Lands’ End Canvas Heritage Straight Fit Jean – $28.99 (reg. $49.50)
Use code VIBRANT and pin 8242 for free shipping. Expires 5/23
These won’t make the skinny jeans fans happy. But for guys who’ve got larger upper legs? The Lands’ End Canvas Heritage Straight Fit Jean might be a nice replacement for the seemingly going extinct GAP Authentics. Here’s how they should fit, depending on the girth of your legs with the tighter fits starting on the left:
They’re a nice compromise between the GAP Authentic Fit and the not to be messed with classic Levi’s 501. When you layer the two on top of each other you can see there’s just a little more width to the LEC legs, but they certainly feel more roomy than the 501s. Rise is a perfect not too high or low.
They’re straight with no flare, feel good in your hands, and the rinsed indigo color is a true dark jean. Room in the thighs for guys with larger quads and hamstrings but not bulky by any means. Straight through the calf with no taper.
A warning: These do feel a little big in the waist. So if you go back and forth between two sizes you might want to go with the smaller size. Back pocket stitching is barely noticeable and a nice touch.
A nice option for the bigger legged fellows for under $30, plus could get a lot cheaper the next time LEC does a site wide sale. The code VIBRANT with pin 8242 should get you free shipping on anything through 5/23.
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The other day I put on a pair of straight leg Banana Republic chinos that I’ve had for years, and my immediate thought was “Holy crap, these things are like parachutes!” I definitely have chicken legs, though, so I can see guys with developed quads needing different fits. I definitely have chicken legs, though, so I can see guys with developed quads needing different fits.
Despite the enormous convenience and the savings, I’ve never been able to bring myself to buy jeans online. I’d need to see myself in these bad boys before I dole out the money.
I’m always pleasantly surprised to find anything tyrannosaur related this early in the morning.
In most cases I would agree, but free shipping and the ability to return to Sears means you can put your bank account right back where it started if you don’t like them. Heck, you could order two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit.
I won’t be ordering any of these, however, as I am definitely on the left end of the above spectrum.
Love the graph, puts everything in perspective.
best. infographic. ever.
I’ve always been hesitant as well, especially with the amount of variance in sizing from brand to brand – but since I’m built similarly to Joe (bigger upper legs) and I had been looking at these and waiting for them to go on sale (with free shipping no less) I gave it a shot. And being able to return them for free at Sears is great too.
Joe, we seem to have similar builds going by your past descriptions (5’9″, 170 lbs, mostly leg, actual waist 33″), but what are your leg measurements? My upper thighs are 23″ around and my calves are 15″ around.
The reason I ask is because I find the LEC jeans to be big. With a capital B-I-G. The leg openings are 18″+ around and look like bootcuts on me. (I’ve owned 501, 505 and LEC in 32″ and the fit/cut are basically identical.)
These days, I’ve been wearing 32″ 514s and while I might appreciate maybe a tad more thigh room (like 1/4″ max) it fits as well as I can expect for a cheap jean without the lower leg flare.
From a guy with t-rex quads: Bless you for this information.
I recently bought a pair of jeans online, against my better judgement. Sure enough, I was sorry I did.
The deals are so tempting though.
Got a pair last week, and the fit as described which works great for me. Also, I got what seems to be a genuine hand written note 2 days later making sure I was happy with my order.
Just a follow up to this review for anyone who ends up here. I ordered a pair on sale in my normal size (32×30) and the Rinsed Indigo color. That was a resounding failure. Very tight in the waist, thighs on par with a pair of Lucky Brand slim jeans, and the length was off by nearly two inches.
LEC has a good return policy, so I’m waiting for an exchange in the next size up (33×32). I paid $15, so I’m not upset. I just wanted to point out the sizing issue, since the reviews on their site (and here) suggest a different experience than my own.
I had the same issue as Ben. About 2 weeks ago I bought the straight fit 30×30 (my size in J Crew) and the waist was WAY too tight and the thighs were skin-tight. My thighs are bigger, but not huge.
As a follow up, I received the replacement jeans (33×32) and they fit far better. There seems to be considerably more than an inch of difference in the waist between 32 and 33, but I’d rather err on the loose side than be uncomfortable. The length is just right at 30″, and the thighs are not as restrictive. Overall, they’re still fairly slim (much closer to my Lucky slims than Gap authentics), but I’m happy for what I paid.
Returning was so painless that I didn’t mind taking the risk and it paid off.
Okay, going to reply to Ben as well as mdb here since I’m not sure what’s up. I took a tape measure to my 501s (a standard for straight fits, not baggy, but not skin tight either) as well as a brand new pair of L.E.C. straight fits fresh out of the box on 9/1. I measured across, seam to seam, in three areas. Crotch to outer seam, top thigh, and lower calf. Here’s the results:
Crotch: L.E.C. 11″ Levi’s 10.5″
Top Thigh: L.E.C. 9.5″ Levi’s 9″
Calf: L.E.C. 8″ Levi’s 7.5″
So consistently across the board, the L.E.C.s are roomier than the 501s. I think the chart reflects this, with the Authentic Fits (I don’t have mine anymore, recently donated to a thrift store) even roomier than these. If you’re a fan of a 501 or slimmer, like say a 514 slim straight, then you’re risking too much room in the LEC Straight fits.
mdb. See above reply to Ben. What jeans do you normally wear?