There may be no essential men’s style that gets more work day in and day out than the classic blue jean, and that’s for many good reasons.
The best men’s denim has workwear roots and a practical five-pocket design, with durable cotton denim that forms the foundation of a pair of pants that every man can find useful.
When French workers needed tight trousers, they wore cotton denim. When pioneers needed rugged work clothes, they wore denim. And now, if you need clean, casual-but-casual, reliable and durable pants, you should wear jeans.
Here are the best brands you can trust.
Hiroshi Kato
Most Known For: Deep attention to combining Japanese heritage denim with modern functional features, such as 4-thread and durable fabrics.
Kato perfectly mixes modern (stretch fabric) with old school (selvedge denim) in a way that only Japanese denim can. These four-way stretch jeans come in fits like the classic Straight cut or Slim Tapered, as well as two other styles.
Flint and Tinder
Flint and Tinder aptly calls its denim “All-American Jeans,” and they seem to hit the mark in every way. There are fits ranging from Relaxed to Slim, in a range of cool dark washes, and casual fades. The stretch fabric makes them soft and durable out of the box.
Buck Mason
Most Known For: Making denim as classic and all-American as it gets, with a focus on the perfect faded blue jeans, classic style, inky black denim and light wash jeans for warm weather. Its fit options are also casual enough to wear sneakers and sturdy enough to wear boots.
You can trust Buck Mason to make henleys and tees that are soft, comfortable, and the brand’s jeans – in a completely faded environment with matching, classic options – help bring together the unusual combination. Ford Jeans in particular prides itself on its mid-rise and timeless, tailored fit.
Mott and Bow
Most Known For: Modern takes on classic styles, made using designer quality fabrics while cutting out the middleman and selling directly to consumers. They even do a line of matching tees, hoodies and polos.
This New York brand promises quality designer jeans for less. They offer three fits (Small, Straight, Tall), a range of colors from dark blue to light gray, and an active, free trial-at-home program. Pairs start at around $100.
Bonobos
Most Known For: Replicating the popular fit of its chinos for casual jean offerings, many made from high-quality Italian fabrics in a wash that can be easily dressed up or down.
Remember those chinos you know and love? Bonobos puts that knowledge of fit and fabric to the test with its premium-yet-accessible jeans line, and its All Season Jeans are light enough for summer and versatile enough for winter.
PAIGE
Most Known For: Designing denim with a breezy, West Coast feel, using timeless and modern silhouettes and unique denim washes reminiscent of the sunshine of its SoCal home base.
You can tell that long before LA became a denim mecca, PAIGE was laying the groundwork in the West for stylish, durable denim. Today, they offer modern, clean but not too tight jeans in five sizes, with super soft sneakers and denim shirts to match.
Todd Snyder
Most Known For: Making denim that meets the needs of true denimheads and the look and feel of designer fashion fans. The range includes Japanese stretch selvedge, carpenter jeans and seasonal favorites in every wash imaginable, with designer quality in every stitch.
The leading American menswear designer goes to places like Japan for high-quality fabric, and makes denim in the United States recently located in HQ, Los Angeles, to deliver strong jeans, rumored but lightly worn. Pair them with a Todd Snyder blazer.
Rag and bone
Most Known For: Making slim, tailored denim with a rock star edge, the brand owes a debt to the cool, denim-centric look of bands like The Ramones decades ago.
Modern designer denim can sometimes go to extremes (too tight, too ripped, too distressed) but Rag and Bone solves that problem with four reliable fits in rich, neutral colors. Keep in mind that these jeans will run more than $200.
Levi
Most Known For: Bringing blue jeans to the masses in America, with styles first worn by pioneers and now worn by rock stars and style icons in a range of timeless colors and fits.
It wouldn’t be an episode on the best jeans for men without talking about American denim pioneer Levi’s, which brought style to many people. Today, they outfit rock stars and stylish guys everywhere with iconic styles like the slim-skinny 511 and the ultra-timeless slim-straight 513 fit.
