I lamented about 6 months ago about not being able to find jeans that fit right or that were in a style I would wear. I haven't bought any new jeans in several years and my current collection is raggedy enough I am feeling guilty when I wear them to work on casual Fridays.
My requirements are a high waist, a large waist (in comparison to the hips - I have no hips), not baggy in the butt or legs, not stretch and not with the "worn" or "grungy" look - I have enough of those already thank you very much. Oh, one more thing, I refuse to pay an arm and a leg for them (to me, that is over $20).
Buffy had offered to get me in touch with a Lee jeans source, unfortunately Lees have too small of a waist and I don't like the pulling feel in the crotch when I sit in them (sorry if that was too much info).
I used to love Jordache jeans, but sadly they have gone to the hip-hugger, stretch and worn look. 3 Strikes and they are out of contention!
Having MLK day off of work, I decided to once again brave the mall and try to find some jeans. Actually, I went in the direction of the Concord Mall, which is also near Target and a different Walmart than the one I usually patronize.
Target and WM had nothing that I was interested in (although I did try Lee jeans again, just to see if perhaps the fit had changed - it hadn't). So I traipsed into the mall almost feeling defeated before I had properly started shopping - and I'm sure those that hate shopping for clothes as much as I do understand that feeling very well.
I always park by Sears when I go to the mall. It is an anchor store, so is at one end of the Mall, plus, it is closest to the street I would use to make my escape. I looked at some jeans there and immediatly ruled most of them out for various reasons (as stated above). Then I came to some Land's End jeans and thought I would try them on. It was nice to think about it, but the dressing room was full (all 3 stalls) and there was a waiting line, so I decided to come back if needed.
I hit Penney's, Bon Ton, The Gap, and about 3 other stores that I have no idea what their names were. The only jeans I bothered to try on were at Bon Ton. They were Levi's and I gulped at the $40 price, but figured I could live with just one pair for wearing to work and I could limp along on my worn out jeans for home-wear.
The fit on those sucked and no one else had anything remotely resembling my stated requirements. I trudged back to Sears and gathered a couple of pairs of Land's End jeans to try on. Amazingly, the dressing room had an open stall, so I was able to try them on.
THEY FIT!
THEY WERE ON SALE FOR $19.99
THEY WERE NORMAL COLORED JEANS.
THEY WERE MINE!
I am now the proud owner of 4 new pairs of jeans. Thank you Land's End!
Glad you found something that fits. If you've not already done so, the next time you look at jeans you might want to try on "talls". You may need to do something about the length of the leg, but they shouldn't pull at the crotch. I no longer wear jeans, at all, but I switched to "tall" sizes in jeans and pants when I was about your age (age has nothing to do with the fit, of course) and found that they fit MUCH better. I still buy "talls" in pants.
(One salesgirl in Albuquerque (circa 1985) gave me to understand that I was NOT tall when I walked into the "Tall Girls" store and asked to see a pair of pants. Needless to say, I was aware of that.
Posted by: Cop Car | January 17, 2005 at 05:47 PM
I usually try on the tall and average lengths anyway.
Posted by: bogie | January 18, 2005 at 04:13 AM
Hooray for you—and Lands End. I guess our local Kmart might have them soon (since I believe Lands End is somehow part of the Sears megamerger). I was going to suggest men's jeans. Seems like you could just try a Lee's or Wrangler's in the right waist size and be good to go?
Posted by: Jackie | January 18, 2005 at 03:17 PM
Hooray! Do you get all of Land's End's catalogs? I'm sure they will be happy to send them to you, and I suspect the cut must be pretty consistant over the range of their inventory. I was astonished to find that they had a bathing suit that I could wear, this past summer.
I tend to like Land's End and L.L. Bean. They are both great at customer service.
Posted by: Buffy | January 18, 2005 at 09:41 PM
I can't remember whether I get their catalogs or not because I don't usually clothes shop thru the mail. Doesn't matter though, now that I know their jeans fit, I can get thrm thru the website.
However, I don't think they should be holding their breath; It will be another several years before I buy jeans again.
Posted by: bogie | January 19, 2005 at 04:17 AM
Good find, Bogie!
Since I dropped my excess poundage I find I can comfortable wear the WalMart specials that usually sell for less than $12. No more $30-$40 fat man's customs for me!!
Posted by: DCE | January 19, 2005 at 07:56 AM
What a great post! I hate shopping in a mall. Before I even go into the store i want to quit. Until I find something I even want to try on it takes time, then I have to find my way to the fitting room and as you said, the room might not be available. There are no shopping carts in the department stores and if you are lucky enough to find things that you want to try on, you have to carry the items. I am tired even before I get into the fitting room.
My favorite place for shopping is in MY CLOSET!!!
Millie
Posted by: Millie Garfield | January 19, 2005 at 10:28 PM
DCE - Besides the fit, the Jordache were sold by Walmart at about $14 - just perfect until they decided to go after the teenie-bopper crowd and change the style completely!
Millie - I know what you mean!
Posted by: bogie | January 20, 2005 at 04:19 AM