'Husband' Jeans

Literally. On a whim last week I tried on a pair of my hubby's 527s and lo! They're pretty much exactly what I would want in a boyfriend style jean: Baggy with drop crotch? Check. Low rise? Check. Super faded wash and super soft denim? Check. No stretch? Check. Tapered leg? Nope, these are (unfortunately for me) bootcut as that's what hubby likes, but when I roll them up they're pretty much perfect because they're a slim cut. It makes me giggle to wear hubby's jeans ^^

I thought these were my husband's gardening jeans, so I asked if he'd give them to me. But apparently he does actually wear these so he said I could borrow whenever I wanted, though he phrased it as "Sure, but you know they don't look good on you right?" (Pff, husbands.) My sister, who I run most of my fashion stuff by, is NOT a fan of actual men's jeans for this look because of the crotch cut; she would very much prefer that I get a women's boyfriend cut jean instead of these.

So! What do you all think of these, ladies? Please pardon the "I just woke up" hair (I'd really just woken up), though I suppose it does add to the look ;) Yay or Nay on these jeans for me? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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39 Comments

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Ha! My husband said almost the exact same thing: "You realize you don't look as good as you normally do, right?" O_O

    I actually really like these as bootcuts on you! Can't get much more legit than that. The roll is a little bulky, but nice, too.

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    Not bad at all! The only thing I'm not crazy about is the rear view - I think the pockets are too far apart.

    I quite like them as bootcuts.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Ditto Diana.

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Rae I thought of you as soon as he said it! I'd read that in your post though hadn't been able to comment. Hubby is a firm member of Team Riveting Rearsider ;) I was hoping that he DIDN'T wear these so I could chop them up higher to make the roll less bulky, but I suppose I could always wait until he's tired of them. I really like them as bootcuts too, though the shredded back hems are a bit precarious. Do you think the roll is TOO bulky? That is one of my concerns.

    Diana, yah that's a concern of mine too; those pockets are definitely too far apart. I was hoping since they are already super baggy it's OK?

  • Lisa replied 11 years ago

    Not bad, but the extra room in the crotch stands out to me because us gals don't ahem "fill" that area out. Also I notice the back pockets are really far over to the sides. I think this idea is one to look for but I'd love to see a woman's version on you to compare.

    Edit to add: I do think there's a tad too much material that's rolled up. It looks a bit bulky.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    I love them from the front. Do they ever look comfortable! Agree that the pockets are rather far apart. They look good as bootcuts, too, apart from that. I say they are great until you find your real boyfriend. Then give hubby the heave-ho, LOL!

  • Vicki replied 11 years ago

    I really like these on you for all the obvious reasons, cut, distressed fade, the real deal, etc. and I double ditto Rae and Diana to the point of pocket width and cuff thickness, but on first impression, you totally nailed it. I'm so in love with the vintage label, too. LOVE. What is it about guys and what they don't like? (Pff, is right!)

  • KathyL replied 11 years ago

    Its a good idea in theory but the pockets really bug me and the rolled hem looks too chunky to me :( I thought about trying my hubby's jeans as well but I would have to roll them too much (he's 10 inches taller than me!)

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thanks for the input so far ladies. Those pockets were an immediate concern, but I figure moving pockets around isn't a normal type of alteration and hubby may not appreciate it ;) I wasn't trusting my eye much on this one because honestly the 'legit' aspect of these is so very appealing to me in a way that the women's pairs I've seen have not been, chunky roll, wide pockets, long crotch and all; I don't have extra budget right now to buy a new pair, so I could try hitting the thrift shop to see if I can find something that'll work better. But uhhh would I ruin my fashion cred if I just wore these? 0:) Would still love to hear more thoughts on these if you have them!

  • Marley replied 11 years ago

    I think your husband is a good substitute for a boyfriend - unless you find yourself face-to-face with a boyfriend that you just can't resist.

  • replied 11 years ago

    What Diana said. The front view is definitely fab. I don't mind the crotch "issue"??? Strangely so.

  • KeepTheKey replied 11 years ago

    I *love* the bulky roll, the fit, the wash, etc, but I really dislike the pockets on the butt... They make you look bigger than you are. I say wait it out for the perfect pair, and don't subject your posterior to such a horrible punishment in the mean time ;-)

  • AJ replied 11 years ago

    I never realized that men's back pockets were spaced so far apart!! Unfortunately, the pocket placement is a deal breaker for me. Even if you were to do a front tuck, you can still see the pockets next to the side seam.

