No more Dad Jeans
June 28, 2015 6:01 PM Subscribe
OK, I've had it with being that guy in old baggy-ass faded jeans.
What kind of jeans should an average-sized guy wear that's age appropriate (40) but not too "dad." Is the Gap still the place? Help!
Levi's. They're a classic brand, so they're hip enough without making it look like you're trying too hard. Go for a slim-ish (but not too tight/skinny) cut in a dark wash with a minimal amount of distressing.
posted by kitty teeth at 6:06 PM on June 28, 2015 [25 favorites]
posted by kitty teeth at 6:06 PM on June 28, 2015 [25 favorites]
I have recently upped my jeans game and discovered that, for me, it's less about particular brands and more about fit and (to a lesser extent) price.
Fit: The right fit for you depends on your shape, but if you have a waist or butt on the wider side, slimmer or tapered cuts really help. Depending on the brand, sometimes I need to go up an inch or two in waist size to get a good fit with a slimmer cut. Not all brands will fit you well! You should try out a number of them to find a fit that works for your body.
Price: I started spending $90 and up on jeans and I never looked back. These slightly-more-expensive jeans fit better, feel much more comfortable, and look nicer. You can spend much more, of course, but I have found that this is the sweet spot for me. One nice thing about going up in price is that you get jeans with about 3% spandex or elastane and this means they are still comfortable even when they look more fitted.
posted by goingonit at 6:17 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Fit: The right fit for you depends on your shape, but if you have a waist or butt on the wider side, slimmer or tapered cuts really help. Depending on the brand, sometimes I need to go up an inch or two in waist size to get a good fit with a slimmer cut. Not all brands will fit you well! You should try out a number of them to find a fit that works for your body.
Price: I started spending $90 and up on jeans and I never looked back. These slightly-more-expensive jeans fit better, feel much more comfortable, and look nicer. You can spend much more, of course, but I have found that this is the sweet spot for me. One nice thing about going up in price is that you get jeans with about 3% spandex or elastane and this means they are still comfortable even when they look more fitted.
posted by goingonit at 6:17 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Uniqlo Regular Fit Straight Jeans - Selvedge
posted by cessair at 6:19 PM on June 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by cessair at 6:19 PM on June 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
As suggested above, Uniqlo's selvedge jeans are good if you're on a budget. If you're willing to spend much more, 3Sixteen's SL-100X jeans fit wonderfully. Put This On has a write-up extolling their virtues.
posted by lunch at 6:24 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by lunch at 6:24 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Levi's. Go with the 511; the 505 used to be great, but now they're total old man jeans.
posted by infinitywaltz at 6:37 PM on June 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by infinitywaltz at 6:37 PM on June 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Lucky also makes good classic jeans at a reasonable price that aren't covered in bling and embroidery.
posted by padraigin at 6:43 PM on June 28, 2015
posted by padraigin at 6:43 PM on June 28, 2015
If you're in New York, Chicago, or Portland, I have had good experiences with Brooklyn Industries jeans.
posted by deanc at 6:51 PM on June 28, 2015
posted by deanc at 6:51 PM on June 28, 2015
Levi's absolutely. Timeless, manly, rugged and good looking.
posted by Toddles at 6:52 PM on June 28, 2015
posted by Toddles at 6:52 PM on June 28, 2015
Fit is a big part of it. I'd go to a department store and try on five or six brands to find which ones are flattering to your body type and style.
posted by deathpanels at 7:40 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by deathpanels at 7:40 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Levis 514s, 513 if you're skinny!
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 8:18 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 8:18 PM on June 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
What kind of jeans should an average-sized guy wear that's age appropriate (40) but not too "dad."
Go to different places and ask the clerks to find something that fits and flatters your "average-sized" 40-year-old body, which probably will not be what used to fit and flatter the teenage you. But face the facts: if you have a "dad" body you might have to settle for something approximating "dad" jeans.
posted by pracowity at 2:25 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Go to different places and ask the clerks to find something that fits and flatters your "average-sized" 40-year-old body, which probably will not be what used to fit and flatter the teenage you. But face the facts: if you have a "dad" body you might have to settle for something approximating "dad" jeans.
posted by pracowity at 2:25 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm going to zig while the others above are zagging, and recommend the new Modern Jean Collection from LEE. I get massive compliments on mine when I wear them, and I recommend them to all my male clients who are looking to update their jeans wardrobe, not break the bank and get something that gives with you and lets you breathe a bit.
Their Premium Select line is also worth a look.
When you get to the site, sign up for their mailing list and get 15% off and sometimes free shipping.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 4:20 AM on June 29, 2015
Their Premium Select line is also worth a look.
When you get to the site, sign up for their mailing list and get 15% off and sometimes free shipping.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 4:20 AM on June 29, 2015
Just a quick recommendation, the darker washes look more modern, less Dad jean. So something else to consider along with cut of the jeans. I like GQ's recommendations.
posted by xicana63 at 5:54 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by xicana63 at 5:54 AM on June 29, 2015
Response by poster: Great feedback. This dad-bod thanks you!
posted by smelvis at 6:03 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by smelvis at 6:03 AM on June 29, 2015
Lucky also makes good classic jeans at a reasonable price that aren't covered in bling and embroidery.
