BS: Where to buy jeans in UK

Subject: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 08:54 AM

Ok...my favourite jeans will wear out before long because I only have one pair of them, and I can't find any anywhere that fit all my criteria. These ones came from Dorothy Perkins about four or five years ago. They are narrow leg, up to the waist non-stretch, short (as I am only 5'1"). I find it very difficult to find jeans that aren't stretch and I really don't like stretch jeans at all, nor do I like low-waist...I have to keep pulling them up all the time. I can't afford to pay £60+ for jeans...perhpas if I could I might find what I was looking for, but these ones were only £20. Does anyone have any idea where I can buy my ideal jeans?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 11:58 AM

I can't give any direct suggestions, since we're in different markets, but in the US you have to wear whatever's "in" with the fashion conscious crowd if you expect to get jeans from any of the typical retail outlets. Since nearly all of the major brands are now "made in Taiwan," or India, or China, whatever's available should be in your market as easily in mine, if the buyers choose to ask for them.

My criteria are quite a bit different from yours, but I've found comfortable, reasonably priced, jeans - in "old fashioned" styles - in a couple of larger "truck stops." n the US, long-haul truckers get them for the durability and comfort, and there are "niche" producers who sell where the truckers stop.

If you can think of a fairly large "trade group" likely to wear "working denim," and figure out where they go, you're likely to find more reasonable and more comfortable jeans.

Note that while you can often find unique merchandise at a truck oasis, the old myth about "the best place to eat is where the truckers stop" is pure B.S.. Truckers have to stop where there's room to park the truck, so they're "captive" to some of the worst food around. For good food, you stop where the motorcyles park, 'cause they can stop anywhere that the food is good. Just avoid the places where the bikes are all the same brand (usually Harleys here) with lots of chrome, because that's probably a "wannabee" club of people with no taste or knowledge, who never travel far enough to find the good stuff.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: open mike
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 12:02 PM

i find thrift shops the best place to find them,
and i have gotten good deals at farm supply store..
where tractors, feed, seed, etc. are found. Would
there be stores of that type in your area? How
about e-bay? or ask a US mud cat to bring some over!!

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: woodsie
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 12:03 PM

Shops?

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: Sooz
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 12:48 PM

Tesco Value - £4 a pair for non - stretch!
Why don't you like lycra? It makes wearing jeans so much more comfortable.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 01:36 PM

Next Petite. Don't know about the 'lycraness' of them, but yes why not. They move with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 01:54 PM

Yeah, they move with you, they also sag and go all floppy..I like my jeans fairly tight and stretch jeans don't STAY tight. Sooz I bought some Tesco value jeans and they are great except for the fact that they are low-waisted and I find that really uncomfortable. They also only come in one length, which means I have to take them up which I'm too lazy to do (the ones I have, I'm still wearing rolled up at the bottom)

Yeah Woodsie, shops...but the whole point of the question was to find out which shops sell the sort of jeans I want.

As for 'working jeans', the only ones I've seen have been for men, not women...I only take a size 10. And working type jeans are not usually fitted enough for me. 'Figure hugging' is the phrase that covers what I want I think.

Thanks for the suggestions guys....any one got any more?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:03 PM

ASDA £4 excellent value and nice fit

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:22 PM

Cool! Thank you Guest, I'll try that!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,Fashion guru
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:33 PM

Also try Ethel Austen where they sell mens jeans, which you may find fit you well as many of my female friends have.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 03:04 PM

Yep, Tesco £4 quids for me. Well, for work anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: mg
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 03:48 PM

Lands End jeans are usually supposed to be good..don't know what postage to UK would be. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 04:48 PM

Is Ethel Austen a US shop? I've never heard of it.

Presumably Tesco men's £4 jeans aren't 'low waist'. That's my one complaint against them. I want ones that come up to my waist.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 04:59 PM

I think it's ethel austIn in UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: JennieG
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 07:21 PM

It's no easier here in Oz, Lynne. Fashion at the moment demands low-slung jeans with tight tops and rolls of flesh in-between. I have some jeans with lycra and don't like them as the fabric doesn't breathe, I won't be buying that fabric again. And they aren't quite high enough in the waist so I spend much of my time hitching them up. Whinge moan. A friend who worked for a charity for a while told me that they have so many jeans donated they don't even bother to try to sell them; most are just thrown out, even brand-new-still-have-the-shop-tag ones. Seems a great waste (waist?) to me.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 05:42 AM

My problems exactly Jennie....Australia used to have Amco jeans , which were my absolute favourite, but I believe they disappeared a few years ago. I actually stil have a pair of Amco Peaches jeans from 30 years ago would you believe! Until I lose that annoying 4 or 5 lbs I can't quite get into them though.

Fashion is a pain in the bum! I've noticed this often...one particular style comes into fashiln and for a while that's all you can get...no choice, no difference whether you happen to be 15 or 50. All the main stores stock that one thing and nothing else.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 07:01 AM

John In Kansas:

Re: Places to stop for eats on the long long road.

