Help me find some cute jeans!

May 12, 2009 1:00 PM

Looking for some stylish, slim jeans for a 18 year-old male, very slim college student.

I'm an even six foot (or maybe 1/16" off), and weight about 133-135. Yeah, pretty skinny. I'm looking for some good jeans that fit well. My current favorite pair is a pair of "Levi Signature Authentics" or something that I bought at Target, reeeeeeeally cheap. They're "Slim Straight", but Target has since switched to selling "Vintage Straight" which, well, aren't slim enough.

I like fairly close-fitting clothing, my wardrobe consists mainly of small concert tees, hollister/american eagle shirts/sweaters/polos, and anything else that I like. I wear 30/32 jeans (usually). My price range is preferably $40-60, but I could be convinced to go outside that. Looking for a dark-ish blue color. Not black, not navy. I kind of like the look of these: as a reference. It's an hour's drive to the nearest large-ish city (Tucson), so not a wide assortment here. I drive into the city sometimes, though.

I am *not* looking for those "skinny" jeans that the wannabe skater kids wore in high school. I'm fine with paying more for a decent pair that will last a while, I wear jeans probably 335 days out of the year. I have very little experience with buying jeans, and none with buying decent jeans that aren't Levi's. I just always wore whatever my mother bought me until I started carrying, then whatever pair of random slim levi's I found.

Picky, I know, but thanks!

posted by Precision to clothing, beauty, & fashion (16 comments total)

Levis 507s are a skinny jean up top and boot cut on the bottom. They're only in Levi's stores, but they might be what you're looking for. . .
posted by No New Diamonds Please at 1:05 PM on May 12

Levis has plenty of "Slim Straight" jeans in your price range. The ones you (probably) probably want are the 514's, which are slim without being retardedly skinny. They're widely available for less than the Levi's store "official" price.
posted by dersins at 1:08 PM on May 12

Looks like you're out in Arizona, but if you ever manage to make it to New York City, Uniqlo's Slim Straight jeans are perfect, and much better quality than Levi's 514s (I too am tall and thin, and own both).
posted by saladin at 2:20 PM on May 12

my girlfriend got me a pair of A.P.C. Petit Standards for Valentine's day, and they're really great. after a few days of break-in, they were very comfortable, and they're made out of really thick high quality denim. i thought it was ridiculous what they cost until i wore them for a few months.
posted by TrialByMedia at 2:29 PM on May 12

The SomethingAwful fashion subforum would probably be a good resource for you, actually; there are some real jeans experts on there.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:29 PM on May 12

I'm 6' and ~145lb, and I usually wear a 32/34 - which, let me tell you, is a frustrating combination to look for. I'm actually going out after work to pick up another pair of Levi's 514s, since they actually work on me.

The nice thing about finding Levis that work is that they're numbered, so if you really do like a particular model number, you can hop online, try to find more, and order them knowing that as long as the color's good, they'll fit as expected.
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:34 PM on May 12

Seconding Uniqlo jeans. Inexpensive, well made, and fashionable.
posted by cazoo at 3:30 PM on May 12

I asked a similar question for my son awhile back and got some very helpful responses. Hopefully they'll work for you too.
posted by amyms at 3:30 PM on May 12

For the price, the uniqlo slim straights recommended above are absolutely outstanding.
posted by muteh at 3:31 PM on May 12

They're out of your price range, but APC New Standards or New Cures would probably fit you very well. New Standard is a straight leg cut, New Cures are more "skinny jeans." I only suggest them since you mention that you wear jeans 335 days out of the year and these jeans really benefit if you wear them a lot (without washing) - they start a dark indigo color, but develop natural fades and creases as you wear them. They go for about $155 online and probably a bit more in a brick-and-mortar store.

StyleForum and SuperFuture are two places to go to ask denim questions, although they will more than likely point you to more expensive jeans.

I also second the Uniqlo recommendation although they are a bit hard to find if you don't live in NYC. I've heard you can order from them online but I've never tried.
posted by pravit at 3:49 PM on May 12

I'm 6', 165 lbs. and just got two pairs of Levi 527's from Langston's for around $30 each. My wife tells me they look fabulous on my skinny butt.

Both pairs of jeans were new and had price tags on them that said $58 - so helluva deal. They look very similar to the sample you provided.
posted by siclik at 3:53 PM on May 12

If I remember correctly, you cannot order from Uniqlo online, but you can shop the site and call the NYC store and order by phone.
posted by TrialByMedia at 4:05 PM on May 12

I've also heard good things about Gap's new selvage denim jeans, but every time I've been to Gap recently they've never had smaller sizes (of anything) in stock.
posted by pravit at 4:25 PM on May 12

I'd try on before you buy, if that's at all possible— you'll want to buy any dry or selvage denim rather snug, as it will stretch in the waist and seat area. Moreover, rise measurements and seat/crotch shape vary so much between manufacturers and styles, and that's a critical part of having jeans that fit well and look that way.

Another is care, i.e. handwash only when necessary, line dry inside out, rotate pairs if possible. Even if you're not going for the denim-head look like whisker lines and honeycombs—which are particular kinds of wear patterns—you'll get longer life and a better looking pair of jeans by avoiding machine wash/dry.

Levi's 501 Shrink-to-Fit are an unwashed, indigo dyed denim that's cheap (usually about $40 online or in a department store), but they have a cut that's not for everyone.

Caveat about the Gap denim— I have a pair of their original indigo 'slim/straight' jeans (not the ones linked above), and while they're fairly well made and have worn nicely for their price, they don't fit as snugly as I'd like, especially in the upper thigh/butt area. And I tend to fill out that area in most denim.
posted by a halcyon day at 5:54 PM on May 12

APC's

Greatest invention since the wheel.
posted by Zambrano at 7:32 PM on May 12

One more voice for the APC's. Either the New Standard or Petite Standard are great fitted jeans that won't billow around your legs. Follow the sizing guidelines that Context suggests as these jeans stretch A LOT. They are as good a pair of jeans as you can get without blowing a huge wad o' cash.

I've heard good things about Naked & Famous or Nudie but cannot personally vouch for them.

If you must buy cheaper jeans, avoid the shrink-to-fit (actually shrink-to-baggy) Levi's 501. Very disappointing jeans. The Levi's 517's are decent if you can get them in the dark indigo wash. The slim fit Wrangler 936's fit well and wear well, but I dislike the color they fade to (a sky blue).
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:12 AM on May 13