Levi's Men's 550 Relaxed Fit Jean

When function is the highest factor

I'm a fairly simple shopper when it comes to clothes. I buy most of my pants from Sears, and those are always Levi 550s. They are, quite simply, the most appealing jeans I've worn, and I've been wearing them exclusively for about 5 years now. They don't tear that easily and they hold up for a long time if you take care of them and wash them on a regular basis. While it is true that some other brands, such as Lee, have somewhat softer material, I've always returned to these workhorses. I prefer black usually, which has the normal problem of fading to gray after a time, but they stay black for a respectably long time. Perfect for everyday situations. I really don't see a reason to wear any other jeans! The fit on these "relaxed" jeans is just that--relaxed but not loose. Compared to other manufacturers relaxed fit jeans, these are less full than you might expect. I find them to be something like a cross between the classic "regular" fit zipper fly 505, and the slightly wider thigh fit of the 501 button fly Levi's. In other words, they are somewhat fuller in the seat and thighs, but not much fuller in the waist. They are good looking, and have a slight taper to the leg. Because of the taper, they get pretty narrow near the ankle so you want to order your exact size--these are not jeans to roll up the cuffs.