Blue Jeans

chazt

chazt

shave
Twelvefret said:
I had to look up the differences between orange and red. I don't remember having an orange label version. FYI, Difference Between Red Tag & Orange Tag Levi's | Our Everyday Life
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Thanks for the link, my friend. I enjoyed the read :)
Wickham-Soap-Co said:
Stonewashed 618 Orange tab, stopped in the 90's, they were a nice fit for me and annoyed me so much when they were pulled from the selves that I never bought a pair of Levis again.
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Completely agree. Something happened to Levi’s in the 90s that turned me off completely. Tbh, I don’t recall the specific # I bought, but they were Orange tag Levi’s for sure. Started buying them, I want to say it was 1974. I was a precocious 15 year old with a solid part time job and money to burn. My friends and I would take a bus and two subways down to a hole in the wall on the Lower East Side for these Orange tab Levi’s. The fit was great. And then one day it wasn’t. Years later I started buying the Costco denims which at first were pretty good, but they too changed after a time. Eventually I wound up back with Levi’s and have been wearing them exclusively for the last twentysome years.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

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chazt said:
Thanks for the link, my friend. I enjoyed the read :)

Completely agree. Something happened to Levi’s in the 90s that turned me off completely. Tbh, I don’t recall the specific # I bought, but they were Orange tag Levi’s for sure. Started buying them, I want to say it was 1974. I was a precocious 15 year old with a solid part time job and money to burn. My friends and I would take a bus and two subways down to a hole in the wall on the Lower East Side for these Orange tab Levi’s. The fit was great. And then one day it wasn’t. Years later I started buying the Costco denims which at first were pretty good, but they too changed after a time. Eventually I wound up back with Levi’s and have been wearing them exclusively for the last twentysome years.
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Perhaps, @chazt , this is when Levis began to close their American factories. I think the one in Knoxville might have closed in the early '90's or earlier. They had an outlet store branded, "Oops" for seconds and worse. This is where I got those twisted legged jeans in the '70's.

Levis outsources to several countries and Mexico is considered one of the best quality factories. My last two 501's came from Mexico and I made sure of the country of origin before I ordered. Brazil is notorious for counterfeits from what I am reading. Lots of Levis on eBay from Brazil.

The selvedge type has a pattern on the inside of the leg lining that when the cuff is rolled exposes a much sought after look. When I was in HS, I don't remember anyone rolling their jeans. My son in law did something called a "tight roll". You fold the pant legs to be tight and then roll up once. I guess this led to skinny jeans which I do not care for at all. I've always been a baggy pants kind of guy...LOL!!

I agree that off branded jeans will not hold up and especially if used as work that puts a lot of stress on the material. They are too thin.

My son like the Carhartt "duck" material pants so I got a pair. They are really durable. I have a work coat by Carhartt that has a "horse blanket" lining.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

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I washed the non raw 501’s yesterday inside out and hung to dry. I opted for the most worn Wrangler 13 mwz jeans for the week.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

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Today it is 19 degree Fahrenheit and I am outside doting quick chores and was reminded when I bought my two pair of raw Wrangler 13mwz's circa 2017. What I noticed then was how warm these jeans were with knee high socks or with Capilene long johns. Maybe the prewashed Wranglers are more thin.

Also, I have decided selvedge isn't something for me. I do not what to take the chance of "let twist". No reason to return to 1967.

Anyway, if you have an athletic build with beefy thighs, the Wrangler raw might be your jean. I always wash inside out and hang dry now days.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

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Wrangler advertises their jeans are 14.75 ounce weight. Maybe this is why I've been impressed when using them in cold weather. Levis 501 raw jeans are listed at 12.5 ounces. Wrangler makes a 20 oz. jean.
 
HereticHermit

HereticHermit

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Twelvefret said:
From what I have read, the Wrangler 13MWZ are designed for riding a horse with a saddle. The rear pockets are higher so you are not sitting on your wallet and the waist is higher, so you have it all covered.
.......The Wrangler 13MWZ raw denim are circa $25 on Amazon and these raw 501's were on closeout for $39. The "selvedge" jeans I have seen have a finish that look more like a dress weave, not my style in jeans.
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Yes, 13MWZ are exactly as you described. I do like the fact that they are proper high waist and one don't sit upon wallet while driving. The crotch fit is just right if your lumber and gluteal are not on heavier side. Unwashed 12oZ Demin are very reminiscent of yesteryear jeans. But of late this particular style is seeing cost cuts and using a cloth that doesn't even look like traditional twill weave. The one I got last year have a pattern that looks like micro hounds tooth and the attached pic from amazon looks like a canvas weave to my old eyes.
While the concept of 'value engineering' has cheapen out the overall pleasure in owning a well constructed jeans that lasted, the advent of internet have pushed up prices of a jeans because there are a bunch of slick talkers ready to cash on the sense of astonishment and magical status of everyday things, Gen Z have no idea about. I cant help but wince reading white noise of 3000 words from someone guiding me to empty my wallet for pair of simple jeans.
81THHD+WNTL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

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HereticHermit said:
Yes, 13MWZ are exactly as you described. I do like the fact that they are proper high waist and one don't sit upon wallet while driving. The crotch fit is just right if your lumber and gluteal are not on heavier side. Unwashed 12oZ Demin are very reminiscent of yesteryear jeans. But of late this particular style is seeing cost cuts and using a cloth that doesn't even look like traditional twill weave. The one I got last year have a pattern that looks like micro hounds tooth and the attached pic from amazon looks like a canvas weave to my old eyes.
While the concept of 'value engineering' has cheapen out the overall pleasure in owning a well constructed jeans that lasted, the advent of internet have pushed up prices of a jeans because there are a bunch of slick talkers ready to cash on the sense of astonishment and magical status of everyday things, Gen Z have no idea about. I cant help but wince reading white noise of 3000 words from someone guiding me to empty my wallet for pair of simple jeans.
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Thank you for posting. I bought two 13mwz Wrangler “rigid” jeans circa 2016 expecting them to shrink to fit @14.5 ounce weight. I always washed them alone and inside out. One pair got more wear and have a wonderful indigo hew. I’m saving the other pair from the wash.

What I have noticed is show they fit my thighs and calves which kept me warm while performing Winter chores when I had land to maintain. I would use a pair of overalls to protect them if I was operating machinery.

When I compare the Wrangler with Levi’s 501 shrink to fit, the Levi’s don’t snug my legs like the Wranglers.

I am now wearing both brands for multiple days and not washing. If I do wash it’s a soak and air drying. What I am noticing that I didn’t notice before is how soft the denim becomes .
 
Vacumatic

Vacumatic

Testy
....and ripped jeans, never could see the point in youngsters buying jeans with holes in the knees, that is just the point where I am throwing mine away.

I seem to recall a fashion where young men wore suit jackets that were too small for them, they looked like Norman Wisdom.

Wisdom.jpg
 
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