Day 189 | The button holes (5th comparison)

The buttons holes were last compared on day 160. Since then the jeans have been washed, but for some strange reason you can't see much difference in them. They've always just looked rough and a little unfinished.

In the top photograph, there's seven pictures. Each one from the 6 months of the test. The last picture in the photo is of them after they have been washed. Not much difference, besides for the shine that's on the others.

As always I will attempt my maths sum to see how many times I have opened and closed the buttons till the day they were washed on 183 days. Opening and closing the buttons whilst getting dressed and undressed, at least twice a day, so that is three hundred and sixty six times. Let's average going to the toilet during that time to twice a day, which is open and closed four times a day times hundred and sixty days, gives us seven hundred and thirty two times. Add all of that up, and I have opened and closed the buttons on these jeans about one thousand and ninety eight times during the last hundred and eighty three days. I always thought there would be more wear on the button holes, but just goes to show how well they're made these days.

Tomorrow I'm publishing a 360 degree photo series of the jeans before the wash and after the wash. Then you'll be able to see how they have changed.

Day 160 | The button holes (4th comparison)

Today is the last day of the 4th comparison series. Today I compare the button holes and the front of the fly. Now for the first time can I see that there's been some wear on these jeans. The photos are in order, taken at the beginning of each month, from one to five.

As always I will attempt my maths sum to see how many times I have opened and closed the buttons over the last 160 days. Opening and closing the buttons whilst getting dressed and undressed, at least twice a day, so that is three hundred and twenty times. Let's average going to the toilet during that time to twice a day, which is open and closed four times a day times hundred and sixty days, gives us six hundred and forty times. Add all of that up, and I have opened and closed the buttons on these jeans about nine hundred and sixty times during the last hundred and sixty days. I always thought there would be more wear on the button holes, but just goes to show how well they're made these days.

I think I'll go back to looking for some good denim adverts tomorrow.

Day 126 | The button holes (3rd comparison)

The last part of my 3rd comparison series, are the button holes. The picture on the top has four comparison photos in it. The first one is from day 17, the second one from day 61, the third one from day 94 and the last one from today, day 126.

The button holes in my opinion is the area on the jeans that will wear the most, because it is used the most. I'm going to do exactly what I did on day 94, and do some maths.

I've been wearing them every day for the past hundred and twenty six days, so it means that I did the buttons up and down, whilst getting dressed and undressed, at least twice a day, so that is two hundred and fifty two times. Let's average going to the toilet during that time to twice a day, which is open and closed four times a day times hundred and twenty six days, gives us five hundred and four times. Add all of that up, and I have opened and closed the buttons on these jeans about seven hundred and fifty six times during the last hundred and twenty six days.

Still looking good for having gone through all of that.

Day 94 | The button holes (2nd comparison)

Today I compare the button holes. The photograph to the left has 3 pictures in it. The picture on the left is from day 17 the middle picture is from day 61 and the right hand picture is from today. Not so much difference on the inside, other than the denim seems more folded and creased, as if they've finally found their own shape.

The bottom photograph is from today. Lots of light blue marks from the wear. I've been wearing them every day for the past ninety four days, so it means that I did the buttons up and down at least twice a day, so that is one hundred and eighty eight times. Let's average going to the toilet during that time to twice a day, which is open and closed four times a day times ninety four days, gives us three hundred and seventy six times. Add all of that up, and I have opened and closed the buttons on these jeans about five hundred and sixty four times during the last ninety four days. I thought they would have been much more worn by now through all that chafing.

I also did some comparison photographs of other jeans brands and their button holes on day 17, just to show the different styles and so on. But this was the last part of my 2nd comparison. I'll do the 3rd comparison right after new years day.

Day 92 | The front pockets (2nd comparison)

Today I compare the front pockets. A lot more creases and by far more marks everywhere. The main changes are the creases from sitting in front of my laptop everyday, in the places where my hips bend. It's like my jeans are permanently moulded into that "sitting" shape, even when I take them off. The pictures on the left in the two top photographs is from day 14 and the middle pictures from day 59 and the right side picture is from today.

There's plenty of light blue marks from the wear on the button holes as well, and as I mentioned on day 90, a lot more shiny from not having been washed for 92 days. Will be interesting to see how shiny they'll become after the full six months with no wash.

I spoke about my front pocket wallet on day 33, and showed photos of the marks it usually makes on all my jeans. The bottom photograph show what the mark looks like at the moment on these jeans. Much more visible than on day 59. Tomorrow I compare the bottom hems.

