Where can I buy real denim jeans?

[gmi3804]

Strange question, I know. But every place I've looked for jeans recently only has "stretch" jeans, not real denim. What's up with this? Is this trend so pervasive that no one's actually making and selling real denim anymore? All of these new ones look and feel like Pajama Jeans.

 

[tvguy]

Walmart. Or if you have a Levi's Factory Outlet store near you, try that. I was surprised at just how limited the selection of Levis is at the Levi's Factory Outlet. They only carry the best selling jeans, not the whole Levi line, but it is worth a shot.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I too have been on the quest.

What I've found is Levi's specifically the premium lines have 100% or 99% cotton.

Also for some reason pretty much all MENS jeans that I've seen are 100% cotton and you can get them EVERYWHERE like Walmart and they are only like $20 compared to women's 100% cotton that tend to be $100+.

One of these days I'm gonna try some men's jeans.

 

[Christine]

Try Uniqlo and Madewell. I think Uniqlo is 100% cotton for all denim and Madewell has some styles that are. Madewll may add Tencel to some styles of their denim to make it softer but it's not like eslastane.

 

[tvguy]

I too have been on the quest.

What I've found is Levi's specifically the premium lines have 100% or 99% cotton.

Also for some reason pretty much all MENS jeans that I've seen are 100% cotton and you can get them EVERYWHERE like Walmart and they are only like $20 compared to women's 100% cotton that tend to be $100+.

One of these days I'm gonna try some men's jeans.

That is all my wife buys, men's jeans. Goes back decades to when she had a horse and the best fitting jeans for horseback riding were all mens.

 

[evilmommie]

https://www.bootbarn.com

Wranglers & Levi’s

 

[jdb in AZ]

How do you get men's jeans to fit a women's shape? Back in high school when I was about 125 lb I tried on a pair of men's pants, and if the hips fit, the waist was about 6" too baggy.

 

[NYCgrrl]

The Gap.
Nordstrom

 

[unrequited23]

The search term "rigid denim" should help

 

[Minnie1222]

For women , I highly recommend 7 For All Mankind.

 

[barkley]

jc penny carries several brands including Levi's.

One of these days I'm gonna try some men's jeans.

there was a sweet spot in time when my youngest was outgrowing pants height wise much faster than he could even break in a pair of jeans-and those jeans were in the equivalent of my size. those jeans are now going on 15 years old and I swear they have better longevity than any pair of comparable women's jeans (including the same manufacturer's-levi).

How do you get men's jeans to fit a women's shape? Back in high school when I was about 125 lb I tried on a pair of men's pants, and if the hips fit, the waist was about 6" too baggy.

unless you are willing to wear a style that's more akin to being lower on your hips vs. waist they tend not to be well suited.

 

[loves to dive]

Like other's have said, Walmart sells Wranglers and Levis. Hubby actually gets his from Amazon, he wears Wranglers.

 

[gmi3804]

Most of these look like real denim, but if you pull at them, they stretch, even ever so slightly. They're terrible, and the static they generate stick to my socks and I'm constantly pulling them down to my ankles. Sometimes they stay there, sometimes not. I hate them. And I can't find actual denim anymore. I'll have to check some of the above. Thanks.

 

[Christine]

Most of these look like real denim, but if you pull at them, they stretch, even ever so slightly. They're terrible, and the static they generate stick to my socks and I'm constantly pulling them down to my ankles. Sometimes they stay there, sometimes not. I hate them. And I can't find actual denim anymore. I'll have to check some of the above. Thanks.

I might want to know what YOU are wearing? All of my denim is mixed and I don't have these issues.

 

[gmi3804]

I might want to know what YOU are wearing? All of my denim is mixed and I don't have these issues.

It's 100% cotton; all these "stretch" jeans (I can't find real denim anywhere) are not. The Wranglers from the Costco site list the materials as (bolded mine):

Features:

• Wrangler®
• Straight leg opening
• Stretch fabric
• Classic 5-pocket design
• Faux leather Wrangler label on back
• Metal shank buttons
• Made in Kenya

Content:

• 98% Cotton | 2% Elastane
• Approximately 490 GSM (14.45 oz.) fabric weight
• Heavyweight

 

[barkley]

Wranglers

I don't know if they still make them but wranglers used to make a 100% denim pant (boys/mens) that had an adjustable waist band-inside there was a strong elastic band with multiple button holes/a button on each side of the interior so you could tighten the waist up. I bought these for years for the youngest in the household.

 

[Imzadi]

Wranglers & Levi’s

Exactly.

It's not where but which brands would have traditional jeans.

 

[Imzadi]

How do you get men's jeans to fit a women's shape? Back in high school when I was about 125 lb I tried on a pair of men's pants, and if the hips fit, the waist was about 6" too baggy.

Yes, that is the problem with men's jeans. Even if they fit in the hips, the upper thigh & legs would be a lot baggier.

That's why Lee (brand) jeans became such a popular women's brand. Back in the 80s they advertised they have a "no gap" in the back of the waist fit for women.

One is supposed to buy to fit the hips. (You can't put extra material in later where there is none. You can't stretch it out beyond capacity.) If a woman with a waist insists on buying men's jeans, then go to a seamstress to alter the waist. Usually dry cleaners have one, or college theatre departments have costume majors that can, and would love to do alterations. (They've made many YouTube and TikTok videos for how to alter too large, used jeans they find at thrift stores.)

 

[tvguy]

How do you get men's jeans to fit a women's shape? Back in high school when I was about 125 lb I tried on a pair of men's pants, and if the hips fit, the waist was about 6" too baggy.

Depends on which model of jean. My wife has a hard time finding comfortable jeans, and found mens Levis 530s to be cut to her shape. Her issue isn't with hips and waist, it is with the legs being too small. Stretch jeans have helped her a lot. Problem with 530s is few retailers carry them. Like I noted, the Levis Factory Outlet here did not. My wife did ask why factory outlet did not carry the full Levis line and the manager of the store said their business model is to be an upscale store selling only the most popular model jeans. And she added, people are surprised that their prices are higher than almost every retailer for the same jeans.

 

[Imzadi]

Most of these look like real denim, but if you pull at them, they stretch, even ever so slightly.

You must be new at buying jeans. I've been buying then since the 80s, way before "stretch jeans" were even invented. ALL jeans material of even 100% cotton will have a slight stretch. It stretches diagonally, which is called "across the bias" of the fabric. In fact, ALL woven fabrics stretch slightly diagonally. Take one of your button down front, all cotton shirts and stretch it diagonally across the back. (While damp, take one hand and grab at the shoulder and the other hand grabs at the opposite side at the hip.) It will stretch ever so slightly. When people learn to sew we have to be aware of which way the bias is on materials so that we don't accidentally cut a pattern across the bias and have the clothing loosen up on us as in the wrong way we wear it.

If you want an all cotton, no stretch material at all jeans, you actually have to buy one size smaller. (We were taught this back in the 80s. Maybe even earlier for older people.) It should be snug fitting in the store as you bend over, sit, and wiggle your hips a bit. But not too tight that you can't breathe. You buy them one size smaller as they WILL stretch a little as you wear it right after washing. Then, after an hour or so, and all the bending and turning and wiggling, and some body heat & sweat, they become the "right size." They you wash them again and they become snug again when you put them back on. This cycle repeats over and over: Wash = snug -> Wear = fits right.

If you buy them the right size in the store, then the cycle is: Wash = fits -> Wear = loose.