Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm a simple man. I like well-made stuff that lasts forever. I don't care where it comes from, and I'll spend for perfection. I like classic, rugged things that respect a legacy of craftsmanship, rather than dance for the flighty whim of style. Always thought the 505s and 501s were that, 'sfar as jeans went, but I'm learning I'm wrong, or more likely, something's changed. First, I can't wrap my head around the colors. Classic blue with yellow stitches looks as good as ever, but be real careful you don't end up with crotch whiskers or whatever they're called. You might also get food coloring grass stains. These are earned defects in a good pair of jeans, not borrowed from the labor of another. I had a pair of old 501s that ended up looking like today's super hip fakies after I'd worn them for a decade and aged them to perfection, but today they'd look like I grabbed them off the shelf that way. This leads me to quality. I'm in my third pair of 505's in as many years, and am here on Amazon reviewing them because this morning, I noticed a hole in the crotch. Yes, I'm hard on jeans, but, well, they're jeans. I don't wear them just to look awesome, that's a passive benefit. I wear them to protect everything from my flesh to my sensibilities, and I have to say I'm dismayed that the only way to get a perfectly aged set of denim these days is to buy them that way, for they'll fall apart long before you have a say in it. So let's talk fit and style. I'm a jeans guy. 32x32. It's almost a cliche. I like jeans I can pair with cowboy boots, lace ups, oxfords, and sneakers, topped with everything from button-downs to tee shirts, and the 501's and 505's both fit the bill, but it's the subtle misses that bug me. Like, why only five belt loops? Seven would do a much better job of keeping your jeans in place without stressing your belt or the form of the jeans waist. Speaking of waist, why on earth do these sit where they do? If you're a man with neither a belly nor a greased six-pack, the waist is ridiculous. I want it just at my waist, above my hips, because, imagine this, I do more in jeans than stand. I sit, from bike seats to barstools and on all sorts of other things. I kneel. Sometimes I'm even lying down or doing some weird halfsie position, and I don't need my belt digging into my stomach or my shirt coming untucked or the back dipping down to show the world my johnnies. All these problems are solved with a slightly higher waist. Look, I know the kids like what they like --nifty tears and low rises and fits best for slouching-- and bully for them. For your classic, western styled man --and I don't mean western like bolo ties, but more like Americana; boots and jeans and leather-- these are no longer the ubiquitous solution they once were. Bottom line, they're fine for style, but for lifestyle? That's a negative, good buddy. I'll keep an eye out for a new model. Maybe as trends go back to the old school, Levi's will make a jean more fit for me. Wish they'd stick with it regardless of what the fashion is. Introduce new jeans and new numbers but keep your classics classic. Until then, I'm on the scout for a new jean. Update: Unable to find another jean and needing a new pair badly for an upcoming event, I bought my old standby, but got a different color; "Range", whatever that means. These are made in Lesotho. It's in Africa, before you ask... I know because I had to look it up. They fit unlike any other Levi's I have ever nor currently own. They are basically "skinny" through the thigh, slightly flared at the leg, and the seat is basically too tight to sit in. Same 32x32 I always buy and still wear, same 505s, and completely, utterly a different jean. What on Earth is with Levi's? Quality control is gone, attention to detail, gone. I should have listened to myself and skipped them. I'll return them and continue my hunt for an acceptable replacement. Am I alone in thinking that I'd rather pay twice and get a better jean?