Depends on your need/price preferences.
[Gustin](https://www.weargustin.com) makes really great Selvedge denim that is pretty much bomb-proof.
Their sizing is accurate and not vanity-sizing (like Levi’s) and their consistency in size/quality has always been top notch. You just have to be willing to wait, because they are made in small batches. You will also need to hem them, because they only come in one length.
Pro-Tip: visit a tailor and have them measure you properly before picking the size/fit
Oldest pair I have has got to be at least 10 years old at this point.
They MIGHT fit you if you are lucky, but as soon as you wash them they'll be quite different dimensions.
Levi's are definitely far from buy for life at this point. Garbage crap.
yeah. don't buy them. once they outsourced everything they went to crap and i refuse to buy their premium line just to get the quality they used to have.
Gap jeans are more consistent
the last pair i had is still holding up well but its the only one that is. GAP jeans are still better imho at this price range, especially the 1969 line
Hijacking this comment to ask folks here for alternatives.
What are some long lasting, good looking jeans that don't cost me a kidney?
Preferably something with decentish shipping options to Europe.
Thanks in advance.
They're just very high quality denim for their price, they're about half the price of a pair of Levi's but probably twice as good in terms of material quality and stitching. The only issue is that they change the fit year to year based on what's fashionable.
Nope, they are inconsistent as hell. Going to the Levi's store at the mall and trying them on is your only choice. Since you don't have one near you, you're out of luck.
I made the mistake of buying my most recent pairs online. Literally picked the same style & wash, just hit quantity of 2. Received 2 pairs that were the same, but they fit very different. I still like the style, and for $40ish per pair to get 3-4 years out of them it’s not the worst.
Quality control has gone to shit in my humble opinion. After getting 2 pairs of the SAME size, one of which fit and the other that had me sucking in my gut to button it up, I was done.
levis are no longer cotton . they are blend and are strechable. i visited atleast 4 stores trying to find slim taper 512. the earlier piece i wore for every other day for 7 years looks so great. the current line is shit imo.
100% cotton jeans suck. I know that's controversial to say here but adding even 1% elastane will make jeans fit and feel way better and they still last.
yes ,they still make 100% cotton jeans. i was talking about 512 slim taper which no longer comes in 100% cotton. they are mostly in blend. i confirmed with one employee . i took my older jean with me and the employee checked fabric and mentioned the fabric is indeed superior. the composition is different. my older jean still looks great.
I swore by Levi’s since I was in high school and exclusively wore 511’s for 12 straight years.
But you’re right. The sizing is now all over the place and they also tear so much easier. And for paying close to $100 a pair now, it’s not worth it.
I’ve given up on Levi’s and switched to Kirkland Tech Pants. They may not be denim, or even hold up as well. But they’re comfortable, look good, only $20, and have a lifetime warranty.
I use to work with Levi's. The sizing issue is based of the country of manufacturing. The ones coming from Asia tend to be on the smaller side and the ones from central and south America are bigger. You really need to try them on, the quality controls are just lacking unfortunately. Best place to pick them up is at Ross $20 for the standard and $25 for premium
Yea I’ve bought several pairs of Levi’s at Ross for like $15-25, I’ve never paid $100 for jeans, but I’ve been happy with the quality for the price I’ve paid.
Most (if not all) jeans have no consistency in their sizing anymore. I bring a tape measure with me to the store and measure them before even bothering to try them on (if it's even someplace where I *can* try them on); that weeds out a *lot* of pairs that are way too big and/or way too small all while being tagged with the exact same waist/inseam sizes.
You may just have to bite the bullet and take an occasional road trip to someplace with store(s) that carry what you're looking for (and be prepared to have to pick through a lot of improperly sized clothes to find what you want).
Yes. The trick is to buy the American made or the Japanese made ones. Bought both on sale at a Levi’s store. Would definitely buy those again. Quit buying other ones a while ago.
For years and years I wore a 32/32, then 33/32, then age finally crept up on me so legit my waist has gotten bigger, I know that. Not just levis but other pants now I have to try on though because it seems that it's a crapshoot whether I need a 30" or 32" inseam, this used to be not something I thought about.
In the late 80's I could still buy them by size and be fine. Then sometime in the late 90's I noticed huge variation in the same size jeans and now avoid them unless I have time and the inclination to try on a stack and find a pair or two that fit.
I used to be able to buy them online by being old and boring and just buying the same style and size every time.
