The man’s wardrobe is one that can vary from guy to guy. Whether you are the kind of man who lives in the Adventurer Style Archetype or the man who dominates in the Commander and Chief, a good pair of denim is going to be your best friend. You can dress them up with a sport coat, or you can dress them down with sneakers. They can be a simple basic, or they can be a brighter color and stand out as the centerpiece of an outfit. No matter what you want to do with them, it is important that you explore as many of the best jeans for men that you can find. The
What colors of jeans do you need?
The color of your jeans and the range of colors you need in your wardrobe will depend on what you want to wear them for and what your lifestyle demands. If you have an elevated wardrobe that calls for the ability to dress up with blazers and sport coats, then you will want to stick to the darker colors. Dark-washed jeans that look like a deep navy are considered dress denim; they will look best with your dress shirts and sports coats. Black will serve you well with your gray and black jackets as well.
If you are the type of man who is looking for denim to be your workhorse, wearing them every day both for fashion and function, then your Earth tones will serve you the best. Your typical blue jeans, from light wash to dark, are going to be there, but you can supplement them with tan, brown, and olive for some solid work and casual wear. Finally, if you want to stand out and let the denim be the speakerphone of your outfit, you can branch out to reds, greens, purples, and so on. Just remember that if you wear something bright, you should tone down the rest of the outfit. The last thing you want to do is look like the inside of a papaya.
Now that we have established what colors you’re shopping for let’s look at where the shopping should take place.
AG Jeans
AG consistently sets a high bar in the premium denim market. After all, the LA-based brand pays attention to every detail in its denim-making process. From subtle fading among washes and unique tapering in each style, AG makes the perfect early-in-the-game date pants (in darker washes, of course). Not to mention, wearing the brand will give you something to talk about, as the company is committed to using only ethical factories and sustainable production processes.
A.P.C. Denim
A.P.C. is a French company that specializes in jeans made from Japanese Denim. They offer a wide range of fits, shades, and textures in their denim, so they look for every body type and style. Their designs are sleek and minimalist with no contrast stitching and no back pocket embroidery. The result is a unisex high fashion look but the quality is second to none. As a favorite among fashion industry professionals, chances are that your favorite fashion designer or writer wears A.P.C. jeans. A.P.C. is probably best known for its collaborations, having worked with brands ranging from Lacoste to BAPE.
Devil Dog Dungarees
Named for their love of the service members of our country, DEVIL DOG Dungarees has been a leader in denim production for the last 75 years. While their products don’t end with jeans, and you can grab jackets, polos, henleys, t-shirts, and hats, they are known for some of the greatest jeans and the best prices on the market.
DL1961
DL1961 is a family-owned company that has been in the denim business for decades. The brand has dedicated their work to fit, function, and ethics. Through a vertical supply chain, DL1961 is able to control everything in the process of creating great jeans. From ethical factories to water and energy preservation, DL1961’s efforts have paved the way of sustainability in the denim industry. Since the brand creates everything in-house it is able to reduce the amount of emissions needed to produce each garment. In sustainable style, sometimes it’s difficult to get fit and comfort right, but this brand seems to have conquered it all.
DU/ER Jeans
Made from plants and recycled materials, DU/ER Jeans are made for the “doers” of the world. While they are going to look just fine hanging out at the house, the point of these jeans is to get out into the world and make it a better place. Heralded as the softest pants in the world, wearing these is going to make you believe you can be a doer and change the world.
Levi’s
Though the company was founded in 1853, it wasn’t until the 1960s that Levi Strauss & Co. would strike fashion gold when its pairs of blue jeans truly hit the everyday fashion scene and became the pant that everyone had to have. Half a century later and the Levi fever has yet to break as guys all over the world continue to purchase their jeans exclusively from the brand. And for good reason! Not only does Levi’s have a wide selection of different styles, washes, and colors available online, but it offers them up at affordable prices that are hard to beat.
Mugsy Jeans
We all may be breathing a sigh of relief (literally in some cases) now that the ultra-slim, painted-on looks are becoming a thing of the past. However, if there is one good thing that came from the slim trend, it is the creators of Mugsy Jeans looking at the fit and hating how uncomfortable they were. So instead of just dealing with it, they created the world’s stretchiest pants. These may look tailored, but if you ever run out of hands carrying the groceries into the house, you could stuff the gallon of milk down your pants, and they wouldn’t lose their shape.
