Men's Jeans Guide
Want to learn more about the best jeans for men? Denim jeans are a wardrobe staple: no matter what the occasion, there’s always a pair of jeans that fit the bill. Popularised for its superb durability and hard-wearing properties, denim is a real investment - if looked after properly. In this men’s jeans buying guide, we’ll take you through the top tips on how to find the best jeans for men: from how to clean jeans, how to buy them and how best to measure jeans, we’ve got you covered.
How to Measure Waist for Jeans
Next, we need to talk about measuring. Where do you measure your waist, you ask? Knowing how to measure you waist isn’t as simple as it seems, so we’ve broken the process down into two easy steps.
Step one: The first measurement step in our men's guide to measuring jeans is straightforward. Simply wrap a tape measure around your waist above your hips, below the navel, and read off the size. If you're not sure exactly where this point is, just measure the area where your jeans would normally sit.
Step two: Secondly, be sure to add a little breathing space by popping your finger between your waist and the tape.
How to Measure Leg Length for Jeans?
Next up on the men's jeans buying guide, is how to measure leg length for jeans. Again, we've broken this down into two simple steps to follow.
Step one: How to measure men's jeans starts with measuring the inside of your leg: this area runs from where the two legs join down to the ankle in a straight line. If you like to show off a bit of ankle, opt for a shorter measurement but bear in mind that for a classic look your jeans should reach the top of your shoes. It can be easier to take this measurement with your footwear on.
Step two: Once you've got these two simple measurements, check out the Men's Jeans Size Converter UK chart to establish what size you need to buy.
Types of Jeans for Men
There are many different types of jeans for men, but if you’re wondering which jeans suit you best, we suggest looking to your favourite pair and use their label as a benchmark. There are three main different jeans styles to choose from - so it’s all down to which pair you feel most comfortable in.
1. Slim Fit Jeans
What are men’s slim fit jeans, you ask? Well, also known as a tailored fit, slim fit jeans are a contemporary take on the traditional jean shape. Firstly, the leg opening is far smaller than a regular fit, and the material tends to taper in, making the overall look less baggy around the ankle. In general, these jeans will have a lower rise and will sit slightly lower on the waist, great for making your torso look longer than it actually is. If your shoulders are of a similar width to your waist, slim fit jeans will help accentuate your build and keep you looking, well, slim’.
How to Wear Them: When it comes to knowing how to wear slim fit jeans, for men, it’s all about the basic t-shirt and well-fitting boots. A baggy lumberjack-style shirt could also complement the slim shape of the jeans well. If you’re hoping to suit up, then why not go with a fitted blazer?
2. Straight Leg Jeans
Straight leg jeans, also known as regular or loose fit, are the most traditional cut of jean for men. Though they suit men with an athletic build best, the straight leg is a great fit for all. Cut straight from the hips and through to the legs, the straight leg jean offers a timeless look to those with a V-shaped torso.
How to Wear Them: Now that you know how to spot straight leg jeans, it’s now time to learn how to wear them. Straight leg jeans are perfect for more relaxed looks - great for casual outfits a go-go. These jeans looks great when paired with a baggy, chilled-out jumper or a loose-fitting shirt.
3. Skinny Jeans
Often referred to as spray-on or super-slim fit, it’s no wonder that men’s skinny jeans are the tightest jean style around. Men’s skinny fit jeans tend to hug around the thighs and taper in close to the ankles, for a more modern feel. Wondering what material men’s skinny fit jeans are made of to make them so tight? The jean fit itself is often made of a stretch material to keep them as comfortable as possible.
How to Wear Them: How to wear skinny jeans all comes down to your personal style, but just about any jacket type works with skinny jeans. The most common combination is usually a stylish bomber jacket or a leather jacket. Boots, over shoes or trainers, also make a great pairing for skinny jeans, as they add an edge to your overall look. We’d recommend lace-up or Chelsea boots for a stylish ensemble.
How to Measure Rise on Jeans?
An important part of the men's jean buying process is learning how to measure the rise on jeans. Many people quibble as to where the 'rise' actually sits.
Here are a few key points on where to find the rise and how many inches high rise jeans are:
- Rise is measured from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband
- Low-rise jeans will be up to 8 inches
- Mid-rise up to 9.5 inches
- High-rise is typically anything over 10 inches
How to Measure:
Step one: Button up the pair of jeans. Turn the jeans over with the back pockets facing up. Lay the jeans out on a flat surface.
Step two: Measure from the crotch seam to the top of the back waistband of the jeans.
Types of Denim Washes
The final section of our men’s jeans buying guide is deciding on the denim wash of your brand new jeans. The types of denim wash, which refers to the colour of your jeans, are usually grouped into three options: dark, mid and light.
Dark wash jeans: If you’re looking for something that makes more of a statement, dark wash jeans have a deeper colour of indigo, or can even be completely black. If you really want to wow, this colour is great for more formal outfits, especially when worn with a smart shirt or a suit blazer.
Mid wash jeans: Paired well with most outfit combinations, mid wash jeans are a common choice for many men. It’s worth noting, however, that mid wash jeans do tend to fade in the areas of most stress and wear, such as the back of the knee, hips and seat of the trouser.
Light wash jeans: Light wash jeans are much brighter. Perfect for spring and summer months, you can wear the jeans with a clean white t-shirt for a cool, yet sophisticated look.
Denim Care Instructions
One of the hardest things about buying new denim is caring for it correctly, and washing jeans before they have been properly broken in can lead to shrinkage of up to a full size. You should try to wear your jeans for at least six months before putting them in the washing machine, but if you really can’t wait that long, you should soak them in the bathtub - inside out - before washing. To make sure your jeans looks their best, follow these tips:
- Wash inside out.
- Wash alone or with jeans of similar colours to avoid dyes transferring.
- Don’t tumble dry, as this will shrink them even more.
- Do not bleach, this will damage the dye.
- Brush away dirt and use a softly soaped sponge on small areas you need to clean.
- Always hang your denim to give it a chance to air out in between wears.
As long as you look after them properly, your jeans will be one of the most frequently worn items in your wardrobe. Stock up on multiple styles so you’ve got a comfortable outfit ready for any occasion, and don’t forget to measure yourself regularly!
