Goodbye Gap Authentic Fit? – The Difference Between Straight and Standard
Use Code GAPLOOK on Gap.com for 30% off full price and extra 15% off sale. Expires 4/14
If you’ve got some meat on your bones, specifically your femurs, GAP’s Authentic Fit jeans might have been your denim anchor. Not too loose, not too slim, medium rise, and worth putting up with the pesky GAP jean waistband stretching out issue if you were hard to fit. They were an all around decent jean for guys with haunches.
And now they might be getting phased out. They’ve been banished to the clearance rack in many a brick and mortar. Sizes are getting limited online and all of the washes are on sale. Is this the end of the fit that many a guy with larger quads would reach for? Maybe. Here’s how two other GAP fits stack up in case you need to replace your Authentics.
*Note that I’m 5’9″-10″, around 170, with naturally larger upper legs. Wednesdays are legs days at the gym for me. So I’ve got some decent quad/hamstring circumference, but I’m also not a power lifter.
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GAP Straight Fit Jean – $41.97 w/ code GAPLOOK (reg. $59.95)
These are so slim through the calf, that if you combine it with the awkward downward angle the pics were taken at, my lap now looks wide enough to land a Harrier jet on. These are not even close to the Authentics. They’re heading dangerously close to skinny territory. Levi’s 514ish.
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GAP Standard Fit Jean – $41.97 w/ code GAPLOOK (reg. $59.95)
And these swing to the other side of the Authentics. They’re not as loose as the straight fits are slim, but they do feel like they have more room than the pair of GAP authentic jeans I own. Especially in the waist/upper thighs. Both of these jeans are on either side of the boot fit on the GAP denim scale, but what if you don’t want the boot flared leg?
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The Winner: Levi’s 501
501s are admittedly more slim than the endangered GAP authentic, but 501s are nowhere near as slim as the GAP straight fit. They also don’t have the extra space in the seat that the Standard fit seems to have. If you’re too big for 501s through the thighs, try the GAP standard fit. Or grab a pair of authentics while you still can.
All right fellas… what’s your go to brand and fit for jean? And do you have normal, thunder, or chicken legs? Also note that the code GAPLOOK is 30% off all full price, and 15% extra off sale. Expires Thursday 4/14
I’m finding it hard to beat the 514s, which were recommended here. 501s are classic, yes, but I love the slim fit of the 514s, which fit me well through the waist, hip, and legs. I’m finding that a lot of jeans and regular pants are proportioned strangely these days — cut too generously in the waist when fitting in the hip and thigh. That’s the issue for me with the Gap straight fit. I’ve got a normal waist and normal-to-muscular legs (I’m a runner, so not huge, but developed) and it’s usually a challenge finding jeans and pants that fit the legs and hips nicely (not too tight) without swallowing my waist.
The Authentic Fit has been my favorite for a while now, it’s a shame they’re on the way out. That said, I recently bought a pair of the Straight Fit at my local store, and I like them. The biggest complaint about the Authentic Fit was theleg opening, it was just a shade too wide for my liking. From the knee down I like the Straight Fit much better. But the rise on the Straight Fit is just a bit too low, I kinda feel like I need to pull them up all the time. Oh well, give a little take a little I guess. I really need to come up off some ching and try the Todd Sheltons.
I’ve been wearing a pair of Gap Straight Selvedge’s for about 6 months now. They’re definitely a little restricting, but after about a month they stretch to fit me better than any jeans I’ve ever owned. If you’re okay with the whole “never wash your jeans” thing – give em a try and see what happens. I’ve played hockey for 20 years so I am far from chicken legs.
gotta agree. get them a size larger and they fit great, after the first wearing when i stretch em out.
My go-to pair of dark denim for the past 6-8 months has been a pair of Gap Straight-Fits. I would say that I definitely agree with the general consensus that they run a bit snug, but only at first. Honestly, I am by no means a small guy; 5’10”, 235lbs – but the issue with the stretching of the waist has actually ended up benefiting me. I bought a size down from what I would have normally bought (38×30 instead of 40×30) and after a short-ish break in period, they fit me perfectly. The fit my legs, large thighs included, without being baggy or to “skinny-jean” looking. Besides the white 501s I’ve had my eyes on, Gap Straight-Fit will probably be my next jean purchase.
Aha! Wondered why the waist was so roomy on my GAP’s…it is a know phenomenon. I have big honkin thighs and a smaller waist/butt (10 years of bodybuilding in my younger days) and the standard are pretty good with me, just hug my thighs a smidge. BR has a nice fit as well…cannot recall style off hand. With GAP, no two pair is even close in fit though, so some patience in trying them on can yield the perfect fit
I’m with Paige on the 514s, They give a great slim fit. I too have muscular but not huge thighs. Although I have noticed some sagging around the knees after a while. Any tips on avoiding or rectifying this?
