Research shows Brits hang onto favourite jeans for up to 40 years

JEAN junkies relax - you are not alone in your denim hoarding hobby.

Even though you know you may never fit into them again, research reveals jean lovers hang on to their favourite denims for up to 40 years.

Many believe their slouching, tight-fitting or super sexy strides eventually will come back into fashion, even if that means shunning decades of trends and shedding the kilos, the Herald Sun reports.

A UK survey found the average Briton had five pairs of jeans and kept them for six years. But women kept their jeans longer than men.

Almost half of those interviewed believed their jeans would never go out of fashion, while three in 10 women - but only 12 per cent of men - admitted keeping their old pairs in the hope they would one day lose enough weight to squeeze back into them.

Some said they kept their jeans because they were the most comfortable thing in their wardrobe and others said their jeans represented sentimental memories.

Jean collector Emma Grasso, 27, has 12 pairs with the oldest being 10 years old.

"With time they get thinner and more comfy. They are almost like trackies, you just whack them on," she said.

Ms Grasso, who works at Dakota501 jeans shop on Chapel St, said she nicknamed her jeans based on their label and their cut and once spent $400 on a pair.

"I am lucky I can fit into all 12 pairs. I am attached to them and associate them with good times," she said.

She was surprised by the survey results, given that Gen Y was a "throwaway" fashion generation.

"Gen Y are into disposable fashion so they treat denim like that as well," she said.

"But the trend is transient and you see the same people buy jeans every six months."

The survey of 1000 Essex shoppers also found that 46 per cent of men had a pair of old jeans they used for messy jobs such as painting and decorating.

By Georgie Pilcher

Levi's Man

Tom Graber of Rockland, Wisconsin, says his favourite jeans are blue Levi's 560s. He has two pairs of them and about six other pairs of jeans.

The Levi's came from Kohl's a few years ago for $30 a pair, but now Tom says that "when I need to replace my jeans I buy Wranglers at Wal-Mart for $14.50 a pair."

He adds that "the last several years I have reduced my spending on jeans because of the economy. I wear them longer and my wife mends the jeans I wear to work to get a little more life out of them."

Closet Staples

Julie Wax shows off her favourite pair of A-pocket 7 for All Mankind jeans. She says she "paid $178 for them, but it was so well worth it! I wear them ALL the time."

Julie owns 14 pair of jeans and says 90% are designer jeans that "still look brand new". Julie says, "are one of my closet staples and a must when putting together my wardrobe."

The best thing about her jeans "is they look dressy enough to wear out at night, but are also great for a casual Friday or day around the house. No matter what, I always pair them with heels," says Julie, who writes a blog I Heart Heels.

Levi's originals

Lisa Mulhall of Delray Beach, Florida, swears by Levi's jeans. "I have loved Levi's jeans since I was a teenager. Nothing fits as well or makes me feel as good," she says.

Her favourite style is the original 501 button fly - she owns 3 pairs. "They are perfect for my favourite shopping - antiquing," she says.

In the above picture, Lisa wears Levi's 552 midrise straight leg jean, which whe also loves despite their slightly pricier tag of $69.50.

It's all in the pockets

Cindy Crebsbech Boca Raton, Fla, is wearing Tag jeans that she bought for $176. "I have never liked jeans for my body, but the pockets on these give a new look," she says.

Loyal to her brand

Tiffany West of Tacoma, Wash, says the only brand of denim she will wear is 7 for All Mankind, and she owns 20 pairs of their designer jeans.

"I love their jeans. I don't own any other brand but 7's. The fit is perfect for my body shape and size. I also know that no matter what they will look good on me," she says.

Tiffany says she has not splurged on jeans since being unemployed in January, not because she can't afford them, but because she already has so many pairs. "I find it worth every penny for jeans that fit and flatter," she says.

No overalls or acid wash

Norman Hawley of Andover, Mass, purchases a new pair of jeans about every two years. Old jeans get demoted to yard work or snow shoveling, making the style eligible for purchase once again.

Although he says he is not too particular about style and allows his wife to influence his clothing choices, Norman acknowledges that he has recently retired his acid wash jeans (they are now in the yard work stage) and doesn't own jean overalls or coveralls. He is wearing Tommy jeans in this photo.

