Bury me in my 501s

I’ve never purchased a new pair of 501s. I’ve only been so lucky to meet them in thrift stores and over-priced consignment stores. I’ve owned three pairs in my life, and currently of those three, I have one left. 

The first pair I encountered was in my hometown at the Salvation Army thrift store. While exiting the car, I was bitching to my best friend Emma about how I can never find anything worthy at thrift stores. This was probably 6 years ago now, maybe even more than that. She rolled her eyes at me and we went inside. I don’t remember who spotted them first, but I tried them on. They were soooooo gorgeous. It was love at first sight! Although I considered them too long back then, they did reach my ankle bone. The backside was not too snug, but instead caressed my bum and sat perfectly above my hips. The legs were straight but roomy. This pair was a beautiful light blue color, faded in all the right places from years of pre-loved wear. Hence began my love for my Lucky Blue Jeans. I had to do my walk of shame out of the changing room and listen to the “I told you so”s from Emma, but it was worth it, that’s for sure.

I got home and cut the bottoms a couple inches to give them the updated look of the time, which was slightly cropped jeans. I loved them from the minute I laid eyes on them. They were $7 back then, so in today’s dollars with inflation, they would probably be $42. 😉

As my weight fluctuated through my early twenties, during what I call the second round of puberty, my bum got a little bigger. Or maybe it was from all my hours of sitting in class (joking I never went!). But one day, the faded denim gave way and my ass was exposed to the world. But I still wore them. When appropriate. (No family gatherings, not at work, and certainly nowhere near children). So, they officially became my party-pants.

Eventually, I retired those 501s, as I didn’t feel like exposing myself anymore, but I still regret it. I wish I chose to repair the rips instead.

Since then, I’ve had 2 other pairs. Both purchased at overpriced consignment stores. It’s because I’m willing to fork out the big bucks for a pair of 501s! I’m wearing my black pair right now, and I feel on top of the world! I retired my other black pair because a previous owner had cropped them, similar to what I had done to my Lucky Blues. I should have kept those and cut them into shorts, but I can be rather impulsive, and hind sight is 20/20. 😉

What I love about them is that they are truly the perfect jean. They will never go out of style. The rigid denim softens over time to allow maximum comfort for the wearer without compromising on looks. You can wear them on a long walk. You can eat in them. You can paint in them. You can wear them to the beach. You can garden in them. They truly become a part of you. 

I’m thinking of buying a new pair from my place of work, because I can get 50% off, and I like the thought of molding them to my own body from the day I get them in the mail. Maybe I would even be so generous to allow my future child to borrow them, but only if they give them back! I want to be buried in my 501s. I want to be wearing a baggy, white, crisp cotton shirt, with my silver Figaro chain, Ray Ban Wayfarers on, and Clarks on my feet. My beloved grey hoodie will be used as a pillow. Fuck it, throw in a cigarette in the coffin, may as well complete the cool guy look!