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Style
101: Jeans
With suits and ties becoming increasingly rare in most men’s daily
lives, the majority of men rely on denim to get them through occasions
ranging from run-of-the-mill days at the office to hip cocktail
parties. The proliferation of denim-appropriate settings has led to a
seemingly endless, often overwhelming selection of denim rinses, cuts
and price points for consumers to choose from. Read on to learn more about which jeans suit you best, and when you should wear them.
Get the appropriate fit, cut and wash of jeans for your body
The wrong pair of jeans can be a complete disaster. In contrast, the
right jeans can literally transform your physique to give you the
appearance of having a body sculpted by a Hollywood
trainer. When seeking the Holy Grail of denim, the fit (how the jeans
sit on your body), cut (the shape of the jeans) and wash (the color and
finish of the jeans) are all important factors to consider. There are
four categories that jeans fall into where fit is concerned: slim,
regular, relaxed, and loose. Different cuts of denim include boot cut, skinny leg,
wide leg, straight leg, high rise, and low rise. The most common washes
for denim are dark, stone, dirty, and distressed. To find the best
jeans for your body, you need to know how to combine fits, cuts and
washes so that you end up with a pair that shows off your assets while
concealing your flaws. For example, guys with lean body types can
choose between slim or regular-fit jeans with a boot cut, skinny or
straight leg in pretty much any wash. Heavier guys should look for
relaxed-fit jeans with a boot cut or wide leg in a dark or dirty rinse.
Care for your jeans properly to maximize their life
There are a few basic precautions you can take to extend the life of
your jeans so that they’ll look virtually like new until you rip an
unsightly hole in them. First, make sure that the length of your jeans
is appropriate for the footwear you’ll be wearing most often with them.
An inseam that is too long means that the bottom of your jeans will
drag on the ground and quickly become ruined. If the jeans have a
fantastic fit but are too long, take them to a tailor and get them
hemmed -- a service that won’t put you out more than $10, and many
stores will even do it for free. Before you have them altered, however,
wash them in case they shrink. Once they’ve been altered, always wash
your jeans inside out to preserve their color, particularly with dark
washes, and never put them in the dryer unless you’re trying to shrink
them further. Match your denim to the occasion
Nowadays, jeans are
appropriate for all but the most formal events. Having said that, not
all jeans are right for all occasions. Your favorite pair of tattered,
distressed denim,
for instance, is better suited for weekend lounging than a business
dinner. To decide which jeans you should don and when, compare the fit,
cut and wash of your jeans to what’s on your schedule. Slim-fit or
boot-cut denim in a dark wash is your go-anywhere standby, and will get
you through casual days as well as dressier affairs. For lazy weekends,
grabbing a pint or chilling out with friends at sporting events, you
can be less caution in your choice of denim, opting for a stone-washed
or heavily distressed pair.
When to budget vs. when to go high-end
When it comes to buying jeans, their cost-per-wear ratio
is paramount to determining how much you should shell out. If you wear
jeans on a daily basis, it’s acceptable to spend more because you’ll be
wearing them so frequently. Particularly if you’re purchasing a pair of
wear-everywhere, ultra-dark denim, you shouldn’t feel foolish splurging
on this classic and versatile wardrobe staple. On the other hand, for
jeans that you intend to wear while you’re relaxing, don’t bother to
break the bank. Last but not least,
resist any urges to drop big bucks on a pair of jeans simply because
they’re hot right now -- they’ll be out of style before you know it and
their cost-per-wear ratio is terrifyingly high.
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