How to Buy Jeans for the Fashionable Man

A friend of mine recently got in contact with me and presented me with a dilemma.  He's been reading the blog and has picked up on a few of the ideas I've presented here, but still has an issue with finding jeans that look good.  The biggest problem with finding great jeans is that there is such a variety out there, it's hard to sift through the mountains of denim available at nearly every retailer.  Well I think I can help with this quick guide on how to find great jeans.

It's All About Fit

The great thing about denim is that it stretches and forms to your body. Notice how when you pull on a pair of year old jeans they feel better than when you bought them? That's because the denim has had time to contour around your hips and ass to fit perfectly. However this only works if your jeans actually fit. Hence, you should be buying your jeans just slightly tight. You should still be able to button them up, but they should be snug. After you buy them, wear them relentlessly.

That said, with the countless variations of "fit" that retailers advertise it can be hard to decide which to go with. Try them all on. There's no one "right fit" because everyone has different shaped legs. However try to avoid anything with "relaxed", "baggy" or "loose" names. I tend to stick to fits that say "classic", "straight", "slim" or something along those lines. Boot cut is a source of contention for me, I think they look terrible unless you are wearing boots but there are plenty who would disagree with me.

Express Slim Fit Rocco Jean - Dark Rinse

Don't Wash them Every Week
In fact, you don't need to even wash them every year. I'm guessing the germaphobe readers are cringing right now, but let me present to you Exhibit A. In the article, the amount of bacteria between a pair of jeans that were worn for 15 months straight and one worn for 2 weeks was compared. Guess what? It was about the same. So get over thinking that you need to wash denim every week, month or 6 months. Plus, washing your jeans is going to kill that fit you've been working for and you'll be right back at square one. If you spill something on your jeans, just try to spot clean the area as well as you can before resorting to the machine. If the denim is getting a little stinky you can spray it with some Febreze and you'll be in the clear.

Gap 1969 Skinny Fit Jeans - Raw Indigo

Should My Jeans Have Jewels?
No. Your jeans should not have jewels, crosses, diamonds, pyramid studs, or any other accent that makes you look like a model out of an Affliction catalog. Your jeans shouldn't have pre-made tears, rips or holes in them either. That will come with time and when that time comes you should be tossing those ripped up jenas. Keep your jeans simple, with a standard 5 pocket design. If you want your jeans to be versatile, I recommend going for a darker wash like original blue or dark denim. You'll be able to wear them on casual friday, out on the town and everywhere in between.

Levi's 511 Skinny Jeans - Clean Dark

Don't let fancy brand names fool you, you don't have to spend $200 on a pair of jeans to get something that looks great. All of the choices above are under $70, easy on your wallet. You'll be able to pair any of these witha leather jacket, a shirt and tie, loafers, oxfords, sneakers, navy blazer, almost anything really.

Thanks for reading. As always, be dapper.