undercarriage.
I’ve had a Diesel belt for twenty years. Recently I had to put a new hole in it. The short end, I’m pleased to say.
Edwin jeans from Japan
Re-Hash jeans from Italy
Both get the duco01 stamp of approval.
Another vote for Edwin. Arket also good and rather cheaper.
Probably not the quality end of the market, but I like Next’s mid blue straight leg jeans. A nice colour, a decent fit, comfortable to wear and reasonably durable for the price – a steal at 25 quid.
I stopped buying Levis because I started reading online about how the quality isn’t what it used to be? Apparently the denim is a lot thinner these days.
Go for Gap chinos instead!
It most definitely is thinner but they were like canvas back then. How tough do they need to be ?
If they’re cheap and online they’re probably the thinner fakes.
Well I bought mine at Costco so they are either knock offs, a special budget line for CostCo or Mini is wrong.
Last pair of Levi’s I bought ((from a proper shop) fell apart quickly. I did some work for Levi’s in the 80s and the Silver Tab 501s they gave the crew lasted for years.
I find that the challenge is not the durability of the denim but the containment of my waist line. Can’t remember the last time some jeans wore out before I err, moved on. 😬
I have too many pairs, most of which I don’t wear [eg a pair of black 501’s that I have never worn] My ‘go to’ pairs are Hilfiger Denton [slight stretch, great fit for me] but my most worn pair are from Tesco :0) A dark blue stretch material that are a perfect fit for me and so comfortable. I think they cost £15
The thing is we all have different body shapes, so the main thing is to find what works for you – and wash them as infrequently as possible.
Also, good advice from Hamlet, above.
Hmm. I don’t buy this trendy “don’t wash your jeans regularly” malarky. If people want to walk around with their jeans smelling like an unflushed toilet, that’s their choice but don’t sit next to me on the bus please.
Its not the jeans that you can smell – it’ll be their arse crack
All boils down to how much you are prepared to spend on a pair of jeans, I suppose. I haven’t bought Levis or any other big name since my mid twenties (a very, very long time ago). They are ONLY jeans and wearing them brings you as much social cachet as wearing a pair of manky tracksuit bottoms.
If you no longer give a jot about the brand name on your bum, just so long as they are comfy and hard-wearing and don’t look awkward on you, then M&S jeans are perfectly fine but I have recently bought some very satisfactory jeans from George at Asda for a mere £15. They look and feel fine, and have washed well.
Yep, Slug: the best-fitting jeans I’ve ever had are from ASDA. It could be a fluke; they’re grey/slim fit and are a perfect fit for me.
Uniqlo. A Japanese casual wear retailer. They did have shops nationwide a while ago but seem to have coalesced those around London now, I think. It’s all available online though.
Anyway, I love their jeans and don’t seem to wear any other brand. Their slim fit selvedge range is in slightly stretch denim (which helps anyone at any age and size)
As said above the fit is all and they’re cut beautifully. Even a lump of pudding like me looks good in them.
Also, they’re priced considerably less than the big hitters. About £39 for a pair.
If you do find a pair you’re happy with then buy several pairs quickly! For a very long time now I’ve favoured Wranglers. Until I was about 50 I could get away with a pair of Wranglers from a US supermarket that were hard wearing and very very cheap (I think they’re still only about $20 a pair!). I currently have about 7 pairs of Wranglers aimed at the UK market on rotation. I’m lucky, in my twenties I was a 32 waist, now I’m only a 33 so I buy a 34 and breathe out! As a 34 leg it’s a lot easier to remember the size as well!
Levis, but the 541 variant for me.
Durability is an interesting issue. I’m not a floor polisher or priest, but every single pair of jeans I have ever had ends up going at the knees – the fabric just goes. Apart from walking with straight legs anyone got any thoughts on how I can prevent this? A reader writes.
#metoo
Amen brother amen. All these people with their vintage classics. Yeah yeah but once the bloody knees go it don’t matter how classic they are.
It’s the same with a suit of armour, I’ve found.
Only one option for you….
The problem with trousers generally is that I’ve a pair of legs that don’t reach the ground. This normally results in Simon Cowelling of the waistband. I wasn’t made for these times.
Who wrote dese legs?!
I could have writted a better pair of legs meself.
I’ve always liked the look of Jacob Cohen jeans.
But sadly, the cost of the said jeans is somewhat above my price limit…
Oh, and the largest size they do isn’t big enough for me. Nowadays, I’m Huge Hippopotamus size.
Bloody hell. I’ve just looked at their website. £525 for a pair of jeans? They look perfectly decent denim, but I’m wondering how fantastic they would have to be to justify the price.
Yeah – I came across a pair of Jacob Cohens that were 50% off in a sale in a shop here in Stockholm.
No good – still too expensive!
I just wonder if denim is a good look for the middle aged and if you’ve lost weight recently, will you maintain your new regime.
Having said that, I wear jeans myself and I’m well past my prime. I get mine from charity shops and jumble sales now though if I was to buy new it would probably be from M&S.
Given the AW demographic, I think you are bound to assure us that said jeans will be red, or at least mustard. Otherwise the good folk of Cawston might mistake you for one of the staff.
How very dare you!
Another 501s boy here, got several pairs in various states of disrepair. Currently, though, I’m rocking (if that’s the word) a pair of R.M. Williams jeans. R.M. Williams is an outdoorsy Aussie brand that used to make workwear for cattlemen and the like and now makes pretend workwear for hipsters.
I got a nearly new pair in an op shop for $10. Considering they cost not far south of $200 new, this was something of a bargain – comfortable, ever so slightly stretchy to accommodate the fuller figure, exactly the same length as my legs (rarer than you might think). I’m hoping they last for ever.
Thank you all for your helpful advice.
I went out and tried on some Levis today. Was happy that I fit in a pair of 38 waist ones.
I decided not to buy jeans after all as they were not as comfortable as my normal baggy M&S casuals. I’ll stick with those.
Good man!