Men’s jeans have evolved rapidly with the turn of the century. A piece of clothing that initially started as work wear has become a staple in any man’s wardrobe. No longer is it only a choice between blue or black denim, nor is it a fight between Levi’s and Wrangler. Walk into a men’s store and you’ll see a wall dedicated to the style. Folded up, categorised, hanging off the ceiling, worn on the mannequins any person would be overwhelmed with the possibilities. More important than ever before, men’s jeans are a statement of fashion and attitude and designers have risen to the occasion.
Quite a bit of thought, tugging over thighs, comparing brands go into buying the next pair of jeans. There are the obvious factors of colour and style deemed worthy on inspection and then there’s the feel and ever important question “will my wallet and keys fit” once the pair is tried on and tested. With so many colours and styles out now, men have the added thought of “do these look good? Does it match me?”
Did you want a new pair of blue jeans? Go for it but you’ll need to be more specific. Exactly what sort of blue? A washed out blue? Navy blue? Indigo, perhaps? And no, it’s not only blue. There’s black! Now, is it more of a mud black? Or a charcoal black? Not to your flavour? How about burgundy? Teal? Mustard? Red? Oh wait, no sorry it isn’t red, it’s shaded claret! The colours are no longer a dual possibility, it’s become a spectrum of personality.
A few years ago, the skinny jeans were reigning king over men’s pants. The black skinny was seen all over the world and as time passed, the colours ranged. It wasn’t just a solid black pair; it was worn out, faded, ripped, acid wash and the list goes on. As the skinny jean style wore it’s time well, other styles for men started coming out. Low rise, relaxed fits and cuffed denim with the ankle flashing.
More recently, we’ve seen the fashion of old and new come together to create the carrot and drop crotch fit. The name implies the fit; a style that hangs loose around the upper thighs and tightens to a fit around the ankle. It can be from a subtle loose fit to an extreme drop crotch à la MC Hammer. It’s an adventurous style that only the most fashion-conscious man or an extremely confident man can pull off.
With all the choices in finding a good pair now, any man has the opportunity to find the perfect fit and express himself through a bold fashion statement or a trendy, effortless look.