More than 'mom jeans'

"Once you finally find a brand that fits your body, you stick with it," says Carlene Iglas of Bath, NY. Carlene's favorite jeans come from Eddie Bauer and she likes them because of their durability. "They last through countless washes!"

She also likes Lee jeans, since both brands fit well and are still reasonably priced. Carlele says she usually spends about $25 on a pair of jeans and likes to shop the Eddie Bauer outlet.

Jeans for all seasons

"I don't mind spending $75-125 on jeans because they are a permanent investment in my wardrobe," says Mark Gershman of Scottsdale, Ariz, shown here in his favourite Lucky Brand jeans.

Mark says he shops for jeans when they are on sale during the winter months. He looksfor 'a great fit, nice wash, a muted pocket treatment and a good sale price."

The rough shape of the economy has made him think about the number of pairs of jeans he owns. "I really don't need another - still I look when new styles arrive," he says.

A necessary evil

I wear jeans all the time, but when I need to buy a new pair I break into the same type of sweat as I do if you told me were going bathing suit shopping," says Nicole Stith, who terms denim a 'necessary evil' in her closet.

Nicole's favourite brands include True Religion and Paige Denim, but she says the economic climate has attracted her to less expensive lines such as Banana Republic.

Nicole, of Los Gatos, CA, has one rule of thumb when shopping for denim. "If it is a trendy style you are looking for, try to find it under $60 since you probably won't be wearing it next season".

Confessions of an online shopper

Dave Daucanski of West Palm Beach, Fla, shops the Web for reduced prices on designer jeans, including his favourite brands, Chip & Pepper and Adriano Goldschmied.

He visits the Gilt Group (gilt.com) and clothesoffourback.org for discounts, but says he has spent as much as $300 on a pair of jeans.

Taylor-ing to the tall girl

Working from home has made jeans a staple in the wardrobe of Sherry Natoli of Tampa. "In my corporate life, I wore suits & heels everyday. It's a joy not to be doing that!" she says.

Sherry's favorite pair of jeans come from Ann Taylor and cost under $50 on sale - a bargain compared to the jeans her 28 year old daughter typically spends $100 to $200 on. Ann Taylor jeans also come in Tall. which is essential for Sherry, who is 5'9".

Sherry says she is currently looking for a pair of black jeans to add to her closet, which already contains about 20 jeans. She is trying to wait until the recession eases but says new jeans will be one of her first.

Worth the splurge

"I think that jeans are one of the things that you can splurge on," says Marietta Landon, of Douglasville, Ga., shown here in her favorite Citizens of Humanity jeans. She paid $150 for them two years ago and says she still wears them all the time.

Marietta, who has about 7 pairs of jeans, says she "enjoys the thrill of finding a bargain" and looks for jeans at department stores like Nordstrom, online or at sample sales.

Blue jeans selling strong, but high-end sales could suffer

The $13 billion denim industry — a life preserver for the sinking apparel industry the past year — may be fraying at the high end of its product line.

While old standbys including Levi's, Lee and Wrangler are still seeing sales increases that likely will continue in the coming year, sales increases for pricey premium jeans will likely occur only in the under-$200 category, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Sales of these and even pricier jeans had soared deep into the recession — up 17% last year alone, says NPD — as retailers and apparel makers benefited from a largely recession-resistant jones for jeans. But really pricey denim pants may be falling out of fashion.

"The economy shifted, and all of a sudden those outrageous prices actually look outrageous," says NPD chief retail analyst Marshal Cohen. "The superpremium jean business has dropped off tremendously because the inspirational shoppers aren't going up that high, and luxury customers aren't buying two or three pairs anymore."

While at least one high-end manufacturer boasts of planning no adjustments for the coming year, others have dropped prices and are offering additional product lines to consumers who want the brand appeal without the $300-plus price tags. And Gap plans to take advantage of the downscaling of denim next month when it introduces a $60 line of what it says are great-fitting jeans designed in part by hires from premium jean companies.

Total jeans sales were up 2.3% for the three months ended in February, NPD says, while apparel sales overall declined 6.3% for the same period.