Madewell
Madewell makes the perfect jeans to wear on a casual Friday. They are known to fit in all the right places, with comfort and fashion-conscious details, like a clean cuff that gives you the perfect pants-to-shoe ratio (yes, that’s a thing). A cool, more casual younger brother to J.Crew, Madewell lives above faster fashion but below the premium price point. The solid collection of denim does not overwhelm the shopper and is perfect for all your day-to-day relaxed activities.
Buck Mason
Buck Mason is a Los Angeles based menswear brand that reproduces classic American silhouettes for its hip customer base. While the company’s got everything from flannels to jackets and sweaters, the crown jewel remains its selection of denim pants. They use classic denim-like Japanese selvage and modern denim-like stretch blends in cuts designed for everyday wear. Most notable in the bunch is the brand’s 3-Month Wash jeans, which ship out with a broken-in feel that’s as comfortable as it would be if they’d been regularly laundered for three months.
Raleigh Denim Workshop
Raleigh, NC used to be the heart of American denim manufacturing a century ago before the industry moved overseas. Raleigh Denim Workshop is working to return that rich tradition back to American soil by turning some of the best denim in the world into some of the best jeans you can buy. They make small batches so there is a constantly refreshing assortment to choose from. Their jeans are not only great to look at but they are built to last decades with some TLC. These jeans are meant to be patched, stitched up and thrown back into the line of duty again and again.
Wrangler
If name recognition is an important factor for you in the buying process, then you can’t go wrong with a pair of new jeans from Wrangler. Iconic for its durable, western aesthetic, Wrangler has been churning out quality denim goods since 1947. And while they may have originally been conceived for outdoor work, these jeans have since evolved into stylish pants appropriate for all different types of guys. We like a Wrangler jean for open fires, camping trips, spontaneous road trips with the boys, quick errands around town, and everything else in between.
Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder is gifted at taking classic pieces of apparel, like hoodies and blazers, and perfecting all the little details. So, the jeans he produces may look pretty common at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you find that they have been optimized for everyday wear and long-term durability. Denim is a quintessential fabric for the urban Americana aesthetic Todd Snyder has cornered as a solo act and as creative director for J.Crew before that. His jeans will fit perfectly into any wardrobe, no matter your personal style.
Rag & Bone
Known for quality tailoring and craftsmanship, a pair of Rag and Bone jeans will last you forever, and actually get better with age. If you’re fishing for style compliments and prioritize impeccable fit and edgy details, wear their jeans. The New York-based brand is worth the price point.
7 for All Mankind
7 for All Mankind became popular during the great denim resurgence of the 2010s. They’re mostly known for their women’s jeans but their men’s jeans are equally stylish and well made. Their fits are mostly on the slimmer side and come with a pre-worn look. It’s an excellent brand to go with if you want that high-end fashion denim look for a moderate and fair price.
Outerknown
Outerknown is a sustainable menswear brand that’s as dedicated to saving the planet as it is to ensuring its customers look great. The company achieves this by being upfront about its supply chain, from the materials it sources to the suppliers it works with. When it comes to denim, this manifests in the brand’s S.E.A. jeans, which are built entirely of organic cotton and guaranteed for life. This means if they rip, break, or tear, you can send them back to Outerknown, and they’ll get fixed right up. The idea is that you can then invest in the jeans you really want, knowing they’ll endure season after season. And while this kind of service would normally cost a pretty penny, Outerknown’s denim pants are surprisingly affordable.
There you have it, some of the best brands on the market to pick up a good pair of jeans. You don’t have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get yourself a pair that will last you a long time, but stick to this list, and you will never be without a great pair of denim.
Editors' Recommendations
- The best Stitch Fix competitors and alternatives
- These 6 ’90s fashion trends for men have staying power
- How to style a jean jacket: The ultimate guide to a denim favorite
- These are the best men’s Tissot watches you can get
- Men’s spring fashion essentials: You need these 5 pieces in your spring wardrobe
