6397 Shorty Jeans | Size 28 (sold out) – herringbone wash in 100% cotton at Shopbop
Elizabeth Suzann Rhodes sweater | medium
EYTYS Canvas sneakers
I never liked stretchy denim anyway, but after finally finding my favorite jeans (6397 Shorty in black, 100% cotton), I’m never buying stretch denim again. I love the way 100% cotton stretches and get soft and slouchy over time; I never liked my jeans to stick to me and show every bump and dimple. 100% cotton denim feels more substantial, and hard-wearing, more practical, and less “pretty.”
And I feel a sense of history when I wear 100% cotton jeans, as corny as that sounds. Originally, jeans were work-wear, like hardcore around the farm and factory work wear – they were meant to last and be WORN. And I appreciate that in my clothing.
But 100% cotton denim is expensive. Generally anyway, and in the shapes I appreciate: slouchy and/or straight. Levi’s does some, of course, and I’m constantly wishing my wedgie jeans were 100% cotton and not 99% (yes, that 1% stretch REALLY makes a difference), but other brands, like Chimala, and Imogene + Willie do it better, I think. And A Gold E has some great 100% cotton styles that are also made with organic cotton and in a more sustainable way.
Chimala | If I were EVER going to get light-wash jeans, these would be it.
(10% off at La Garconne with code LGSPRING17)
FYI, I got my 6397 Shorty jeans at La Garconne for less than $150 on sale and with a sale-on-sale coupon code, and Chimala frequently goes on sale there too, you just have to be SUPER QUICK. Right now Totokaelo and Need Supply are doing their friends & family promos and have re/done, Rachel Comey, Simon Miller & others.
My favorites:
6397 – my holy grail jeans are 6397 Shorty style in 100% cotton (black)
Simon Miller – excellent wide leg jeans
A Gold E – some of their styles are also sustainable, made with organic & recycled cotton
RE/Done – re-fashioned with “vintage” denim, sizing is difficult though
Chimala – Japanese denim, I’d consider them the pioneer of high-end straight/slouchy 100% cotton denim styles
Levi’s – some styles are in 100% cotton, some made with American Cone denim
Rachel Comey – most of her denim is 100% cotton
Goldsign – used to be my HG denim brand, they’ve undergone a re-design, and I’m keen to try a 100% cotton pair
Imogene + Willie – cult favorite – the new “girlfriend” style is 100% cotton denim by Cone denim, all American made
What do you think? Do you wear 100% cotton denim? or do you prefer stretch? What are your favorite 100% cotton jeans?
These jeans definitely look good on you. A perfect outfit with the ES sweater !
With the caveat that I’m enjoying stretch denim immensely within the context of my changing body shape, I realized after having several pairs snag, stretch, and wear out pretty quickly (despite $80-100 price tags) that my favorite denim pieces are some older ones from the Gap that are terrible at first and then your favorite pair once they are actually YOURS and broken in. I am currently obsessed with getting a pair of real Levis when my body settles into whatever it becomes after this baby. Also: at almost 39 and making three humans, I definitely agree that sometimes less information (when it comes to lumps and bumps) is more! Looking forward to firmer fabric and a higher waistline! x
I prefer 100% cotton, but there’s one thing I prefer about 99% cotton jeans. I’m an hourglass, and I find the fit on stretch jeans to be more comfortable I think that the stretch in the hips while allowing the waist to be smaller is the reason for that, and that can be found in 100% cotton jeans if I can find a brand that cuts the waist and hips in a ratio that works for my particular body shape.
I’m so tempted to go to Imogene & Willie’s to try on their jeans. But I’m afraid I’d be hooked!
I wish you would, and give us some feedback :). I tried a pair On once here at Shinola and didn’t like them at all. They were stretch denim and just a bad cut for my body
I am curious what is the difference you see between 1% or 2% stretch, and no stretch at all that you don’t like? I have two or three pairs of 100% cotton jeans and I am not particularly crazy about them. They become baggy in the knees and lose their shape after one wear, while the jeans with a little bit of stretch seem to recover their shape somewhat even without having to wash them. I like the baggy look, but the knees ca be annoying. And the pairs which are sturdy, thick denim, even with a 2% stretch, look like they would age beautifully and with character. But maybe I need to see a better-quality pair of non-stretch denim to be able to tell? Or might it be that the particular slouchy, boyfriend fit that you like, the 100% cotton is more suitable, because all the extra bagginess from wear actually adds to the look instead of taking away?