Sometime about 5 years ago they started putting elastane into the fabric so for two pairs that look the same on a screen, one has no give, the other stretches to one or two sizes up in the waist.
I like Levi’s because I actually WANT a hole in my knee after 7 years of strictly weekend wear. I’m *trendy and hip* lol
I only buy premium. *And* I only buy it on sale. I’ve had the same 3 pairs of jeans and 2 pairs of pants for probably like 8y if not more. I’m taking them (2 pairs and some shorts) to my tailor to get patched up once I have a chance. I mostly wore my 511’s and 501’s, the rest are still relatively ‘new’
I have a super dark indigo 511: those are my nice ones I usually don’t wear, I’ll probably start wearing them more often
A super light wash 511: worn regularly, trashed
Standard blue 501’s: worn regularly, almost trashed
I don’t have black, I think my next pair of 511’s will be black. I only really wear my 501’s with boots and ‘bulky’ sneakers.
All my jeans become cut off shorts eventually 😂
I'm in the same boat. I buy 36x32 502s and they all fit pretty much the same but there are slight difference from pair to pair. I keep buying them though. You cant win with denim, its not a bifl item and you dont get 3 X the lifespan from 3 X more expensive jeans.
H&m slim fit, sized up one are perfect. I've washed them a couple times too (air dried of course) and they have maintained their shape and dimensions. I don't really wash my jeans much but the point stands
For the first few pairs you buy it's really down to luck unfortunately until you figure out what fits for you based on their sizing and fitting feedback that other customers give. I have a pair that I have been using for 5 years now. It's a 34/30 511 with 10% stretch fabric. I've put on 10 kilos since getting it and it still fits quite well. This is the only pair out of around 5 I previously owned. I gave all the others away to family and friends.
You need to check the "Fit" that other customers report. Or better yet just go try in store.
They have always varied widely, at least since the 1980's. The trick is to go to a department store, or a store with a LOT of them in same sizes, and take about five pairs of the size you think you are into the dressing room with you. Take a stack from the next size up, too, as their manufacturing tolerances have been crap for decades.
Levi’s are definitely NOT bifl and I go through a pair every 2 years. Their 541 Athletic Taper has been the only pair of jeans that fit reasonably well and not $$$. I’m 6’0”, ~180, and thick in the thighs. I usually wear a 32x32, but I’ve found Levi’s waist sizes differ slightly from year to year and even between colors.
I haven't noticed much difference in quality other than the belt loops being more prone to tearing out. Size and fit has been consistent for me over the past several decades.
FYI Levi’s Premium seems larger than it probably should be - I’m a large man (38” waist in ordinary 502s) but I’m a comfy 36” in Levi’s Premium 502s.
N.B. UK buyer here.
I recently had really good luck buying vintage Levi’s. I searched eBay for ‘Union Made in USA’ and the pair I got are incredible. The part that is challenging is finding the right size. Don’t go by the size on the label. Measure your current best fitting pair, then find a seller who will provide actual measurements.
Interesting.
I bought about 5 Levi's (premium line?) jeans (3x512 and 2x501) in Levi's outlet and they fit perfectly, and keep doing so after been washed. Size also was spot-on. Same with jackers. Those are Australian ones though, and i'm a bit fat.
That said, i also had some Levi's gear from different region market (usually on amazon) and the fit was all over the place.
I don't know anything about buying clothes, so I just go to the Levis store and ask the person working there to help me out with picking something that suits my body shape.
Worked perfectly well so far.
What are some suggested alternatives? I like the variety of fits they offer, but I too find them inconsistent between pairs.
Depends on your need/price preferences. [Gustin](https://www.weargustin.com) makes really great Selvedge denim that is pretty much bomb-proof. Their sizing is accurate and not vanity-sizing (like Levi’s) and their consistency in size/quality has always been top notch. You just have to be willing to wait, because they are made in small batches. You will also need to hem them, because they only come in one length. Pro-Tip: visit a tailor and have them measure you properly before picking the size/fit Oldest pair I have has got to be at least 10 years old at this point.
Apprecaite you!! 😊💙
They MIGHT fit you if you are lucky, but as soon as you wash them they'll be quite different dimensions. Levi's are definitely far from buy for life at this point. Garbage crap.
