These make me giggle every time I put the jeans on.
They're my multi-purpose, around the house, cleaning, gardening, neighborhood walking jeans. This pair are hand-me-downs, and as such have fit problems.
The waistband has 3 buttons (one that came on the jeans, two that I added). The 3 buttons allow me to tailor the fit to whatever I need for the day. Going for a walk around the neighborhood and don't want to look gangster? The brass button on the far left in the photo gives me the tightest fit and holds the jeans all the way up. Scrubbing the kitchen floor or weeding the garden and want a sort of loose fit as I get up and down from my knees? The middle button provides a fit tight enough so the pants don't fall down, but loose enough to handle a lot of movement. Just eaten a H-U-G-E meal plus dessert? The original silver-tone button provides the loosest of fits.
The downsides -- none of the buttons match. The two that I added were selected from my mother's button box based on their size (so they would easily fit through the buttonhole) and not appearance. And the front of the jeans do look a little odd (being pulled over at the waist beyond the natural point when zipped) when I've got the tightest fit.
But these are practical jeans. They're made from all cotton, thick denim that can take a beating. And they were free to me. Can't beat that price.
Despite their practicality, seeing the 3 odd buttons makes me laugh to myself in the morning when pulling the jeans on.
This is one of those things that only other frugal people would understand. Adding buttons to my jeans to make them fit better is akin to drying out a barely used paper towel to use again, or cutting open a toothpaste tube to get that last bit, or washing and reusing ziploc bags until the sides split and even then taping the split up with dict tape. Making do or using up are hallmarks of historic frugality. But sometimes, even we laugh at our own frugality.
This is a win-win situation. A button for every use and pants that make you smile. Who could ask for anything more?
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,'
DeleteThank you. The jeans are working very well for me like this. And this is a lot easier than trying to tailer the jeans to a smaller size.
Brilliant! Sara
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara!
DeleteWe've never met in person, but the thought of you "looking gangster" is cracking me up. I doubt very much that you would ever fall into that category.
ReplyDeleteI have some of those button extenders, with an elasic loop attached to a button, and they are helpful if I need a wider waistline. They work okay, but not great--your idea likely is much more functional. Along those lines, my kids had jeans/pants with an adjustable elastic waistline--you could button it wherever it fit the best. There should be an adult version of that. Maybe you could make and market it! ;)
Hi Kris,
DeleteMy kids had similar pants. Those were great, and I would really appreciate pants like those. I'll advertise here if/when I design and produce adult pants like those.
I used something like what you've used as a button extender when in the early months of pregnancy. I was able to wait to buy maternity pants/jeans for a little while longer.
I love it! I wish more adult clothes came with these--so functional! My absolute favorite pair of hiking pants, by Columbia, and no longer made, had the elastic and button style of elastic waste and I wore those things for hundreds of miles over a 30+ lb weight loss. Definitely a frugal win!
ReplyDeleteThat should have been waist! Where is autocorrect when I actually need it?
DeleteHi Cat,
DeleteSomeone really needs to market pants for adults with the elastic/button waistband. They'd be comfortable while getting a good fit whether our weight was up or down. Congrats, BTW, on the 30-lb weight loss -- that's fantastic!
Catching up a bit here.
ReplyDeleteThis made me chuckle too, but I could use something like that instead of needing 3 different sizes of pants in my closet! Sigh.
But I’m raising my hand regarding all of the frugal things in the end of your post. Yes, yes, and yes. Guilty of all!