My Love Letter to Men’s Jeans

Let me be clear: jeans are genderless. They’re not concerned about how they fall on your hips, they’re not cat-calling you, and they definitely don’t question your pronouns.

I’m 6 feet tall with a 34-inch inseam—which is great when I’m at the front row of a concert. But for most of my life, buying jeans felt like a punishment. I was wearing highwaters before it was even cool.

Oh, men's jeans. Specifically, my men's jeans. My comfort zone. My forever go-tos. The only pants that have never let me down. Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jeans? Yes. Wrangler Rugged Wear REALTREE camo jeans? Don’t come for me—they fit better than most tailored trousers. And don’t even get me started on Original Ben’s Pants. Those things are magical. Like, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants magical—but union-made and worksite-ready.

Men’s jeans—especially Wrangler’s slim fit and straight leg styles—have always had my back (and my backside). For tall women and nonbinary folks, this kind of fit is rare gold. They’re sturdy. Cotton-heavy. Built for movement and built to last. I’ve worn them since I was a kid, before they were trendy. Now that they’ve become cool, they’ve also become expensive. So I praise Ebay and its competitors for having an infinite stock of perfectly worn-down cowboy jeans.

And yes, I’ve tried the fancy Euro denim. I’ve been to Sweden. I’ve been to the Netherlands—the literal land of the tall. Nudie Jeans? Too soft. Acne Studios? They’ve really gone downhill ever since they threw their lines down a runway. Give me my Wranglers or give me...well, I’ll still wear sweatpants, whatever.

Whether you’re a woman, nonbinary, or just someone who wants to be comfortable in their clothes without feeling ashamed by your size, I’m here to tell you—borrow those pants. Steal them. Share them. Live in them. There’s nothing wrong with wearing the same jeans as your boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, dad (okay, maybe not your dad), or random eBay seller. Fitting in something, truly fitting, is its own quiet joy. A small victory in a world that’s constantly trying to tailor you into something you’re not.

So if anyone ever makes you feel weird for shopping in the “wrong” section, just smile and say: “They’re in the men’s section, but they’re my pants.”

And go fuck yourself, kindly.

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Got a favorite pair of men’s jeans that fit like a dream? Drop them in the comments—I’m always on the hunt for tall-friendly, unisex denim that actually delivers.