At one time I spent a lot of time on a motorcycle, and I looked for the trucks. But your point is a clever one.

In the book: "Blue Highways" William Least Heat Moon said he would check out a road stop and look for the number of calendars on the walls, the more calendars, the better the food.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,Fashion guru
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 07:57 AM

Yes, Ethel Austen is a UK shop.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:34 AM

I've never heard of Ethel Austen...there can't be any around where I shop. I know all the places like Dorothy Perkins, Next etc have almost all stretch jeans, so I would have thought the other 'chains' would be the same

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: gnomad
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:30 AM

Don't know if this might help (not really my field) but I'm with you in prefering to see higher waists - the protruding roll of fat school of fashion is a mistake i.m.o.

Lands End UK - Ladies Jeans

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: Layah
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:37 AM

I've found that buying clothing in the UK is prohibitively expensive (I've never seen any clothing in Tesco near me) but there are a lot of charity shops, and they have a lot of jeans, and since they aren't all new they aren't all in style so I can find ones I actually like. Finding them short enough is a different matter. I don't know how you manage, I'm 5'4" and I can't ever find jeans short enough. I've given up and I just hem them, because if I keep looking for ones that fit I'll never get to buy any at all. Occasionally in charity shops I'll be lucky and find a pair someone else has already hemmed. I also dislike low waists because I'm always pulling them up.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: sue exhull
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:43 AM

Hi Lynn   I also have same problem Im 5ft 1 and take size 8, Next do sometimes have decent fit , but Ive just ordered some from a mail order catalogue www.redoute.co.uk they do shorter length , only just sent for them so dont know what they are like yet, maybe you could take a look, hope this helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,Fashion guru
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:55 AM

Ladies. I have to come down to the fact that mens jeans for many women are a better fit than ladies ones. Also if you are a smaller size, buying boys jeans works out generally cheaper. Ethel Austen have mens jeans, which are very servicable, on offer at the moment for £8 for two pairs. I wear them all the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 03:45 PM

In the past when I've worn men's jeans, the waists were too big in relation to the hips and they were always MUCH too long. It's a thought though, and I'll have a look at the men's section.

Sue, the jeans I'm wearing at the moment are from La Redoute...I use them all the time as their clothes tend to be better quality than a lot of catalogues. These jeans are great...non-stretch, short, fit well except for the fact that they are low waist. Not really low, just an inch or so below my waist, but still uncomfortable in consequence. The best I've managed so far, but still a long way from being as nice fitting and comfortable as my old Dorothy Perkins jeans.

I always trawl the charity shops, but they have very few as small as a size 10, they're usually mostly 14, and these days the majority seem to be stretch. I do have one nice pair I got from a charity shop called "Americanos"..just right, but just slightly too tight until I lose that 4 lbs!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: JennieG
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:13 PM

That's an idea, I will try the mens section. I had a look in a few charity shops today but all their jeans seemed to be high fashion low cut too. I also saw some dreadful sights in the name of fashion this morning.
Lynne....I even remember the advertising poster for Amco Peaches!

Today is a very humid sunny day in Sydney, and the last thing I want to be wearing is lycra or any other sort of synthetic fabric, but that's what most ready-made clothes here are made from. Perhaps it's time to go back to the sewing machine, I can sew after all, I just get lazy sometimes.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:30 PM

Asda/Walmart also ask £4 for good jeans.
No designer label, though - you need another £100 for one of those beauties

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:53 AM

You're right JennieG...I used to make most of my own clothes before the days of kids etc. Trouble is, I never managed to make a succesful pair of jeans! I actually buy most of my other clothes in ethnic-weirdo shops and markets at festivals. No jeans there!

Bill the Collie...not sure what the use of a 'designer label' is....any ideas? They're b***dy expensive for something useless!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: Davetnova
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 08:36 AM

Matalan seem to stock a fair variety of styles and sizes. Their house brand (Zantos) are OK and about £8 a pair.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: GUEST,sweething2u
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 03:55 AM

I am from the USA and I am 5.4 inches tall and my favorite jeans are the Levi's ($25 USD), or Rangler's ($15 USD). You can get them in short sizes( 30" inseam), slim fit, and high waisted too. I wear size 8 now but was a size 10 about a year ago. I absolutely wear nothing else! Maybe if that's in the price range you are looking at, (not sure of the money exchange rates), you could get someone from the US to buy them for you for a couple of dollars profit + shipping? Just a thought. May end up costing more than you want to spend for jeans.

Sweething2u

Subject: RE: BS: Where to buy jeans in UK
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 05:30 AM

Thanks for the suggestion Sweething, Levis and Wranglers are MUCH more expensive than that over here. It's worth looking into....

Dave...Matalan may be great for men's jeans, but when I looked in there recently, all their women's jeans were stretch.

Love Lynne