One of the most ubiquitous types of pants is that versatile pair made of denim: jeans. You see them everywhere and on everyone. They also come in various styles, from overalls to ripped ones.

A man’s wardrobe won’t be complete without at least one pair of jeans. They’re so versatile they can be worn with something as formal as a suit to something as rugged as a tank top. You can wear them with a coat or a jacket, or pair them with a boots or sandals. When it comes to versatility, you can’t get any more versatile than with a pair of jeans.

Choosing the Right Fit

Jeans are commonly labeled as either skinny, slim or straight. Let’s see how they differ to help you decide which type to go for.

Skinny

Just a couple of decades ago this wasn’t all the rage. But fashion can change not only with the season but also with each decade. As the term suggests, skinny means it has a tight fit with a tapered leg opening. Fashion traditionalists usually stay away from this style, but millennials are usually quite comfortable putting them on.

Slim

Not as tight as the skinny type, but not too loose either. These jeans are straight through the hip and slim through the thigh. But unlike skinny jeans, the leg opening of slim jeans is narrow but not tapered.

Straight

Let’s get something straight here. Just because the term is ‘straight’ doesn’t always mean the cut is straight from the hip to the hem. It can be straight through the hip and thigh, but can also have a large leg opening.

There are also the relaxed and loose types. The former has a loose fit from the waist down to the leg opening, while the latter is a baggy fit, which provides ample space in the thighs, legs and butt for those who may need that extra space.

Rise to the Occasion

In terms of the measurement from the crotch to the top of the waistband, jeans can also be labeled as high rise, medium rise or low rise.

For bigger guys, high rise jeans are the best choice. They’re worn above the belly button.

If you prefer to tuck your shirt in, medium or mid-rise jeans are the ones you should go for.

For a more relaxed look, you can opt for low rise jeans.

Know Your Body Type

Choosing the perfect jeans also includes knowing what your body type is.

If you’re ectomorphic (slender), you’re better off choosing straight jeans with a low rise. They do not draw a lot of attention towards your slim legs. Stay away from baggy and high rise jeans.

If you consider yourself the athletic type --- you have a slim waist but muscular legs and buttocks --- wear something that would accentuate your well-toned body. You can wear slim-fit or bootcut jeans to show off those leg muscles you’ve worked hard for in the gym.

Do you have wide hips? Put on straight-leg jeans with a high rise to maintain an even width from the hips to the hem. Make sure you avoid skinny jeans as they will tend to create a feminine silhouette. Ensure to pair with the proper dress shirt!

Treatments

Jeans can also come in a variety of treatments: acid wash, stone wash or vintage wash. These treatments produce a pattern and hue on pants made from denim. If you want to be safe when it comes to treatment, you can’t go wrong with a classic wash. This treatment goes well with practically any shirt or shoes.

The key to choosing the perfect jeans is to go for the pair that complements your body type. In other words, go for the jeans that fit you perfectly and comfortably.

Looking for the right dress shirt to match your jeans? Let Simple Tailor help you with that.