Best thing I’ve come up with are the Eddie Bauer Slim Fits. I’m 6’3″, 190 lbs and these jeans fit quite nicely. They are slim fit, but they are Eddie Bauer slim fit, as opposed to say, American Apparel slim fit. Only thing is, they are never on sale by themselves.
How do the 501s compare to the 514s?
It just depends on your build. I wear either upsized 511s, 514s, or Gap Straight fit. In my opinion, the Gap is the perfect hybrid of the 511 and 514.
Roomier than the 514s. For me, at 5’9″-10″ and 170 with larger legs, the 514s are certainly wearable. I have a pair and wear them. But 501s are the perfect just between. Trim for sure, but still straight with room.
I have to say I’ve been disappointed with the Authentic fits. I bought a selvedge pair over a year ago that have been my go-tos for most things. I’ve worn the hell out of them and they’ve broken in really well, and the colour looks great now, but the waist stretching, stretching at the knees, shrinking in length and the overly wide ankle opening are really getting to me. I’m 6’0, around 170lbs, and athletic/muscular (not big and bulky really) build.
I feel like the straight fit are a better fit, although I think that’s because they seem a bit too snug right now, but with what I know about GAP stretching, they seem like they will be just about perfect after a few wears. But why should we have to buy jeans that don’t fit at first and we hope will BECOME better? Hello Levi’s…
Cheers,
Ben
Has anyone tried Levi’s Matchstick? They are supposed to be in between a 511 & 514…I like the 511’s but I have a pretty athletic build & they’re a little tight in the thighs.
I find it hilarious that you compare the two gap jeans and then declare the 501 the winner when it wasn’t even in the comparison :).
My go to pair are for sure my 511’s however I have some 514’s and a pair of levis matchstick. For me there is not a huge difference between the 511 and matchstick. I also have a pair of APC new petite standard that are starting to break in nicely. My go
i wear Naked & Famous denim. they have 3 fits…i wear the “weird guys.”
They are the perfect fit between a 511/514. the 514 were too baggy towards the bottom half (past knees). the 511 were just too snug…i gotta an ass! so they didn’t work.
i always wanted selvedge…so i went into a store for some APC’s…but the girl suggested these N&F. they were cheaper…and she said the fits are better.
the best way i can describe it is, upper part (called the ‘top block’) fits like a slightly slimmer 514…and then tapers to a nice 511.
check them out.
http://www.nakedandfamousdenim.com/
I really like the dark wash boot cut Gap Jeans, they are my go-to pair. I also have a couple of pair of the Authentic, Straight and Standard pair. I must say the boot cut beats them all. It’s the most true to size pair that the Gap has. I know right now during Gap’s 40% off markdowns sale, you can get the Authentic jeans for just under $11, not too bad.
I’ve been denim hunting for the past 7 months so I’d like to chime in with my experiences.
At 5’7″ 165-170lbs with big quads and rear, I cannot get any of the Gap jeans to fit properly. The shape is just… unflattering. The seats are usually too baggy for the leg widths provided and the waistbands do indeed stretch, but about as much as Levis. Straight fit was too tight, standard was ok to slightly baggy, and authentics had to high of a rise for me.
Onto Levis, from my experience the 501 fits either as slim or even slimmer (really!) than the 514. The biggest difference aside from the button fly is the rise. The 501 rise is much higher than the 514, which is either a pro or a con depending on your body type/fit needs.
At Macy’s yesterday, I FINALLY found a pair of Levis 527 (low rise bootcut) in the same Tumbled Rigid color that you can find in the 514s. The rise is exactly like the 514 while the leg tapers slightly toward the knee and then flares slightly from there. This is great for balancing out wide hips/thighs/ass. The 527 was previously unavailable without fake/pre-distressing (which I hate).
“after about a month they stretch to fit me better than any jeans I’ve ever owned.”
^^^ This is something everyone needs to know. Denim will stretch and relax and look better with wear. This doesn’t just apply to fades/distressing but with fit as well. Also, wear a belt to reduce waistband stretching.
Also, the “never wash your jeans” thing makes for some absolutely sick looking jeans (really)… if you’re good about controlling the smell.
It’s caused by the denim stretching when your legs bend. Some call them “knee boners”. It’s ok, it’s a normal occurrence.
You can try spraying the knees with water after you wear them to try and shrink them down, but this didn’t work that well for me. When the jeans relax it will look better. Less… erect.
I actually think the straight fits look better in that pic. They probably also would look better at a less awkward angle. Personal preference I guess 🙂
Sucks to be a fat midget, donnit?
Dash it. Due to my athletic pursuits, I have large quads and Gap’s authentic fit jeans were absolutely perfect for me. I don’t know what I’ll do if they phase these out; I was waiting on getting a new pair because I just lost weight, and will probably lose a bit more in the near future.
Mine have been hanging outside all day to get rid of a lil funk. They’ll be springtime fresh tomorrow!