A longtime American wardrobe staple is in danger of extinction

Business Insider ^ | 10-11-15 | Ashley Lutz

[Tailback]

If I could still buy Levi 501 shrink-to-fit jeans, made in the USA, with the same classic quality as they had until about 1985, I’d have a drawer full of them no matter how much they cost. Levi lost me when they lowered the quality and shifted the manufacturing overseas.

Bingo! The 501 shrink to fit is all I wore from age 10 to 19. Then Levi went full retard (never go full retard). Levi can reap what they've sown IMO. I only wear Carhartt now.

[Army Air Corps]

I buy Wranglers at Academy for a song.

[Nervous Tick]

My wardrobe mainstay... quality and utility NEVER go out of style! :-)

[Smokin' Joe]

What outrageous prices? I can walk into WalMart and buy a pair of Wrangler jeans for under 25 dollars. (I wear Flame Resistant NFPA 2112 jeans at work, and those cost 70 bucks.)

I like jeans.

Besides, sweat pants by any other name look just as bad, unless you are out jogging (I don't wear them).

Denim remains both durable and practical for me.

[HamiltonJay]

The would have to be older than I am if they haven’t fallen apart... I gave up on them in the 90s they were just crap overpriced marketing by that point.

[G Larry]

Levi’s were designed to stand up to HARD WORK.

Not much of that happening lately.

[Arlis]

Ok, I’m 70. What is “athleisure”??????

Sorry, I’m sticking with my Wrangler’s. I live in a log home I built with my own hands in the middle of the woods and heat with firewood all winter.....and ride Harley’s and old Triumph motorcycles........ain’t never goin’ athleisure.......

And all my kids are still wearing jeans too........even the 26 year old......

[HandyDandy]

Anybody remember “landlubbers”?

[Roos_Girl]

That is a neat story. Thanks for sharing.

[DannyTN]

I quit buying Levi’s when they tried to queer the boy scouts.

[Daveinyork]

I haven’t owned a pair of jeans for at least thirty years. I prefer the cargo pants.

[mlizzy]

Maybe related to the obesity trend as well. ‘Athleisure’ clothes are more comfortable if you’re fat and easier to fit with multiple fat rolls. Denim isn’t comfortable if you’ve got multiple fat rolls. Ask me how I know this stuff...

Yes, I hear ya on this, Black Agnes, and I just got back from 90 minutes of walking/jogging to get back to where I was last year at this time. It's a constant battle. How did you succeed in getting back in to shape?

[Semper911]

Great story. Thanks for taking the time to put it up for us.

[Tailback]

Clothing Mfgrs have been slow to adapt to the cell phone. Cargo shorts and pants were the short term solution by consumers. Carhartt has a “cell phone short” that looks nice enough to pass as a casual short to wear with a Polo, but still sturdy enough material to wear well on a job site. Carhartt also has the iconic carpenter shorts and pants that have a leg pocket that fits most cell phones.

Levi sold their souls to the LGBT***** community which is arguably 5% or so of the population. Not every male consumer in the US has a body like a twink with a eating disorder.

[riverdawg]

” ... they have started wearing the same shorts we wore in the 80’s(akin to the old NBA short shorts) instead of the yoga “shorts” they used to wear.”

A fashion trend I heartily endorse.

[moovova]

Whew. I was worried they were talking about collar stays.

[AppyPappy]

I am a high school track official and they still wear the yoga shorts but they have disappeared from campus.

[tacticalogic]

So ... due to the nation's increase in 'casualization’, blue jeans are now out of style? They are too formal?

If jeans are too formal, there's always bib overalls.

[SoothingDave]

I don’t have a problem with the Old Navy jeans. They are my “go out of the house once it’s not short weather” pants.

[SoothingDave]

I don’t have a problem with the Old Navy jeans. They are my “go out of the house once it’s not short weather” pants.