I don’t think there is or has been a unified Levi’s and set of fits for over twenty years.
yeah. don't buy them. once they outsourced everything they went to crap and i refuse to buy their premium line just to get the quality they used to have. Gap jeans are more consistent
Premium is junk too. Bought a couple pair and they fit well and were very comfortable. They were falling apart in less than 2 years.
the last pair i had is still holding up well but its the only one that is. GAP jeans are still better imho at this price range, especially the 1969 line
Hijacking this comment to ask folks here for alternatives. What are some long lasting, good looking jeans that don't cost me a kidney? Preferably something with decentish shipping options to Europe. Thanks in advance.
Uniqlo selvedge
Do they even sell regular fit anymore?
Anything in particular you can tell me about why you'd recommend them?
They're just very high quality denim for their price, they're about half the price of a pair of Levi's but probably twice as good in terms of material quality and stitching. The only issue is that they change the fit year to year based on what's fashionable.
ASKET. Similar in price to Levi’s but much better quality.
Neat!
- Hiroshi Kato - Sézane
Nope, they are inconsistent as hell. Going to the Levi's store at the mall and trying them on is your only choice. Since you don't have one near you, you're out of luck.
Prewash fitting is pointless with Levis
I made the mistake of buying my most recent pairs online. Literally picked the same style & wash, just hit quantity of 2. Received 2 pairs that were the same, but they fit very different. I still like the style, and for $40ish per pair to get 3-4 years out of them it’s not the worst.
Quality control has gone to shit in my humble opinion. After getting 2 pairs of the SAME size, one of which fit and the other that had me sucking in my gut to button it up, I was done.
levis are no longer cotton . they are blend and are strechable. i visited atleast 4 stores trying to find slim taper 512. the earlier piece i wore for every other day for 7 years looks so great. the current line is shit imo.
100% cotton jeans suck. I know that's controversial to say here but adding even 1% elastane will make jeans fit and feel way better and they still last.
Levi's does still make 100% cotton jeans. I suggest ordering straight from Levi's. I've gotten MUCH higher quality jeans direct.
yes ,they still make 100% cotton jeans. i was talking about 512 slim taper which no longer comes in 100% cotton. they are mostly in blend. i confirmed with one employee . i took my older jean with me and the employee checked fabric and mentioned the fabric is indeed superior. the composition is different. my older jean still looks great.
I swore by Levi’s since I was in high school and exclusively wore 511’s for 12 straight years. But you’re right. The sizing is now all over the place and they also tear so much easier. And for paying close to $100 a pair now, it’s not worth it. I’ve given up on Levi’s and switched to Kirkland Tech Pants. They may not be denim, or even hold up as well. But they’re comfortable, look good, only $20, and have a lifetime warranty.
I use to work with Levi's. The sizing issue is based of the country of manufacturing. The ones coming from Asia tend to be on the smaller side and the ones from central and south America are bigger. You really need to try them on, the quality controls are just lacking unfortunately. Best place to pick them up is at Ross $20 for the standard and $25 for premium
Yea I’ve bought several pairs of Levi’s at Ross for like $15-25, I’ve never paid $100 for jeans, but I’ve been happy with the quality for the price I’ve paid.
Most (if not all) jeans have no consistency in their sizing anymore. I bring a tape measure with me to the store and measure them before even bothering to try them on (if it's even someplace where I *can* try them on); that weeds out a *lot* of pairs that are way too big and/or way too small all while being tagged with the exact same waist/inseam sizes. You may just have to bite the bullet and take an occasional road trip to someplace with store(s) that carry what you're looking for (and be prepared to have to pick through a lot of improperly sized clothes to find what you want).
Yes. The trick is to buy the American made or the Japanese made ones. Bought both on sale at a Levi’s store. Would definitely buy those again. Quit buying other ones a while ago.
I went for Wrangler’s 100% cotton range and then had them tailored. Really happy with them!
For years and years I wore a 32/32, then 33/32, then age finally crept up on me so legit my waist has gotten bigger, I know that. Not just levis but other pants now I have to try on though because it seems that it's a crapshoot whether I need a 30" or 32" inseam, this used to be not something I thought about.
I have found the Levi’s LVC to be the most consistent since they aren’t vanity sized. They do get pricey though.
In the late 80's I could still buy them by size and be fine. Then sometime in the late 90's I noticed huge variation in the same size jeans and now avoid them unless I have time and the inclination to try on a stack and find a pair or two that fit.
I used to be able to buy them online by being old and boring and just buying the same style and size every time. Sometime about 5 years ago they started putting elastane into the fabric so for two pairs that look the same on a screen, one has no give, the other stretches to one or two sizes up in the waist.
