Double RL Straight Fit Jeans
This first appeared in ‘Edition #0 of Purposeful Activity.
As Edition #0 is long sold out, and given the number of emails asking about copies and Double RL generally, thought might be a good idea to pop the article online.
Few changes have been made and shot a couple of extra photos.
These are still my favourite jeans, I like to buy a new pair each June 1st, so I can wear them straight through ‘til September 1st, back to school. Properly breaking them in when out sparrow fart early with the dogs or doing my thing on the farm.
Jeans are Jeans.
But, not all Jeans are ‘those’ Jeans, and sometimes ‘those’ jeans, really aren’t.
They’re the over thought, over wrought and just over.
Because the idea with jeans is simple. Put them on and, that’s it.
We all wear them, occasionally a hardy soul will suggest they never have, but let he who is without indigo slag off the stonewash…
I’ll confess to having been an age ago one of the denim overthinkers, now I am reformed, and my advice, professional and personal is simple. Find what works for you, buy once, wear a lot then buy again, wear some more and alternate.
Oh, and wash. Wash regularly. Jeans aren’t jackets, they can’t survive a while out in the wild.
It's what you do in them which causes the fades, not how long you left them pickling and bacteria soaked.
There are many which I admire and when moon turns blue dip my legs into, including pairs from Jelado, Visvim, Full Count, L.E.J and Orslow.
The Orslow 105 – no idea where they got the name from - is the all things, to most people jean. It suits being worn big or snug. Dressed up, down and between. For me, at a shade over 6 foot 1 I prefer their straightish silhouette.
It’s a one wash denim – which I find stretches and wear size 0 – which over time goes from hairy to washed out, to mid 70’s LA lost cowboy.
When asked, what should anyone buy first, they are a decent start, not a gateway, nor an entry point, just a well cut, suits everyone, properly made pair in a beautiful and understated denim.
The much desired European floating midfielder, could play 6, 8 or sometimes 7. Found by Brighton and one day to win the Champions League.
But like all parent’s I have a favourite and as much as I love these, they aren’t what I wear every day.
That’s the straight fit RRL.
Made in America of either American or Japanese cloth. The Ralph-est of all Ralph’s denim.
A buy once and wonder why you ever wore anything else pair of jeans.
And there is little much else to say.
Beyond this, I am 41 and have been obsessed with clothes since before I can remember and involved in this industry for over 20 years. Bought, worn, consumed a lot, with a love for product and the constant desire to search for what isn’t just good, but great, actually scratch that, just the best.
And, I cannot work out why I would buy another style of jeans.
I wear these every day – apart from when being washed and then I wear the Orslow’s which I bought first and wore a lot before these.
They are worn everywhere. At home, in the city and on the beach. In the garden and in the field, in the pub and stood outside, by and in the river - long story – on a horse, walking many dogs, driving a few cars, to work, be that work work, or work, work, work. They’ve helped dig holes, climb fences, cook, eat, grind coffee, drink, live.
The first thing I slip on in morning and last thing I take off at night.
Worn with boots, wellies, shoes, sneakers, socks, or padding about the house.
Worn high with Edward Green Newmarkets, unbuttoned and tucked or untucked shirts, outerwear, stuff of choice. Don’t sweat it.
Worn when days are good, legs swinging, face smiling, sun shining or just good weather, even the bad kind.
Nothing can go wrong, everything coming together, a day perhaps not for the ages, but one to remember, no impediments, idiots or nonsense. Just you and the world, thick as thieves, soulmates.
I have more of those days wearing these, than any other jeans.
A coincidence? Perhaps, I mean, who knows?
That said, it could be the cut, could be the make, could be nothing, just one of those things, but I think there is something in the unabashed confidence, the utter lack of annoyance, no thought needed to be given to what I’d change, that leads me to concentrate on how beautiful life can be. How interesting the small things are, that what might be seen as the everyday, is wonderful.
Items shown:
Double RL Buffalo Western Shirt
Double RL Straight Fit Once Washed Selvedge Jeans - Made in USA with USA Denim.
Double RL Straight Fit Once Washed Selvedge Jeans - Made in USA with Japanese Denim.
Double RL Mason Wool Sports Shirt.
Double RL Indigo Chamois Western Shirt.
Visvim Mayan Belt.
Visvim 101xx Denim Jacket Raw.
Wythe Moleskin shirt.