The Chronic Consumer

When I was in high school and college, I was very concerned about wearing brand-name clothes. Back then the most popular brand for shirts, tops, and jackets was Gap, while Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Girbaud were the only jeans the “cool kids” would wear. (I’m really dating myself here, aren’t I?) It seems so shallow now, but back then it just went with the territory.

These days, however, I really don’t feel like spending $100-$200 for Diesel jeans or any of the other hot brands out there. I would just rather buy jeans that are comfortable, durable, and fit well — which is why I now wear Lee Riders.

I bought a pair of Lee Riders Relaxed Fit jeans at Wal-Mart about six months ago. I had heard that these jeans were pretty good, so I wanted to check them out. I tried on a pair in the dressing room before making my purchase, and immediately noticed how great they fit. I was hooked almost from the start.

Now that I’ve had plenty of time to evaluate the jeans properly, here are some more thoughts on them:

• They are extremely durable, and have held up very well in the washer and dryer. After six months of use, the Riders are only slightly more faded than before, and have no noticeable signs of wear and tear, such as loose seams or whatnot.
• The jeans retain their size and shape better than any other pair I’ve owned. With most other brands, I have to struggle to get into them when they’re fresh out of the dryer because they’ve shrunk a tad in the process. But my Riders are always comfortable, no matter when I put them on.
• Riders have a relatively flattering fit. With most other brands, the term “relaxed fit” means you end up with jeans that make your butt and thighs look huge. Lee seems to understand that there’s more to relaxed fit than simply adding extra material to the backside. The result here is jeans that are comfortable and make you look good when wearing them.

I loved my first pair of Riders so much that I went out a month later and bought 3 more of the exact same style. I highly recommend these jeans, and at less than $16 a pair, you can’t really go wrong!