    Wake-up hair still looks FAB!

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    I adore these on you unconditionally (except that you can't chop the length to reduce the roll), pockets and all.

    Some boring backstory: I probably spent about a decade of my life combing through Levis in the men's section of thrift stores looking for what I now realize would have been boyfriend jeans. I was just thinking of a photo I had from the early 80s of a woman running (the ad was for sneakers), and she was wearing a pair of men's cut-off Levis (never mind that no one runs in denim cut-offs; her booty looked awesome!). That set me off on a lifelong quest that you have now fulfilled for me.

    Seriously. Love. These. Jeans.

  • replied 11 years ago

    Lol, funny husband. I like these on you un-rolled, but then I've always been into baggy jeans.

  • Beth Ann replied 11 years ago

    Aida: Love them, particularly long and free. The roll is a little thick. I think the pockets are wide, but that's not a deal breaker for me, since they're low contrast and, blissfully, not decorated with all kinds of premium jean ........stuff.

    Could you find something more perfect? Sure. Should you wear these and look great while enjoying the secret backstory? Absolutely!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    I'm still with Una loving them. The back pockets don't bother me - that is the butt surrender quality of bf jeans. I think it would look pretty weird to have perfectly placed pockets on a style designed to loook like it was NOT bought for your body.

  • JulieJohn replied 11 years ago

    Aida, they are the real deal, and that makes them groovy. If you feel good in them, surrender the butt as Rae wisely said and stride confidently ahead. Looks cool rolled or au naturel.

  • Scarlet replied 11 years ago

    The front looks great but the back pockets are just way too far apart. You would totally rock this look in the right jeans. Get yourself a girl-butt pair :)

  • Kirti replied 11 years ago

    I like 'em! :-)

  • Mochi replied 11 years ago

    They look so cute from the front, but I agree that the pocket spacing is very problematic.

  • Jjsloane replied 11 years ago

    It's more crotch fabric than I'm comfortable with and I would be bothered by the pocket placement. That said you are not committing any fashion atrocities here and it is technically much more authentic than wearing women's jeans styled to look like men's.

  • Heather replied 11 years ago

    Aida, I think these look awesome. I dig them at full length, too! You totally rock an effortlessly cool chic style. Rock on, sister! \m/

    I enjoy them with the booties, but also, I think with a pair of stilettos and your leather jacket with the white tee. And even with some of your ladylike blouses for a contrast. And your neon jewels. Diggin your new do!

    My college roomie had the perfect levi's men's cut offs...complete with pockets peeking at the frayed hems...yet completely appropriate. They had belonged to her dad (when they were at full length).

    And...I digress.....

    To Una's comment: "never mind that no one runs in denim cut-offs" It is rare, but I have seen it. SMH. Just like the Mich Ultra ads: people working out and then drinking beer afterwards. The hypothesis seems wrong, but the conclusion sometimes can be confirmed.

  • mrseccentric replied 11 years ago

    Aida, i'm all into authenticity as well so i LOVE these on you! the 'special' way they fit lets us know that you're so cool you just borrow your guy's levi's, no futzy shopping for you! Just throw on whatever's lying around the house and you look fab. i've been wearing a pair of oversized guy's faconnable jeans this summer and they're one of my most-complimented items - go figure!

    Wear them with pride! i could use the solidarity ;) steph

  • shiny replied 11 years ago

    I think they look adorable on you! I was inspired so I asked DH (5'9, 155 lbs) if I could try on his jeans. He gave me his skinniest pair -- Hollister. Size 32 waist. They looked ridiculous on me.... like gangster pants...

  • Irene replied 11 years ago

    They are actual hubby's jeans and not something that looks like men's jeans but it's not. You can't get more real than that, can you? LOVE!

  • replied 11 years ago

    I love these Aida! And I totally agree with Rae about the pocket placement: that is what makes them look like men's jeans.....which is rather the point! That said, your booty still looks AH-mazing in them and they even look good unrolled and all shredded at the hems. Some girls have all the luck. My hubby wears a 36" waist. I did not even snap pics of my similar venture, lol!

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    ADORABLE!!! SO CUTE!! So fun!

    I love the fit both front and back - don't mind the pocket thing at all. I bat for Team Front :)

    The only thing I am not as fond of is the bulky roll at the hem - but who cares. THIS IS EDGE.

