Type of Jeans: Guide to Jean Styles for Men

 

A quality pair of jeans is one of those crucial wardrobe must-haves for every modern man: classic, effortless and cool. Traversing all social and economic divides and the ultimate go-to on casual Friday, it pays to give a little consideration to these hard-working guys. To guide you in your search for the next ultimate pair, we’ve put together a denim encyclopedia complete with styles, types, and care how-tos.

 

RELATED: What to Wear with a Denim Jacket

 

Types of Jeans

Slim Leg Jeans

Possibly the most versatile fit, the slim-leg jeans is flattering on heavier thighs as the tapered ankle works to elongate and slim the silhouette. It’s also recommended to err on the side of a true fit when buying slim-leg jeans, a snug waistband fit being paramount to guarantee long-term comfort when you start to experience some stretch in the fabric.

 

 

TOP BUYS

 

Skinny Fit Jeans

Narrowly cut and close-fitting with a healthy amount of stretch, skinny-fit jeans are best suited to lithe model types with slim legs and height. No matter your build, skinny-fit jeans should never be completely skin-tight – we are going for a rockstar look here, not body paint.

 

 

TOP BUYS

 

Straight Leg Jeans

Essentially the OG of denim, the straight leg is a traditional, All-American classic. Most often cut straight from hips down the legs with little tapering, straight-leg jeans look best on athletic guys — a generous shoulder-to-hip ratio working to counteract the bagginess of the cut. In a casual setting, slim gents can also pull off the straight leg, albeit in more of a casual, bohemian sense.

 

 

TOP BUYS

 

Tapered Jeans

For a softer take on the straight-leg cut, tapered jeans do just what the name suggests: skirting the line between slim leg and straight-leg jeans. A slight taper is what you’re after here, skimming the leg and fitting, especially around the thighs and calves. More flattering than the skinny fit but more sculpted than the straight leg, tapered-leg jeans achieve a ‘footballer’ aesthetic with a comfortable seat and streamlined calves and ankles.

 

 

TOP BUYS

 

Types of Denim

In addition to cut, one must consider the type of denim suited to you. From waxed styles to heavier selvedge and eye-catching acid wash, there are many different ways denim can be treated and a discerning gent will have more than one type in his repertoire. From high-fashion looks to denim that can take you from work to the bar, fabric and rinse are real considerations depending on your lifestyle and existing wardrobe.

 

Selvedge

Adopted by the fashion elite as an authentic and high-caliber alternative to classic stonewashed denim, selvedge, or raw denim, is heavier, firmer, and darker in hue than regular denim. Featuring a unique edge at the hem that prevents the fabric from unraveling during production, modern selvedge denim is still produced the way it was in the early 1800s: woven on a traditional shuttle loom. For this reason, it is considered higher quality denim to mainstream stonewash as the product of an exclusive and storied manufacturing process. With an appealing crisp aesthetic when new, once worn-in selvedge denim takes on a protagonist quality all of its own.

 

 

Stonewashed

A wardrobe staple for every modern gent, stonewashed denim is what immediately comes to mind when you think of jeans. Stone washing produces a faded, worn appearance. This is accomplished by washing the jeans with pumice in a rotating drum or by using chemicals to create the look without the utilization of a rotating drum. The beauty of the stonewashed look, and no doubt the reason for its ubiquity, is its simplistic style.

 

 

Acid Wash

Acid wash jeans have a mottled appearance which is achieved by chemically bleaching the denim with chlorine or ‘acid’ soaked pumice, bleaching parts of the fabric to white. With a 90’s punk aesthetic, acid wash denim is a bold choice, especially in darker hues making a fresh appearance for summer months.

 

 

Waxed

Waxed jeans are denim coated with paint, beeswax, or a wax glaze to create a shiny finish. This process provides a subtle black sheen to the fabric, which offers a sleek, debonair vibe creating a luxe leather feel without the weight or discomfort of leather trousers.

 

 

Denim Styling Tips

We think we speak for most men when we say that denim (especially jeans) is going to be the most versatile piece of clothing that we will ever own in our entire lives. They can practically be used anywhere – at home, during work, walking the dog – the possibilities are endless. That being said,  it is important to remember that there is a time and place for everything, including fashion. For example, while wearing overly baggy jeans can be appropriate for a backyard BBQ, it’s practically forbidden for dates or a night out with friends. A similar notion even applies to double denim – although wearing the combination with the same color scheme and fabric might be okay for a seven-year-old, it’s undeniably a big no-no when you’re older.

 

 

The occasion is the Key

One of the best characteristics of jeans is the fact that there are so many styles to choose from. However, it’s all in the occasion. You need to pick jeans that will suit the kind of physical endurance you are going to pursue throughout the day. A formal event should reveal a more refined side of you; your jeans should help complement that. Black and dark denim is highly recommended. Pair this with some nice dress shoes, and you’ve got yourself a winning combination.

 

But on the other hand, if the occasion is something casual like grocery shopping or walking in the park, then it’s the other way around, with comfortable straight jeans being the preferred. Make sure it has deep pockets for essentials such as wallets, phones and keys, and always test out how well you can move in them. It’s nice to accompany it with a different colored belt because not only will it show how versatile the jeans are with color combinations, but it ensures that they won’t accidentally drop down in public which is always a plus!

 

 

Double Denim

The monochrome look is slowly fading, and the easiest way to pull off the double denim look is by having two different color schemes that contrast each other. A common combination is a black jacket and blue washed-out jeans or vice versa. Contrasting denim is now even easier to do since pastel-colored jeans are becoming an increasingly popular trend in the market.

 

In order to execute this properly, it is vital that whatever you wear underneath gives out a pop of color. White is always a safe choice, but a grey, emerald, or cerulean shirt or T-shirt would be a much better option. Other colors to consider could be yellow, orange, purple, and limeade to name a few. This can even be applied to the color of your shoes and other accessories (eg, gloves, scarves, etc.) for further color scheme balance.

 

 

What Style of Jeans Should I Wear?

Unfortunately, the immense popularity of denim doesn’t make it any easier to find the perfect pair — in fact, the crowded landscape can make it rather difficult to see the wood for the trees. For starters, understanding fit and cut are essential to help discern what is best suited to your body type. Ideally comfortable without impinging on style and silhouette, denim should always mold to your body and show traces of individual style. Here is our run-down on the main cuts to consider.