That three-month period was the most challenging in terms of consumer spending, so any growth during that time is significant, Cohen says.

Shoppers such as Debi DeFrank, 42, helped drive the recession trend of jeans-buying. DeFrank, a Fox News makeup artist from Ellicott City, Md., owns about 25 pairs, including several by high-end manufacturers True Religion, 7 for All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity.

"I'm always looking for the pair of jeans that fits the best," says DeFrank. "Then I go and shop some more and say, 'No, these are the ones that fit me the best.' "

DeFrank, who travels extensively for work, says jeans are the perfect thing to pack. "I don't want to have to put dress pants in my suitcase."

Instead, she wears a pair of her many light-colored jeans by day and her darker ones with heels at night for dinner. There are skinny jeans for certain boots and every other possible cut to go with the dozens of shoes and 10 pairs of boots she owns.

By Jayne O'Donnell and Michelle Walbaum, USA TODAY

Rihanna in jeans

Many people are in love with this style of Rihanna. She is wearing a jeans here alongwith the orange pumps. Seems that whatever she wears looks fierce on her.

Ripped jeans make a comeback

Warning: your grandmom won’t approve; heck, neither will your mom. They might just offer to take you shopping when they see you in a pair of ripped jeans. But ripped jeans are back and we’re not sure who to thank for the revival. Was it Sienna Miller, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, Christina Aguilera or Megan Fox — who wore them first this season?

Closer home, the fashion forward Sonam Kapoor wore them first for a ramp show. Kareena Kapoor wore hers at the press meet of Kambakkht Ishq, as did Deepika Padukone while promoting her next, Love Aaj Kal, in Delhi and at the launch of a fashion mag. Model Nina Manuel and Gauri Khan are following suit. Most have ripped the denims themselves — like Koena Mitra. “People think you can’t afford a new pair. But they’re great for travelling. The rips should be on your thighs, knees and calves,” suggests Koena.

Not if you are Gisele Bundchen, though. Gisele’s strategically ripped denim shorts exposed her derriere in a recent photoshoot. Even if you don’t go that far, it’s prudent to know when and where to flaunt them. They’re great for lounging in, or even a game of basketball. Leave them in the closet if you’re headed for a cocktail party.

Model and actor Mohsin Akhtar ripped his jeans for an action scene in the forthcoming Mumbai Mast Kalandar. “I’ve also worn them for catalogue shoots. They’re attention grabbing,” agrees Mohsin.

Also, experiment with colours. You can go the Rihanna way by getting one in each shade. Sophie Chaudhry’s looking for a black pair, like Rihanna’s. “Blue is overdone. Black looks hot. I want loads of rips in the pair,” she smiles.

But that could have the ‘trying-too-hard’ look, warns stylist Anahita Shroff Adjania. She ripped Deepika and Saif’s jeans in Love Aaj Kal. “Deepika wears hers with dressy kurtas and Saif with tees. If you want to avoid a deliberate attempt, fray it, and also fray other sections of the jeans,” she states.

Ripped jeans are a classic case of recycling innovation. They were hot in the ’90s and returned in a wee way when Shakira belly-danced in her snug brown pair of ripped jeans to Whenever Wherever. And style bhai Salman Khan did it for men when he wore a distressed pair with a bandanna around his knee last year.

Javine supports 'Jeans for Genes'

Singer Javine launched a new range of badges for children's charity Jeans for Genes.

The 2005 Eurovision contestant was joined by her 18-month-old daughter Angel Mai Hylton Harvey for a musical tea party in London's Battersea Park with pre-school favourites Fifi and the Flowertots, who feature on the badges.

There are four different badges for children to collect, and can be bought for £1 each from www.jeansforgenes.com/webshop.

Nicolas & Carla in jeans

French President Nicolas Sarkozy & his wife Carla Bruni in Jeans.

Megan Fox in Jeans

Megan Fox is seen here in a ripped jeans with her kid. Megan has a love for tight t-shirts & jeans.

Oprah Winfrey in Jeans

Oprah Winfrey, one of the biggest celebrities of the TV, Internet & Twitter, is seen wearing Jeans here on her show days before her makeover.