It is known outside
Most Known For: A sustainable take on modern denim, with production processes that remove most of the water normally used to make jeans.
Looking for eco-conscious denim? Look no further than surf legend Kelly Slater’s Outerknown, which uses organic cotton and sustainable production methods to reduce waste in the denim industry.
Everlane
The right combination of affordability and quality is at the core of Everlane’s mission, and they boast everything from 4-way stretch jeans-fit classic to athletic-fit and skinny shades from jet black to delightfully faded indigo.
Filson
Most Known For: To make strong and durable denim like its waxed Tin Cloth jackets and bags, with high creativity and clear details.
Filson takes the roots of denim workwear to the next level in the modern era with its carefully designed, deep indigo blue jeans. You can wear them out in the field to do, well, real work, and they’ll look stylish at your local watering hole.
Raleigh Denim Workshop
Most Known For: Elevating the art of denim in a new creative campaign, using hard-to-find heritage fabrics and premium designs.
Handmade, expensive but beautiful denim is the name of the game with Raleigh Denim. These American made jeans are tough, well made and yes, expensive. They offer five adjustable fits to suit every body type.
Taylor Stitch
Most Known For: Carefully crafting denim from both traditional and exotic fabrics, with a focus on handsome Japanese looks and unique washes. Its two fits (Slim and Democratic) also work with a variety of body types.
When you buy Taylor Stitch jeans, you buy subtle, simple yet stylish denim. Choose from two fits (Slim or Classic), and a range of fabric options, including washed organic selvedge and skinny black jeans.
Denim styles are flexible and flowy, just like other men’s clothing trends, but if you find the right pair for your body type (which is why we’re here today), you’ll have found a basic, everyday style. And while there are all kinds of different colors and washes, there are a few keys to getting ready before going any further.
How should jeans fit?
The simple answer is that denim should suit your body type. Most guys look good in slim-straight jeans with a mid-rise: Jeans that rest well in the hips, without too much fabric in the thigh or around the calf, or at the ankles.
Find the middle ground: Your denim shouldn’t be the size of a large bag, and it shouldn’t be so small that you can’t move around (rock stars don’t have to work). Slim guys tend to look good in slim or (sometimes) skinny jeans, while those with bulk should look for slim-straight or classic jeans.
When in doubt, check the leg opening measurements – slim-straight jeans usually boast a leg opening of 15-16 inches. Numbers aside, opt for comfort and a streamlined look.
What are the best jeans colors for men?
If you’re shopping for classic denim, the tried and true shade of dark blue will flatter every guy. Blue jeans have been a staple of menswear since the days of James Dean, while light wash jeans tend to look more flattering in the warmer months.
Avoid rock washing or acid washing jeans unless it’s extreme ’80s you want to rock.
And in rare situations – like a concert or a weekend night out on the town – gray or black jeans can give an interesting, but clean look.
Neutral colors such as tan or olive, the kind you can find in your favorite chinos, are also acceptable for rocking style when shopping for jeans, however here’s the key… When in doubt: Go sharp and wear dark blue jeans.
When is it okay to wear jeans?
It is acceptable to wear jeans almost anywhere these days, unless the gathering, event or dress code dictates otherwise (such as formal wear, evening wear, weddings or funerals).
Leave the jeans at home for your next big meeting, but in short: A casual business office is an acceptable place to wear a pair of well-fitting, dark blue jeans. In fact, jeans are the staple of casual business attire. But there’s still an important question: Which jean style is right for you?
Popular Jean Styles
There are many names in the world of denim, but don’t let it confuse you: Here’s a handy, quick guide to popular men’s jean styles.
Stretch Denim: Probably the most common style of jeans out there today. These consist of pre-washed cotton denim fabric combined with a small percentage of stretch fabric for a comfortable fit.
Slim or Slim-Straight Denim: This fit is popular and often flattering on most body types. Think comfortable but well-coordinated, and often available in stretch fabric in classic colors.