Stretch Denim...friend or foe?

I despise stretch jeans!! They hide nothing, every ripple, roll, and bulge shows; but I can't find regular jeans anywhere. I can't possibly be the only woman who feels this way??

I went shopping this weekend at Kohl's and Old Navy...Neither store carries jeans that aren't stretch! (I asked the clerk)

What Jeans do you wear? Are they stretch? What brand name jeans make them non-stretch?

i wear mostly levi's 505s and 515s.  they have 2% spandex, so a little stretch, but lots of structure.  i like 'em.

I like Chicos jeans.  They have non-stretch.

I was just telling my SO that we need to go to the Levi Outlet store. It's about an hour and a half drive but worth it if I can find some decent jeans. Not only do the stretch not fit well, I wear them out too quick. They just don't hold up well.

I remember going through this. I HATED stretch jeans. I was constantly looking for a pair of jeans that were smaller in the waist but looser on the leg. However, everything I tried aligned my form like spandex. Ug.

Now that I've found a style I like, I'm much more comfortable with the stretch material and I like how the jeans accommodate my movements.

My favorite pair (looser on the legs with mild boot cut) are GAP Essentials. I love them. They don't look like stretch jeans and aren't fitted like a second skin but allow for excellent freedom of movement without permanently re-shaping. (You know how regular jeans will bag in the rear and knees after a while? These don't do that).

A capri-length foundation garment has helped me tremendously with my jeans problem.  No more lumps or bulges whether I wear stretch or non-stretch denim.

Not the best solution when it's hot out, but depending on where I'm going I'll make the sacrifice for vanity! 

Original Post by danij323:

I was just telling my SO that we need to go to the Levi Outlet store. It's about an hour and a half drive but worth it if I can find some decent jeans. Not only do the stretch not fit well, I wear them out too quick. They just don't hold up well.

dj, i'm in canada, and the nearest outlet store is about 2000 miles away, but i just ordered two pair on-line.  shipping and handling is $20, so it's not quite the bargain, but definitely convenient and still waaay cheaper than retail.  canada's on-line outlet store doesn't have a shopping-cart feature, but you can order by email.

I don't like them, either.  They start out unbearably tight, and end up unflatteringly loose (I mean, I love it when my pants are loose, but I prefer if that happens because I LOSE weight, you know?).  I'd just encourage you to look whenever you go out, wherever's nearby, and shop a little on vacation.  I've gotten some of my best stuff while out of town. 

the stretch fabric is way comfy, i buy it regardless... just in a size or two larger than usual :P

I can't stand stretch denim either. I always get my pants at American Eagle (www.ae.com) they come in multiple styles, lengths, and sizes. I'm 5'9/10ish and its so hard to find jeans that fit my length and size that are affordable, and American Eagle has them. Good luck! :)

Alli

Thanks Pgorgian, Maybe I need to do some online shopping.

Just found out the outlet store is no longer there :(

I must be one of the few people here who actually prefer stretch denim.  But then, maybe I've just found the right brand and style for me - I'm thrilled I've found a style that fits my ample hips, but still doesn't gap at my smaller waistline.  (Lee natural fit stretch, straight leg or boot cut).  Although I do like Levi's 515 stretch, but I can rarely find them on sale.

I LOVE STRETCH!

But then again I have skinny legs, thicker thighs and a booty. I like BDG jeans from Urban Outfitters or Levis.

My vote is Friend. Without stretch jeans, I wouldn't be able to wear jeans at all, unless they were custom-made. My waist is 2 or 3 sizes smaller than my hips, so non-stretch jeans or pants are always WAY too big in the waist. Though I do like the thicker, more structured stretch jeans, maybe the ones you have a just too thin.

Original Post by santonacci:

 Although I do like Levi's 515 stretch, but I can rarely find them on sale.

santo, i tried to find an online levis outlet store in the US for you, but there doesn't seem to be one.  that bites!  the two pair that i ordered from the canadian outlet should arrive today, and even with S&H, it's almost a two-fer.

Yeah, I don't like stretch jeans very much either, but I do own a pair for the days when I just want to feel comfortable. Then again, I'm not concerned with them showing any bulges... maybe if your stretch jeans do that, the denim is too thin? Cause jeans that fit well and hug your body nicely shouldn't really show anything, I think.

If you'd like to know, all my jeans are Express. (: They have really good sales sometimes, and I get coupons in the mail. When you use those during the sales, the price is even lower!

I'm a stretch girl all the way, I like the fact that I can wear them all day(or 2), and they still fit the same as when I put them on. I don't get that when I wear non-stretch jeans. With those, they fit right for about an hour or two, and then they get saggy in the bum, and I have to put a belt on to keep them from falling down. I always feel self concious. I can't say that I've ever had an issue with stretch denim showing bulges and rolls, but I make sure that I try them on before I buy them so that there are no surprise muffin tops when I get home. LOL

Being 5'10" my biggest issue with jeans is finding some that don't shrink to capri length when I wash them, and I recently found some at Walmart(US) of all places that fit perfect! Knowing that they don't often carry a line of clothes for more than one season, after I realized that I LOVED them, I made a trek down south of the border to buy the next 2 sizes down, so that I will have them throughout this weightloss journey. lol Hopefully they will still have them when I reach my goal, and then I will have to buy a few more pairs ;o)

Good luck on your search!

Most jeans now days actually have at least 1% stretch material in them.  I've found 100% cotton jeans and they are really stiff compared to the 99% cotton; I just don't like the 100% cotton denim like I used to.  The stores you shop at really determines the quality of the denim.

It's very hard for me to find jeans long enough, I've got a 35" inseam, and I have found heaven in The Buckle.  They have SO many different fits for all different body types.  High waisted, mid waisted, low waisted, etc...  I work for a retail clothing store and I don't buy our jeans anymore, I go straight to The Buckle instead.

I hated stretch jeans until a few weeks ago when I borrowed a pair from my mom and realised how well they showed off my new figure! H&M have really good non-stretch jeans though, my favs are from there!

H&M has some nice non-stretch jeans (I've got a pair)-and, they're inexpensive.

I agree that some stretch jeans are like wearing tights - very unattractive until you have sleek, firm legs (which I still don't after having lost a bit of weight).  But others look just like any other jeans and yet "give" when I sit down which I dearly adore.

We all wore Levis when I was a kid and the problem was you either had them digging into your body (in order to keep them snug-fitting) or sagging and bagging.   A teensy bit of stretch makes all the difference, as long as the denim is quality and not too thin.

Do they have Eddie Bauer outside of the PNW of USA?  I love their jeans, and they have several different styles based on body types.  You can buy them on-line if you like - but I never do that with pants - gotta see them on.

Thanks for the tips - I'm gonna look at American Eagle and GAP Essentials now that I'm a 12-14 (depending on the store, you know how sizes go).