Not to be confused with 100% denim jeans, stretch jeans have become increasingly popular in recent years. With their superior level of elasticity, they offer an exceptional level of comfort. Whether you’re planning to wear them for a few hours or the entire day, you can rest assured knowing that stretch jeans won’t cause discomfort or irritation. Not all stretch jeans are the same, however. If you’re thinking about purchasing a pair of stretch jeans, you should look for the nine following features.
#1) Elastic Material
By definition, stretch jeans feature a construction consisting of denim and an elastic material. If a pair of jeans are made entirely of denim, they aren’t really stretch jeans. With only denim, the jeans won’t have elastic properties, nor will they offer the unique benefits found in stretch jeans. Therefore, you should look to make sure the jeans are made of cotton as well as an elastic material like lycra.
#2) Rivets
Don’t forget to look for rivets when shopping for a pair of stretch jeans. Upon hearing the term “rivet” you might assume that it’s nothing more than a button. While rivets do, in fact, look like buttons, they aren’t the same. A rivet is simply a metal fastener that’s used to hold two or more areas of a garment together. Most jeans, including stretch jeans, feature at least several rivets. If you look around the front and back pockets of your jeans, you’ll probably discover rivets holding the seams together. They help to prolong the life of jeans — as well as other garments — by protecting against wear and tear at the seams.
#3) Washed Denim
Another feature to look for in stretch jeans is the presence of washed denim. What is washed denim? As explained in a previous blog post, jeans are typically made of either raw or washed denim. The difference between them is that washed denim is submerged in a bath of water during production, whereas dry denim is not. Because the material is literally washed during production, washed denim is typically softer and better protected against fading and shrinking than dry denim. You can choose stretch jeans made of either type of denim, but you’ll probably discover that those made of washed denim offer the greatest utility.
#4) Pockets
Of course, pockets are an important feature to look for in stretch jeans. If you purchase a pair of pocketless stretch jeans, you won’t be able to store or carry anything in them. The good news is that most stretch jeans, especially high-quality stretch jeans, feature multiple pockets. A typical pair of stretch jeans features about four pockets: two in the front and two in the rear. With that said, you may find that some stretch jeans have an extra, smaller pocket inside one of the main front pockets. As shown below, this somewhat hidden pocket is known as a watch pocket. It was originally used to store pocket watches. While most people no longer carry a pocket watch, manufacturers still add this characteristically small pocket to their jeans.
#5) Hemmed Pant Legs
If you’re tired of purchasing jeans, only for the bottom of the pant legs to rip or fray, you should look for stretch jeans with hemmed pant legs. Hemmed pant legs don’t just improve the aesthetics of stretch jeans; it protects them from damage, including ripping and fraying. To determine if a pair of stretch jeans have hemmed pant legs, check the bottom. Hemmed pant legs are folded up a few inches and sewn into place.
#6) Slim Fit
Depending on your personal style, you may want to choose slim-fit stretch jeans. Slim-fit stretch jeans are made of the same blend of denim and elastic materials as other types of stretch jeans. They are called “slim fit,” however, because of their relatively tight fit. They sit closer against your body when worn, resulting in a slimming effect that makes you look taller and slimmer.
#7) Universal Color
Another feature to look for in stretch jeans is a universal color. Stretch jeans are available in dozens of colors. You can find them in traditional colors like indigo and light blue as well as bold colors like red, olive, yellow and orange. The key thing to remember is that you should choose stretch jeans in a universal color so that you can easily integrate them into your outfits. If you purchase a pair of stretch jeans in a non-universal color, you may not be able to wear them with your favorite shirts or tops. By sticking with stretch jeans in a universal color, on the other hand, this won’t be a problem. Universal colors match nearly all other colors. As a result, choosing stretch jeans in a universal color offers the greatest bang for your buck.
#8) Whiskers
Stretch jeans are often made with patterns of fading. Known as whiskers, they are usually found around the knees and thighs where they create a unique semi-aged appearance. You aren’t required to purchase stretch jeans with whiskers, but because of the aesthetic value they offer, many men and women prefer them over standard stretch jeans without whiskers.
#9) Custom Sizing
Finally, custom sizing is an important feature to look for when shopping for stretch jeans. As you may know, most retailers sell jeans, including stretch jeans, in basic waist and length sizes. The problem with this archaic sizing method is that not all people have the same sized body. Therefore, custom-sized stretch jeans may prove useful. When custom sized, stretch jeans are created using your specific body measurements. You aren’t limited to choosing stretch jeans in a basic waist and length measurement but, instead, you can have them custom sized according to your body measurements. Here at MakeYourOwnJeans, we offer custom sizing on all your regular and stretch jeans at no additional charge.
