JCPenney · Plain Pockets · Mid-1970s to the late 1990s
JCPenney Plain Pockets Jeans
By 1976 JCPenney had a house-brand jean aimed straight at Levi's. The ads put two pairs side by side and said the only difference was the pocket and the price. Plain Pockets had the same fit and the same 100% cotton indigo denim as the best-seller, Penney's claimed, just without the fancy stitching on the back. The line came in flares, straight legs and later boot cuts, in pre-washed denim and corduroy, in men's waists from 27 to 42 and in Varsity sizes for boys, and the ads kept running into the 1980s. Plain Pockets were still in the catalog in 1990 and still on sale late in the decade. They aren't collector jeans, which is the appeal. A 1970s or 80s pair is cheap, plain, all-cotton denim, so buy on measurements and condition.
Straight legFlare leg (1970s)Boot cut (by the early 1980s)Pre-washed denimCorduroyVarsity boys' sizes
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- JCPenney
- Model
- Plain Pockets
- Family
- Plain Pockets
- Garment
- Jeans
- Cut
- Straight leg
- Years made
- Mid-1970s to the late 1990s
- Decade
- 1980s
- Fabric
- 100% cotton indigo denim, per the 1970s ads
- Good for
- Everyday wear
Date it from the photos
Reading a Plain Pockets listing
- Back pockets
- Check that the back pockets are plain, with no stitched design. That was the whole pitch, so fancy stitching means a different jean.
- Logo
- Look at the label for the JCPenney logo. Penney's adopted it in 1971, so a Plain Pockets pair should carry it, and an older Penney's label points to an earlier jean like Foremost.
- Leg shape
- Look at the leg in the photos. Flares fit the mid-1970s ads, straight legs sold alongside by 1977, and boot cuts appear by the early 1980s.
- Care tag
- Read the care tag, which every pair should have since care labels became mandatory in 1971. The 1970s ads promised 100% cotton denim.
If you’ll wear it
These are plain, cheap, all-cotton jeans that wear well today. Buy them on measurements.
If you’ll collect it
Flare-leg pairs from the 1970s ad years have the most period character.
Size it by measurement
Penney's sold Plain Pockets in men's waists from about 27 to 42 and claimed the same fit as the best-selling jeans, the ones with fancy back-pocket stitching. Treat that as a regular five-pocket fit and measure. They're all cotton, so years of washing and drying can shrink a pair off its tag. Ask for the waist flat and doubled, the inseam, the front rise and the leg opening, which tells you flare, straight or boot cut.
New to measuring old denim? Our measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
What to check
Measurements first, then the details
These were everyday jeans, so expect worn knees, frayed hems, crotch wear and broken belt loops. Most repairs are fine, since you're buying a pair to wear.
- 01Waist: Ask for the waist measured flat across the top of the waistband, then double it. Expect it to run under the tag on a washed pair.
- 02Inseam: Ask for the inseam from the crotch seam to the hem. Check for a re-hem in the photos.
- 03Rise: Ask for the front rise from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband. Compare it with a pair you already wear.
- 04Leg opening: Ask for the leg opening measured flat at the hem. A wide opening means a flare or boot cut, a narrower one a straight leg.
- 05Back pockets: Check the back pockets in the photos. They should be plain, with no stitched design.
- 06Label: Zoom in on the label in the photos. Look for Plain Pockets and the JCPenney logo.
- 07Condition: Ask for photos of the knees, crotch and hems. Wear is normal, but open holes need a repair.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through the listings for this one yet. Search eBay for it and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for flat measurements and clear photos of the tab, patch, labels and buttons, and pass on any listing that won’t show them.
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