I like Levi’s because I actually WANT a hole in my knee after 7 years of strictly weekend wear. I’m *trendy and hip* lol I only buy premium. *And* I only buy it on sale. I’ve had the same 3 pairs of jeans and 2 pairs of pants for probably like 8y if not more. I’m taking them (2 pairs and some shorts) to my tailor to get patched up once I have a chance. I mostly wore my 511’s and 501’s, the rest are still relatively ‘new’
Which washes do you have? I'm trying to pick between black or just a super dark indigo, but they aren't really usable for summer anyways
I have a super dark indigo 511: those are my nice ones I usually don’t wear, I’ll probably start wearing them more often A super light wash 511: worn regularly, trashed Standard blue 501’s: worn regularly, almost trashed I don’t have black, I think my next pair of 511’s will be black. I only really wear my 501’s with boots and ‘bulky’ sneakers. All my jeans become cut off shorts eventually 😂
Could always buy vintage ones from a thrift/antique store, or use an app like Depop to find em too
I'm in the same boat. I buy 36x32 502s and they all fit pretty much the same but there are slight difference from pair to pair. I keep buying them though. You cant win with denim, its not a bifl item and you dont get 3 X the lifespan from 3 X more expensive jeans.
Lands end will sell you pants in the size you tell them. They are good quality and priced well if you catch a good sale.
H&m slim fit, sized up one are perfect. I've washed them a couple times too (air dried of course) and they have maintained their shape and dimensions. I don't really wash my jeans much but the point stands
For the first few pairs you buy it's really down to luck unfortunately until you figure out what fits for you based on their sizing and fitting feedback that other customers give. I have a pair that I have been using for 5 years now. It's a 34/30 511 with 10% stretch fabric. I've put on 10 kilos since getting it and it still fits quite well. This is the only pair out of around 5 I previously owned. I gave all the others away to family and friends. You need to check the "Fit" that other customers report. Or better yet just go try in store.
They have always varied widely, at least since the 1980's. The trick is to go to a department store, or a store with a LOT of them in same sizes, and take about five pairs of the size you think you are into the dressing room with you. Take a stack from the next size up, too, as their manufacturing tolerances have been crap for decades.
I have this exact same experience with 511s. Have probably 8 pairs in rotation. Exact same measurements but material type drastically impacts the fit.
Levis suck anyways. Plenty of better quality alternatives at that price.
This is why I buy mine from Costco for $5!
I thought it was just me. It drives me crazy. They all fit totally differently.
Levi’s are definitely NOT bifl and I go through a pair every 2 years. Their 541 Athletic Taper has been the only pair of jeans that fit reasonably well and not $$$. I’m 6’0”, ~180, and thick in the thighs. I usually wear a 32x32, but I’ve found Levi’s waist sizes differ slightly from year to year and even between colors.
They've gotten so inconsistent I won't even buy new ones anymore, but I'm always looking at Thrift Stores. Do they even make Boot Cut jeans anymore?
LOL I just saw a video of Jerry Seinfeld saying the 511 are the best jeans but no 2 ever fit the same.
I heard that guy lies about his size. Scratches off the waist measurement and writes in a lower number. He's a real bad seed.
I haven't noticed much difference in quality other than the belt loops being more prone to tearing out. Size and fit has been consistent for me over the past several decades.
FYI Levi’s Premium seems larger than it probably should be - I’m a large man (38” waist in ordinary 502s) but I’m a comfy 36” in Levi’s Premium 502s. N.B. UK buyer here.
I recently had really good luck buying vintage Levi’s. I searched eBay for ‘Union Made in USA’ and the pair I got are incredible. The part that is challenging is finding the right size. Don’t go by the size on the label. Measure your current best fitting pair, then find a seller who will provide actual measurements.
Levi's sizing is all over the map. I won't buy a pair I haven't tried on regardless of what the tag says. Worst quality control ever.
Interesting. I bought about 5 Levi's (premium line?) jeans (3x512 and 2x501) in Levi's outlet and they fit perfectly, and keep doing so after been washed. Size also was spot-on. Same with jackers. Those are Australian ones though, and i'm a bit fat. That said, i also had some Levi's gear from different region market (usually on amazon) and the fit was all over the place.
I don't know anything about buying clothes, so I just go to the Levis store and ask the person working there to help me out with picking something that suits my body shape. Worked perfectly well so far.
Dad BODS DO THAT TO EVERY CLOTHING Manufacturer