There’s no real right or wrong when it comes to jeans, it’s just a question of what style suits you and your body type. Below is a basic list of types of jean fits and denims to help you start the journey on what jeans are right for you.
Fit
Straight leg
The basic jean, think the iconic Levi’s 501. Straight through the hip and down to the ankle.
Loose straight / relaxed fit
The basic straight jean, but looser with slightly wider legs, good for those a bit heavier or with muscular legs.
Loose taper / athletic fit
The loose straight but tapers below the knee to the ankle for a more tailored look and fit. A good choice for those with muscular thighs.
Slim straight
The basic straight, but more narrow through the hip and legs creating a slimmer silhouette.
Slim taper
The slim straight, but tapers below the knee to the ankle for a more tailored look and fit.
Skinny
The slimmest of cuts, good for average to thin builds. The most form fitting of jeans, they fit close to the body from the hip down to the ankles.
Baggy
The loosest cut of jeans, providing the most room from the hips through the legs. Also the most unflattering. Belt required.
Boot Leg
Generally a straight leg jean with a slight flare at the bottom of the legs at the opening to accommodate going over a pair of boots.
Denim
Cotton
Your basic denim. 100% cotton. No stretch.
Organic cotton
A step up from basic denim at a higher price point. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides etc.
Selvedge
Unlike regular cotton denim made on machines, selvedge denim is made by hand on old traditional hand operated looms. There aren’t many of these left in the world and they are operated by true artists. Considered the finest denim you can buy. If you shop around you can find Selvedge denim from Japan and Italy used to create jeans from some very talented creators.
Stretch
Stretch jeans usually add 1% to 2% of elasticine to the cotton enabling the jeans to better move with you and making slim or skinny jeans extremely comfortable.
Distressing
Distressing can be extreme or minimal. I highly recommend keeping the distressing to a minimum. This can be cuts or rips in a denim or even just a slight fraying. Rips can be left open or patched.
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