    Well done :)

  • MNsara replied 11 years ago

    Ha! You're too cute no matter whose jeans you're wearing!

    I actually love the bulky roll - it totally fits with the proportional oversizing!

    I don't mind the crotch and your booty looks fab - but why don't we notice how far apart the pockets are when our men are wearing them? Maybe I just need to really 'look'! Actually why did Levi's put them so far apart?

    These give you a lovely, sassy style :-) Wear them and have fun!

    P.S. Wonder if this means we thrifters should be checking out the men's racks for old Levis . . . ??

  • shiny replied 11 years ago

    I would have to check out the boys' section, not the men's. Hmmm... maybe I'll pop on by Old Navy and try that out... just for fun...

    I swear you are all such bad influences on my wallet. I am so tempted to try the Gap boyfriend's. I have them in my basket. My gut says no... my heart says try it out....

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    I have bought jeans and cargo pants in both the men's and boy's sections of thrift stores. At one point I must have amassed 15 pairs of old Levis searching for just the right pair. I married the wrong husband, since he is 6'2" and 220!

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Shiny, get the Gap BFs! They are great but they stretch. I have them in 3 sizes (yes, I'm addicted).

  • Jenava replied 11 years ago

    I love it. They are perfect as-is, I think, because they are legit! (-:

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thank you ALL for the wonderful and detailed input ladies, I really enjoyed reading it all. Boyfriend jeans are so fascinating! With so many details that can be tweaked one way or another, it's so interesting to hear everyone's preferences about what they find appealing in a BF jean. Seems to be a pretty even split on the back pockets being a dealbreaker as well as the roll being too thick, but I think for me the authentic aspect of these trumps that (kind of like how I would rather stud my own clothing than buy something pre-studded). Now to get hubby to stop gardening in them, which he was doing this morning....

    Una, if you want actual men's jeans I think you should check out 527s. My husband is not tall (5'9"), and has slim hips, longer legs, and broad shoulders (sound familiar?); the 527s are cut for tall, leggy, slim types so they're quite a lot narrower than most men's jeans without being skinny (they're loose on him), especially through the thighs. You could always chop off the extra length if they didn't actually belong to your guy :) They do take quite a while to break in if you buy them new, though.

    AJ and MNsara, I was trying to figure the pocket spacing out this morning since he was wearing these earlier. All I could come up with is that since I have *erhm* a lot more butt (and hips for that matter) than he does, on me the back drapes around and on him it just drapes down. The pockets looked totally fine on him!

    Heather, thanks for the fabulous styling suggestions! I want to try them ALL :D

    Angie, ahh I was wondering what you'd think of these! The thick roll was a concern of mine, but ultimately I decided I was fine with it so I'm glad to hear that it works. I've been itching to wear these after snapping the photos last week, glad to finally have YLF approval (well, half anyway ;) ), yay!

  • nicoleb replied 11 years ago

    I'm really not a fan of boyfriend jeans but i gotta say - you are OWNING it. So rock on! ;)

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Funny, back in the day what fit me best were the old 501 buttonfly jeans. I would never buy a pair new - if there's one thing that can be thrifted here, it's old jeans. But I actually have a pair I've never posted because I only wear them camping. I should post a pic for you so we can be butt-surrender twins.

    ("Butt-surrender" makes me giggle - wonder what kind of searches will land here now?)

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Una, I LOVE the old 501 jeans. Used to wear them as a teen. Do you think they'd still be wearable now???

    Sorry for that hijack, Aida!

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 11 years ago

    I really like this on you - better than most of the 'boyfriend' jeans members have posted, honestly, there's something about the thighs that looks better. Maybe it's that it looks intentionally loose, rather than some of the boyfriends which just IMO just look saggy and like one's pants are just a tad too big.

    I used to wear men's jeans when I was a teenager, too, which is bewildering because I am very curvy in the waist/hip area. I guess I just got them big and wore them low on the hip. I used to steal my brother's jeans when they got too short for him, and his overalls too (yes, overalls, it was the early 90s).

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback, Nicole and Laura!

    Una, I love seeing your camping/hiking photos! I'd love to see your 501s, especially if accompanied by pretty Alaska scenery :D

    Suz, sounds like it'd be worth a try!

    Laura, right! That appeals to me too, having them look "loose" but not "just too big". I wonder if straighter men's jeans just work better on curvier gals?

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