New Jeans

Well, I can now officially get my nearly-new (I just got them at Christmas) favorite jeans on or off without having to undo them. And while this does sound eminently practical and perhaps even somewhat entertaining, it does make me think that, perhaps, the time has come to get new favorite jeans.

I like shopping. I don't usually have a hard time finding clothes that fit, but jeans seem to be the exception to the rule. And that's bad news, because I wear them a lot. I've lost a few inches around my middle and this is my second transition in the last two years. It's good, but it's also a bit of a pain, having to replace clothes that are fine except for the fact that there's a bit too much of them. And jeans are a special case.

Jeans are really more like friends than clothes. You make an investment in getting to know each other. You start off a little unsure... things are not really comfortable but you hope they'll get better. Sure, after a little while you may realize that it's just not going to work between you. The tears may be of regret or sadness or anger, but tears are tears when you're crying them. You may take some time off and decide to try again after you've both cooled down. But you know, deep down, that it's not going to work. There is no return from the "to try later" pile, no matter what you say as you part.

It's over.

But when you find those jeans that are destined to become your favorites, you can sense that something special is happening. And I've had it happen with different brands, with button-fly and zips, indigo, aged, or classic blue. You never know when it's going to strike, but when it does, it's like all of the stars in the what-not-to-wear sky (the original, British snarky one, not the cheery American one) are aligned. You put them on, and they're just right. They work with any shoes. You can toss on a jacket or a tee shirt and they pull it off with aplomb. It's like being able to communicate without having to learn the language first: it's more basic than speech.

They just fit.

And I don't want to do that again. I like my favorite jeans. They're not getting worn out, and their color is good, and we still get along so well. I'm unsure as to whether I should invest heavily in ice cream and try to save the relationship or bite the bullet and go shopping.

I'm telling you, I have a difficult life. I think I need to sleep on this.