As usual, I love this place as the fountain of all knowledge both automotive and non automotive.
I live in jeans, especially at work. Thank the FSM for business casual. I love jeans with a button down Oxford or office shirt with a sports coat or blazer in the cooler months. But finding seven loop jeans seems to be harder and harder. I absolutely hate five loop jeans/pants, there is just too much gap between the loops with five loops. I, and anyone who is so much as an ounce overweight, read approx. 90% of the adult US male population, seem to end up with one high point right at the back (middle loop) with an unnatural kink in the belt as it then wraps down and around to the side loops. Once I ascend to my rightful place as benevolent dictator of the universe, I shall update the Geneva convention to list five loop pants as a crime against humanity, and every company that's ever made a pair will need to replace them free of charge with six or seven loop pairs.
So, here's the question. Who still makes good quality, reasonably priced, say up to $60 a pair, slim cut (not skinny) business casual jeans?
Trent
PowerDork
9/30/21 10:38 a.m.
Oh man, don't get me started on the downward spiral of the quality of Jeans. Levis went down to 5 loops a few years ago. I assume like every other change it is a cost cutting measure, just like the "stretch" feature (Lycra is less expensive than cotton)
For me I have to have non stretch. I prefer a 7 belt loop situation. I go with the Carhartt "holter" line which are available in a few different fits. You have to go to a farm store or purchase online. Every department store that stocks Carhartt around here has stopped carrying anything but the flex or stretch style.
I am open to other options. The Duluth (not the 40grit line) seem well assembled and long lasting but I hate the "ballroom" gusset.
Stop me before I start to rant about what has happened to socks!
Dickies makes some good quality 7-loop jeans.
Hmm, interesting stuff. I must admit I never considered Carhartt (local Detroit company though. Woohoo), Duluth or Dickies, I always think of them as worksite hard wearing jeans, not smart office jeans.
Lee actually makes a decent 7 loop Jean, that and kohl's cash is why I wear them.
Wrangler. And don't discount their stretchy jeans. I accidentally bought a pair a while ago, and I won't go back. I think they are actually tougher than the all cotton ones.
I cannot, in good conscience, reply to the "slim cut" question.
mtn
MegaDork
9/30/21 11:01 a.m.
In reply to mtn :
Thanks. I"ve ordered some from All American based on your post. Let's see how they turn out. It took some time looking at the pics and reading the description to find style that didn't shout laborer, roughneck or rancher, but I chose the 'Men's original' dark stone wash to avoid boot cuts, rivets, extra pockets etc. Test drive forthcoming!
mtn
MegaDork
9/30/21 11:58 a.m.
Please do. The rancher/roughneck/laborer style is the same issue I have with most of these. And that is nothing against any of those professions or the style, heck, I have a few pairs for yard work and fishing and the like - but it doesn't work if I'm wearing a sport coat and in meetings at a F500 company.
mtn said:
Not the most stylish, but the price is right and they're well made. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men's-jean.product.100513855.html
They USED to be well made.
A few years ago they (I am guessing to keep the price the same) seriously cut the quality / durability of the jeans. Still OK jeans, they just don't have anywhere near the durability they used to have.
I do wish they would bring back the old style and just raise the price (which is likely to happen soon anyway).
Just to pile on to the rant: I quit wearing jeans years ago-simply not durable enough for my active (clumsy oaf) lifestyle. I switched to Dickies work pants, and was happy with them for some 20 years, but they, too have taken a profound nosedive in recent years. Duluth, Carhart, etc seem like the only way forward. Premium price, but maybe more economical in the end.
In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :
L.L.Bean
In reply to mtn :
Nope. I just counted on the pair that I'm wearing.
I wish I could help. I've been working at home for 18 months, and now they are closing are local office permanently. So I mostly wear pajama pants and gym shorts.
mtn
MegaDork
9/30/21 1:12 p.m.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:
In reply to mtn :
Nope. I just counted on the pair that I'm wearing.
Show me the ones I can buy today... There are a few online that have 6 loops, but most of them are 5.
Sidenote: most of their jeans seem to be lined, which really annoys me.
Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) said:
Hmm, interesting stuff. I must admit I never considered Carhartt (local Detroit company though. Woohoo), Duluth or Dickies, I always think of them as worksite hard wearing jeans, not smart office jeans.
Pretty much all my pants have a hammer loop :)
(checks) ...including the Carhartt shorts I'm wearing right now. I had a tire pressure gauge hanging from it yesterday. And they have 7 belt loops.
As for lycra in demin, the market has spoken. The market likes it and has liked it for a long time. Enough that it caused problems with the production of American currency which no longer uses recycled denim.
LOL. Hammer loops, extra pockets are all well and good, and I have jeans/work pants with them which are great for working on houses etc. But I work in Engineering at a tier one automotive supplier, and work jeans aren't really what I need for the office!
I think I would trust an engineer more if they had hammer loops on their pants.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Not going to talk about positions, but at the end of the day business casual only goes so far! Although I do wear my Kilt for office parties!
I don't wear real denim much any more but at $8.99 in the store when I bought them, I have a pair from Rural King https://www.ruralking.com/rk5poc
5 Pocket
100% Cotton
Relax fit
Made in Madagascar
7 loops
They are not crazy thick denim but they are not crazy thin either. I just now read the reviews online. Many reviews complain of the quality/durability. So, these might not be real "farmer grade" but I'll bet they are "office grade." At less than $10 how long do you really need them to last? You were willing to spend $60...that would get you 6 pair! You'd never have to wear an old pair.
Only two Rural King locations in MI. Closest to you is Hartland, MI where M59 meets US23. North of Brighton, MI and South of Fenton, MI. Do they ship?
Rural king also carries a large selection of Carhart and Wrangler too.
Check out Tractor Supply too. My go-to choice is their house brand Blue Mountain canvas utility pants that are often $10-ish in the stores. Tan, gray, green, brown, etc. The ones I get are carpenter cut. These denims from TSC might be right for you
mtn said:
Not the most stylish, but the price is right and they're well made. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men's-jean.product.100513855.html
It Kirkland though so I imagine 30 x 30 is roughly equivalent to 40 x 40 in the real world.
Streetwiseguy said:
Wrangler. And don't discount their stretchy jeans. I accidentally bought a pair a while ago, and I won't go back. I think they are actually tougher than the all cotton ones.
I cannot, in good conscience, reply to the "slim cut" question.
I concur with streetwise.
ProDarwin said:
mtn said:
Not the most stylish, but the price is right and they're well made. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men's-jean.product.100513855.html
It Kirkland though so I imagine 30 x 30 is roughly equivalent to 40 x 40 in the real world.
Unless I severely expanded recently, they're fairly close to Levi's sizing. Unless everybody sells you 34x32s that are 44x30 in reality 
.
BoxheadTim said:
ProDarwin said:
mtn said:
Not the most stylish, but the price is right and they're well made. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men's-jean.product.100513855.html
It Kirkland though so I imagine 30 x 30 is roughly equivalent to 40 x 40 in the real world.
Unless I severely expanded recently, they're fairly close to Levi's sizing. Unless everybody sells you 34x32s that are 44x30 in reality .
I haven't tried them, I'm just joking because everything else Kirkland is so oversized its ridiculous. The smallest shirt they sell (Medium) is like trying on a circus tent. Same with their shorts, the smallest size they sell would fall right off me.
