subject: The Men's Guide To Buying Fashion-perfect Jeans [print this page] Denim pants can be either an extremely simple or extremely tricky proposition for you, depending on your views on men's fashion. You could take the same route the prospectors of the 1850 gold rush did and just wear any old pair that fits. On the other hand, you might like your jeans as a fashion statement in denim and selvage. If you think yourself a man of style - the latter class, in short - keep reading.
Bad Fit? Too Bad!
Neither price tag nor quality of cloth will make up for a pair of jeans that fit horribly (but the latter can come close). As a fashion fabric, denim tends to be demanding in that the fabric must drape around your body just right to look great. Otherwise, there's practically no difference between your $800 brand new designer pair and $8 Salvation Army one.
The ideal fit of jeans varies from person to person, depending on your body. The waist of the pant should sit a bit below your navel. How low it sits depends on you, but the rule of thumb is to keep it at an inch to an inch and a half. The crotch area is a more subjective one; just go with whatever feels comfortable. Keep in mind, though, that too-tight jeans will never look good on you, no matter what equipment you're packing.
Denim should skim off your thighs. That is, they should be fitted (there's no fabric to sag or bunch) but not tight (the fabric doesn't grip your thighs as you walk). If you can grab a handful of the fabric from behind and your legs still have room, it's way too loose.
On most men and denim styles, this point is where the pant should begin to taper slightly. Do you remember how the ideal body shape for men is said to be an inverted triangle? A slight tapering around the knee helps to create an illusion of this shape, hence making for a much more flattering figure. From there, you could get a tapered leg (for taller men), a straight leg (for just about everyone) or a bootleg (for shorter or heavier set men).
Rip Tide
Torn or stained jeans - usually branded as 'deconstructed' fashion - is a hot-button topic. After all, more than a few men's fashion designers style it with everything from ragged white tees to neckties and dinner jackets. On the street, however, it's not that simple.
Deconstructed denim has been making periodic comebacks since the 1960's, when they first became acceptable. Nowadays, you're bound to see at least a few artistically ripped premium label jeans up and down the sidewalk. A couple of pairs of these styles in your closet wouldn't hurt, but making them a significant part of your denim collection is never a good idea. They styles aren't very lasting, which doesn't make them good investments.
In the long run, it's still the whole and un-ripped jeans that are the better buy for any style savvy man. They might be less 'edgy' than their worn and torn brethren, but you'll be sure that you could throw them on with a blazer and still create a look. It's something you can't do with frayed and worn jeans, unless you happen to be Stefano Gabbana.
Stains and splatters, meanwhile, rarely work for anyone. Whiskers are only an option if you have the long legs to match, as they tend to shorten the leg line because they're on a horizontal visual plane. For different colors in your jean collection, go for varying washes instead; there's a very wide range of styles for blue denim alone, so you need not stick to plain old working man blue.
Like a necktie and a solid pair of leather shoes, a sturdy pair of jeans is a style item that every modern man needs. However, it's not something that every modern man knows how to properly choose. A little practice - and perhaps some brushing up on your fashion rules - and you'll be ready to hit those denim racks.
