I have a variation on the jeans question. Which would you consider more fashionable for men (visiting Spain)--black jeans or blue jeans? I'm sure my husband's travel wardrobe will consist primarily of Dockers-type pants and slightly dressier business casual slacks with a pair of jeans thrown in as a "durable" alternative.

I don't pack jeans - they're too heavy. If you must, I have seen wealthy Spanish people in Andalucia riding horseback wearing Levi's (blue denim, not black). Most of the people one sees wearing Jeans in Spain are wearing European 'knock offs,' and they are just not the same as the American bluejeans they try to imitate. The material is much lighter and the 'cut' is noticeably different.

Levi's does manufacture for the European market but the model numbers are different. Once, someone asked us to bring a certain model # Levi's - we had to call Levi's 800 number to get the model number translated to one that's available here in the U.S.A.

I had not problems shopping in Spain at the stores "El Corte Ingles", they know the american measures. I bougth pants, shoes very fast, it was cheap and what everybody was wearing.

Rafael

Agree that most regular consumer items (non-food) found in the US are available in Spain at prices very comparable. A lot of inexpensive clothing, etc. comes in from low wage countries such as China.
For some reason, Levi's cost almost twice as much as frequently on sale in the US.

If you are to pack jeans for your husband, I would for sure bring the black ones, especially if he would prefer to attempt to fit in. Actually, the one request I got from a Spanish friend last year when I went to visit was that I bring him black Levi's 501s.
Definitely bring the black ones. Am I correct in thinking that they no longer make 501s?

The reason why Levi's are so expensive in Spain is really incredible.

When they started to sell them here, they used to be as cheap as in the US. However, for some reason people wouldn't buy them. Guess what Levi's did?. They made them more expensive and... incredibly people bought (and still buy) them at those "interesting" prices!!!!.

Sometimes it's very strange to understand the reasons that lead consumers to buy a product. But having a high price, is quit surprising.

[ 04-25-2001: Message edited by: Antonio ]

Hola Antonio,

The best explanation I've heard for the phenomenon you describe was in Iceland (of all places). Levis may be "reassuringly expensive". If it costs a lot, then it MUST be good.....

Effie