I got a pair of Albam - Japanese denim, made in UK which I think copy an old levis 501 pattern. £70 odd. Slim not tapered if you want a decent-ish rise.

Last edited by colin (2012-03-01 15:36:05)

For cheap, Levis 505 shrink-to-fit, or "rigid."  I don't buy any of that urban cowboy, $300, tripe.  Jeans are jeans.  They're supposed to be cheap and durable, not a piece of marketed fashion.  I strive for my jeans to just look decent.

Were good quality jeans cheap back in the day?  I'm sure the top brands - Levis, Lee, Wrangler - had higher quality and much more appeal than the run of the mill, so their prices must have reflected that.  Not that £250 is reasonable for Levis.  Aero Leather had and probably still have various nice repros, although in 3 figure territory.  A lot of money for jeans, to say the least, but the ones I've seen look outstanding.

They're a pair of jeans at the end of the day though; always a bit scruffy, no matter how superb they might be.

Last edited by Yuca (2012-03-02 01:50:42)

I think many of us consider expensive jeans a bit absurd, when the likes of chinos or cords are available cheaply and look better in many instances.  I do have some Japanese Lee repros, and they are superb, but I very much doubt I will bother spending decent money on jeans again.  Aero Leather had some repro Wranglers a while back that looked nice and were a ton as I recall.  Still expensive, but tasty and cheaper than other repros due to being made in Poland.

I've got an original Big E Levis denim jacket that was my dad's, he bought it C.1965. He told me it cost him the best part of his weeks wages - £6 as I recall.

Do apprentice painters and decorators earn £250 quid a week now? It'd be interesting to work it out............

If anyone fancies trying them out, I'm fairly sure I have a pair each of the 'Original' fit in 32" and 33" (?) waist from a couple of years back. Only worn/washed a few times as too big, and almost certainly 32" leg. Let me know if interested and I'll rake them out to check.

Kind of free to good home/swap for a CD sort of thing.

Last edited by Moose Maclennan (2012-03-02 04:00:35)

LL Bean Classic Fit.

I used to wear nothing but 501s, but they're no good any more now that they've dropped the rise and changed the denim.

Again i rate the jason by gant, you'd have to get them tapered, i'm gettin a couple pairs of them done next week. And our tailor is now instore so i can do a before and after to show you what they can be turned into.

My last pair was the 501 ltd edtion to celebrate 125 years of making them. Based on the 501 from 195something. Salvedge, they seem to have really kept their colour. Wish I'd have got a few pairs now. Think they were a ton.

I've a couple of pairs of H&M cotton trews that have been ok.

Jeans are very much a consumable in my eyes as I'm a bit of yo-yoer in the weight department,  I also think anything over 100 is a folly.

I do rate Albam for quality, but Beans are good for the price also.

I'm tempted to make the Gant that Oop rates as my next purchase.

Last edited by Richard Bergman (2012-03-02 07:30:02)

Last edited by Shamrockorangutan (2012-03-02 13:46:26)