Seconding Lucky. They offer a lot of different styles, and also waist-rise, which is important. I have a round posterior and mid-rise jeans fit me a lot better than low-rise.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:56 AM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Seconding Lucky. They offer a lot of different styles, and also waist-rise, which is important. I have a round posterior and mid-rise jeans fit me a lot better than low-rise.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:56 AM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'll go against the grain and caution against Uniqlo. It's nice to get selvedge for so cheap, but their jeans feel cheap to me, and the cuts are inconsistent.
Instead, I'd also suggest Levis to start, probably a 514 or a sized-up 511 if you can find it (for some reason, I find that 511 in a size up in the waist from my normal fit is really really good all the way down, although a touch loose in the waist). Or, if you have some time and want to play around some, get some 501 STF and soak them and wear them until they dry. Then, if you like the Levis, maybe up the cost just a bit and get some Unbranded jeans, which I find to be the best entry point into the higher quality raw selvedge world.
posted by still bill at 7:47 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Instead, I'd also suggest Levis to start, probably a 514 or a sized-up 511 if you can find it (for some reason, I find that 511 in a size up in the waist from my normal fit is really really good all the way down, although a touch loose in the waist). Or, if you have some time and want to play around some, get some 501 STF and soak them and wear them until they dry. Then, if you like the Levis, maybe up the cost just a bit and get some Unbranded jeans, which I find to be the best entry point into the higher quality raw selvedge world.
posted by still bill at 7:47 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not L.L. Bean? They work for me (43, father of four. -- i.e., a total dad)
posted by wenestvedt at 10:18 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by wenestvedt at 10:18 AM on June 29, 2015
Blue jeans are out. Navy jeans or white jeans are in. Go in one direction or the other, but don't get stuck in the middle.
posted by oceanjesse at 11:43 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by oceanjesse at 11:43 AM on June 29, 2015
How many pairs do you need? Are you willing to pay for a premium brand? I recently broke my husband of his decades-long insistence that Levis fit him well (they don't) and now I buy him Mek or Mavi and the women he works with want to get those jeans for their husbands, too.
posted by Knowyournuts at 11:52 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by Knowyournuts at 11:52 AM on June 29, 2015
Completely disagree about white jeans. No white jeans over 40 man, take it from me.
It's all about the style, not the brand.
Fit:
Avoid: Relaxed fit, boot cut, "skinny" or "tapered".
Get: Slim or Regular, straight.
Colors:
Avoid: White, Light blue, Weird patterns, fraying, pre-washed fading on the knees, patterns on pockets
Get: Dark navy, black, light grey, indigo
Material
Avoid: Spandex (1% if borderline, anything more than that and you're going to blow them out in 6 months)
Get: Selvedge or prewashed cotton. If you are slim, chino style is OK too, but on big butts like mine they look like a circus tent.
My recommendation is these Bonobos jeans. Got a pair a few months ago and I love them so far.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:59 AM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's all about the style, not the brand.
Fit:
Avoid: Relaxed fit, boot cut, "skinny" or "tapered".
Get: Slim or Regular, straight.
Colors:
Avoid: White, Light blue, Weird patterns, fraying, pre-washed fading on the knees, patterns on pockets
Get: Dark navy, black, light grey, indigo
Material
Avoid: Spandex (1% if borderline, anything more than that and you're going to blow them out in 6 months)
Get: Selvedge or prewashed cotton. If you are slim, chino style is OK too, but on big butts like mine they look like a circus tent.
My recommendation is these Bonobos jeans. Got a pair a few months ago and I love them so far.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:59 AM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you're getting white jeans, don't use a urinal while wearing them.
posted by griphus at 12:50 PM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 12:50 PM on June 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
No white jeans. Just...no. If you're 20 and going to clubs a lot, sure, maybe. But if your main worry with jeans is that they are not "dad jeans", you are not and should not be in the market for white jeans.
Nthing the Levi's 514; I just made the switch to those from 505's and they're great.
posted by pdb at 2:10 PM on June 29, 2015
Nthing the Levi's 514; I just made the switch to those from 505's and they're great.
posted by pdb at 2:10 PM on June 29, 2015
Dark denim jeans from Banana Republic are more consistent and grown-up in fit than the Gap (in a good way). In my experience, Levi's have gone all unreliable in fit, fabric, etc. for women in the last few years, but maybe men's have stayed the same. N-thing slim or regular/straight fit.
posted by purple_bird at 3:12 PM on June 29, 2015
posted by purple_bird at 3:12 PM on June 29, 2015
Lucky all the way
posted by jasondigitized at 5:19 PM on June 29, 2015
posted by jasondigitized at 5:19 PM on June 29, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:02 PM on June 28, 2015