Stretch has its place but it’s great to see more jeans that feel like jeans. I’d been expecting there to be a backlash eventually against the ubiquitous super-stretchy, super-thin fabrics that pass for denim, but it’s definitely taken a while. Looking forward to seeing where this goes – whether it catches on in a mainstream (read: more accessible and affordable) way or stays niche. I haven’t worn 100% cotton jeans in ages and I’m really not sure I’d love the way they’d feel but I definitely would want to try them.
I tried a pair of Imogene + Willie jeans once, but not the 100% cotton ones you linked to. They were the “Imogene” straight-leg style, with a bit of stretch, and I wasn’t impressed at all. I liked the dark indigo wash but that was the best thing about them. The worst was that the leg shape was baggy – they looked nothing like the model photos. I’d be tempted to try the girlfriend ones but I probably wouldn’t order them online.
I will take one for the team and try to get over there sometime soon!
I don’t really know what shape I am. I’ve spent hours looking at apples, pears, plums, rectangles, triangles and octagons, but none of them make sense to me! I like stretch for the same reason as you, Susan: All I know is that if a pair of jeans fits my hips, it’s going to be too tight in the waist, and 100% cotton doesn’t accommodate that.
Give me 2% stretch, any day. It equals comfort.
Thanks, Laurie! I’m interested.
I’ve only found two brands and styles of premium denim that fit me well, currently: AG Adriano Goldschmied “The Beau” and PAIGE “Jimmy Jimmy Skinny Boyfriend” jeans. They fit my no waist/no hips figure quite well. I used to LIVE in 100% cotton, shrink-to-fit Levi’s 501’s in college, but that was 35 years and 50 lbs ago! Whatever I wear now, must have stretch!
P.S. Did anyone read this article about Amazon expanding their fashion reach? I saw it on Kim France’s blog. I can’t believe Rachel Comey signed on!!!
http://www.racked.com/2017/4/4/14982426/amazon-fashion-clothes
Those Levi’s with the seam? OMG I had to control myself. So me but I’m not buying any addl jeans unless I lose weight and need new sizes. I can no longer wear denim to work so I currently have more than enough pairs. Love the black shorty on you (I just wore my pair from Slowre on the plane last night with a tank & abeo espadrilles, plan to wear them again tonight on my return flight – short trip).
That’s how it is for me, too…I really need some stretch to get jeans that fit. Like you, if they fit my hips and thighs I won’t be able to button them!
And while I like the idea of a higher waist to hold things in, in reality anything high waisted is uncomfortable for me. So I need to find the right rise too.
Ugh, this is reminding why I hate shopping for jeans.
I would love to try 100% denim, but I’m worried about it not fitting well at the waist. I’m pretty boxy shaped, so if it fits in the hips it’s too tight in the waist. Stretch gives me some latitude, but I still want to try those 100% cotton jeans, regardless! I like the idea that they will be durable. But they are terribly hard to search for, unless you click on every little link to find out the fiber content of the jeans. Can’t just search on 100% cotton. Thanks for the round-up here!
yes! it’s impossible to search for non-stretch denim, and most brands seem to have some styles in 100% cotton – it seems to be a “thing” now…
these brands i mention here are good places to start though, I hope you find a pair!
you KNOW how much i hate to shop for jeans. which is why i’ll stick to my three pairs of 6397 shorty’s for now, and maybe that herringbone pair when shopbop does their big code next…that style just fits me well.
those levi’s are cute, no? i like them too…
and i’m glad you’re enjoying your shorty’s!!
go laurie!!
my hard-to-fit area lately is my calves, and while i love my blue denim (with stretch) 6397 shorty jeans, they stick to my calves because of the stretch, and the 100% cotton ones stretch out enough so that they DON’T, which is amazing for me, because they fit well everywhere else. my size 29 stretchy 6397 short jeans don’t stick to my calves but they are VERY large on me up top and will fall down if i’m not wearing a belt.
so , for me, it’s the fit in my calves that is paramount, and every.single.pair.of.jeans besides my non-stretch shorty’s stick to my calves. the non-stretch jeans seem to just stretch perfectly – not too much, and just enough, to maintain their fit without getting overly slouchy. if that makes sense. i know what you mean about them starting to look sloppy though, and stretch too much, i had a pair of gap jeans a million years ago that were 100% cotton that i loved, because they were ridiculously comfortable, but i could only wear them once before washing again because they stretched out too much.
maybe it is the quality of the denim? how it’s woven? i don’t know, but there could definitely be something to it. there IS a difference…
I’ll be looking for your Frame Le Garcon’s on SLOWRE… 😉
oh my gosh…i was just thinking about that today – if i should part with them or not! i got them hemmed though, the inseam is about 27″…
Ive been searching for vintage Levi’s no stetch, button fly, mens, they fit great- Ive been wearing citizen jeans mostly, the emerson has stretch but not too much that it sticks to you, the corey has no stretch, an ode to vintage straight leg jeans. I used to love the jimmy jimmy skinny by PAIGE but they are too low rise for me now. Ive been eyeing APC and Mih lately since reading the Modern Garconne book. I wont order jeans on line unless Ive tried them on first.