Day 61 | The button holes (1st comparison)

I've said a couple of times on this blog, that I expected the buttonholes to wear the fastest, and the most, of any other part of the jeans. So far I've been wrong, see day 60.

In the beginning they seemed to be wearing out very fast, but then it sort of evened out, and they haven't gone past a certain point for a while now. They were very stiff in the beginning, but soon loosened up, from the every day wear. The buttons now, go in and out much easier than they did on day one.

The left hand side comparison photo is from day 23, and the right hand side photo is from today. I have also done some button hole comparisons with other jeans manufacturers on day 17, but here's what Dr.Denim has to say about button holes.

They call it the "Lucky effect". The cause: Repeatedly undressing in a hurry. The effect: Button hole worn out or button missing.

Day 55 | Comparing the creases

Been having a look at the changes in the creases behind the knees. The first photo was taken after 2 weeks of wear, where the second and third one was taken after 6 weeks of wear.

For me the creases in the white photo don't look so permanent yet. The creases are a bit rounded and looks like it'll be easy to iron them out. Not that I'm going to bring an iron close to my jeans. The creases on the jeans on the wooden floor, however, look a bit more permanent, with sharper edges, and they don't seem so easy to remove.

It's interesting to see the changes in the jeans when you compare photos one month apart. I think I'll do that at the beginning of each month, by comparing the knees, front and back, the hems, the button holes, the pockets, front and back, the creases below the front pockets, as well as any other permanent marks that may have started to appear. Just to see if there will perhaps be a really big change in the denim after six months of daily wear.

Day 27 | Harris Blue Black Raw so far

Now that it is twenty seven days into the test I've had a real good look at the jeans and have only noticed minor changes to the denim.

As mentioned before, the button holes look a bit more worn. The back hem is more worn, from when I where them at home, barefoot, and let them hang down without folding them up. The crease made by the fold up is more visible when the hem is folded down. The knees are much more stretched in front, and creased a lot behind the knees. Then there are more creases below the pockets where the jeans fold in front, when I sit. Other than that, I have not seen a major colour change. That will take time and a lot more wear. I'll publish some photos of the next couple of days of all the areas I've mentioned. It looks like a bit more rain will fall here over the next couple of days, so it'll be interesting to see how the jeans hold up with all that water. We have two more washes from Dr.Denim for today.

Cellulose Enzyme Wash - "The jeans are washed with enzymes and organic substances that break down the cellulose in the fabric. The result is a washed-out effect."

Acid Wash - "A type of stone wash that was launched in the 1980s. Pumice is soaked in chlorine and washed with the fabric. Also called iced, frosted or snow wash."

Day 23 | Inside button holes

Here's what the button holes inside look like at the moment. They're still holding up very good, with the jeans being worn every day. The buttons are easy to do up and open again.

I have another pair of jeans, where it's so difficult to do the buttons up, that I stopped wearing them. Not the case here. Although the denim in that area has become really soft, the button holes still work really well.

The jeans effect from Dr.Denim today is the Hero effect. Cause: Voluntary or involuntary act of heroism such as saving someone from a burning building. Result: Third degree burn.

Day 17 | More button holes

I've taken 5 of the jeans that I own, with different styles, cuts and denim, to show how different companies stitch button holes.

A - This it Dr.DenimJeans. The denim is raw and the cut is between slim and straight. The button stitch looks very roughly done, and as I've mentioned before, it looks like the first place that will show wear. Also yellow thread shows the wear easier on the darker denim.

B - H&M Sliq. A cut that suits me very well, because I am 1,92cm tall. The denim feels raw, but it looks like it's been treated and coloured again after it's been washed. The button hole stitch is done with very thin cotton thread, unlike the others, but looks very neat.

C - Puma/Evisu Worn In. These have been my favourite pair of jeans for the last 3 years. I also own the same style but in unwashed/stif denim. The cut is straight and is by far the most comfortable jeans I've owned. The button stitch still looks new, after 3 years of regular wear and was done with a lighter blue thread.

D - H&M Sliq. Another pair, but with a different denim. Looks a bit raw, but has been washed and is a good, every now and then, pair of jeans. The button hole is very neat and tidy and done with yellow thread.

E - TBY (To be young). A pair of flair jeans I have, that have been treated and washed. A really comfortable pair, but flair seems to only now make a comeback here in Sweden, where "skinny" and "slim" are still very much the dominant style. The button hole is very hard to see, so if it starts to wear, it will be very hard to tell.