If any one has tried either of these brands please post your thoughts.
Looking forward to reading what Laurie’s findings will be.
Me too, Jen! High-waist = Muffin top 🙁
I always used to wear women’s Levi’s 501’s (in the late 80’s early 90’s), and later, men’s 550’s (before they changed the cut to a sloppy “relaxed” fit) because I liked the slightly lower rise (which nowadays would probably be considered high!).
When 100% cotton disappeared and low-rise became the prevailing style, I stopped wearing jeans and didn’t really try wearing them again until high-waisted styles started to come back.
One major difference I’ve noticed between my old 100% cotton, thick denim jeans, and my newer stretchy jeans, is that I don’t ever remember the old ones slipping down from my waistline the way the stretchy ones do (even if they’re high-waisted). Even the lower-rise jeans, if they were 100% cotton, stayed in place much better. So, as I’m shopping for new all-cotton jeans, I’m hoping that will still be the case.
The jeans on my wish list are Imogene & Willie’s Imogene rigid high-waisted jeans (mid-rise with a straight leg).
I’ll weigh in on Imogene + Willie. Short answer: my favorite jeans. I have 5 pairs and currently don’t wear any others. (Adios JBrand, whose 811 style was my go-to before I discovered I+W.)
Only one of my pairs is 100% cotton – a style from about 5 years ago that they no longer make. I’m mightily tempted by the current 100% cotton Lottie Kennedy style. They look like my fave Levi 501s of yore.
Most of my I+W jeans have 2 percent stretch and the denim is fantastic – substantial and not at all flimsy and overly stretchy. The Imogene Slims are perfect for my straight up and down, no hips or butt and barely a waist, build. The back pocket placement is especially great. In short, love them!
My pants size is leggings! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I rarely wear actual pants anymore, especially jeans. I’m round in the middle, but have skinnier legs. So if pants fit my waist, they are too big on my legs. I mostly stick to leggings or a stretchier ponte knit for my pants needs. Of course, we’re approaching summer in Texas, so I’ll be in my bathing suit and kimono for the next 5 months……
Thank you, Grechen. Yes, I think you’re right, the quality of the denim must make a difference. It would be interesting to understand the differences in denim fabric besides fiber content and the type of looms used to weave them (not that I understand much about the looms besides the fact that some are old style and some are modern style? something).
And more importantly, I can’t breathe or sit comfortably in them!
I’m glad you wrote this. A couple of years ago, I had difficulty even finding a pair of 100% cotton jeans. I just wanted a pair of perfect, broken-in tomboy jeans, like I used to wear when I was young. I finally bought a 100% pair from a Karl Lagerfeld brand (deeply discounted) and I like how they look, but I hardly wear them because there’s an annoying gap at the back of the waistband. Cotton jeans that fit my butt are too big in the waist, and this gap is too big to manage with a belt. I’ve seen a fix for this, where you sew a strip of elastic to the back of the waistband. I should try it.
Anyway, this post inspired me to wear these jeans more and break them in so hopefully I’ll end up with the perfectly soft jeans I wanted.
I’m SO with you. Ugh, hate stretch denim, the stretch weakens the denim too. 100% denim is so hard to find but more brands are getting on board. Those ecru jeans are BEAUTIES! *Pins to Pinterest*
Maybe they need to find a way of making it 1% stretch on the waist and no stretch everywhere else. Come on technologists…!
Oh!! Good idea!
i get waist gap too, but it’s not as bad in my 6397 shorty jeans in 100% cotton. i swear, they’re just made for my body…
Has anyone tried APC jeans? I have 2 pr, all cotton, secondhand. They are a little more “boy” cut, have button flys, but I know I will have them forever.
I just bought my first pair of 100% cotton denim yesterday for the first time in YEARS and I’m giddy with glee. They are from Gap, their mid-rise vintage straight jeans. I was never able to wear 100% cotton because it felt too restricting/didn’t fit. I don’t know if Gap has resized their denim since I last gave it a try years ago, but these actually fit loose on me (miracle!)! I’m curvy and could stand to lose several pounds of baby weight (my youngest is 4 years old — oops), so I always went for stretch. Now that I have found these? NO MORE!