Joe's Picks

← Trousers Worth Hanging in Your Wardrobe

Jeans Worth Every Wear That Actually Deliver

0 items

Joe's Top Picks

Barrel Jeans That Get the Proportions Right LA REDOUTE UK Barrel Jeans Jump to section ↓

$11.99 LA REDOUTE UK

Cropped Leg Jeans Worth the Closer Cut ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Kite Newton Cropped Straight Leg Jeans Ivy Jump to section ↓

$80.00 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

Raw Hem Jeans That Don't Try Too Hard THE_DOUBLE_F White Clar bootcut jeans Jump to section ↓

$57.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Reinforced Jeans We'd Happily Recommend MADE IN PARADIS UK Straight jeans G Jump to section ↓

$78.00 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Tapered Leg Jeans Worth the Closer Cut PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Dark Indigo High Waist Mom Jeans Jump to section ↓

$11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

The Patch Jeans Worth Knowing About GHOSTBIKES.COM Black Speedster AAA CE Ultra Black Motorcycle Jeans - " I | " Regular Jump to section ↓

$99.00 GHOSTBIKES.COM

Wide Jeans That Look Sharp Without the Squeeze SPARTOO.CO.UK Urban Classics TN men's Flare wide jeans in Blue Jump to section ↓

$37.82 SPARTOO.CO.UK

Barrel Jeans That Get the Proportions Right

Barrel jeans are a genuinely tricky silhouette to get right and most of them don't. The idea is sound: a relaxed, tapered shape that sits somewhere between a straight leg and a wide leg, with a slightly curved inseam that gives the leg a rounded, full look. The problem is that when the proportions are off, they read as shapeless rather than considered. Too wide at the thigh and they swamp the body. Too short in the rise and the whole thing collapses. We've been looking specifically at versions where the taper actually follows through, where the waist sits properly, and where the leg has enough structure to hold its shape through a full day of wearing. These work with a clean trainer and a tucked shirt, or with a chunky sole and something oversized on top. The silhouette rewards a bit of thought. The ones here have already done the hard work for you.

LA REDOUTE UK Barrel Jeans $11.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Addison High Waist Barrel Jeans $79.99 LA REDOUTE UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK ELISABETTA FRANCHI BROWN ALLIGATOR PRINT BARREL JEANS $282.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

SNEAKIN UK Flip-flops Pepe Jeans Barrel Club $32.10 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Loose-fitting jeans Lee Barrel $63.36 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Barrel Fit Side Panel Jeans $178.00 INSTOCK UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Washed Black Mid Rise Stretch Barrel Jeans $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Plus Washed Black Mid Rise Stretch Barrel Jeans $21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Low Rise Barrel Jeans $11.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Washed Black Low Rise Barrel Jeans $15.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Grey Seam Detail Barrel Jeans $17.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Izabel London High Waist Wide Barrel Fit Jeans In Khaki $50.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Cropped Leg Jeans Worth the Closer Cut

The ankle is doing more work in menswear right now than most men realise. A cropped leg jean sits above the ankle bone and suddenly the shoe becomes part of the outfit rather than something you laced up and forgot about. It changes the proportion of the whole look. That is not a small thing. The problem is that a lot of men try this cut once with the wrong fit through the thigh and write it off entirely. Too tight and it reads as trying too hard. Too loose and you just look like your jeans shrank. The versions we have pulled together here get the taper right, which means there is enough room to move without the leg collapsing into a shapeless tube at the hem. These work particularly well with a chunky sole or a white leather trainer. They also do something clean and considered with a loafer. The crop is the point. Commit to it.

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Kite Newton Cropped Straight Leg Jeans Ivy $80.00 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Denim Wide Leg Cropped Jeans, Size: $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Hallie Regular Cropped Wide Leg Jeans Natural $59.00 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Khaki The Sara Coloured Cropped Jeans, Size: $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Hallie Regular Cropped Wide Leg Jeans Blue $41.30 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Taupe The Sara Coloured Cropped Jeans, Size: $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Seam Detail Mid Rise Barrel Jeans $12.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Tall Vintage Wash High Waist Split Hem Jeans, Sage Blue $22.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK ELISABETTA FRANCHI OLTREMARE LAMINATED BAGGY JEANS $245.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL High Waist Cropped Straight Leg Jeans Blue $26.98 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

LA REDOUTE UK ® Cropped 's Ankle Grazer Jeans $75.00 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK S-SDM Alexa Cropped Jeans in Slim Fit $28.50 LA REDOUTE UK

Raw Hem Jeans That Don't Try Too Hard

The raw hem is one of those details that looks effortless and is actually doing a lot of work. Done right, it gives a clean straight leg a sense of personality without veering into costume territory. Done wrong, it looks like someone forgot to finish them off, and there is a difference. We've been specifically interested in pairs where the raw edge is considered rather than affected, where the rest of the jean is simple enough to let that one detail carry its weight without competing with it. No excessive distressing. No complicated washes. Just a well cut jean in a good fabric with a hem that says something quietly. These work with chunky trainers, with a clean leather shoe, with a turned cuff if the proportions call for it. The fit through the thigh matters more than most men account for here. Get that right and the rest follows. These are the pairs we actually rate.

THE_DOUBLE_F White Clar bootcut jeans $57.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mid Blue Cropped Raw Hem Straight Leg Jeans, Mid Blue Wash $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Indigo Cropped Raw Hem Straight Leg Jeans $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Jeans The Weekender Fray Ride HardLive Louder $201.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

THE_DOUBLE_F Frayed Cut jeans with fringed pockets $259.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

LA REDOUTE UK Straight Ankle Grazer Jeans with High Waist $24.74 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor High Waist Wide Leg Jeans In Black $53.41 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mid Blue Wash Long Straight Leg Raw Hem Jeans $12.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mid Blue Released Hem Straight Leg Jeans, Mid Blue Wash $14.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Doozy Sneak Fray flared jeans $216.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Ladies Classic Raw Hem Wide Leg Flare Jeans, Blue, Size: $45.49 SUPERDRY_UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Bootcut jeans D-Ginna blue washed effect $199.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

Reinforced Jeans We'd Happily Recommend

Most jeans fail quietly. The seams go first, or the knees thin out before the rest of the fabric shows any age at all, and you're left with a pair that looks worn rather than worn in. Reinforced jeans solve that without asking you to compromise on how they look. We've been paying close attention to construction details that most men never think to check: bar tacking at stress points, selvedge denim that ages properly, double stitching that adds structure rather than bulk. The best pairs in here work as hard as any workwear but sit well enough with a decent boot and a considered jacket to belong in a real wardrobe rather than a site shed. We've also been mindful of fit because reinforcement means nothing if the cut is wrong. These are jeans built to last a few years longer than the ones you're probably replacing right now. That longevity is the point.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Straight jeans G $78.00 MADE IN PARADIS UK

ARIAT UK Men's M Slim Pro Series Ray Straight Leg Jeans in Lindo, Size x , by Ariat $95.00 ARIAT UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Regular straight jeans in raw indigo denim $305.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

THE_DOUBLE_F Third Cut relaxed-fit jeans in beige cotton denim $286.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

MADE IN PARADIS UK Jeans slim Project X Paris $16.74 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Jeans G-Star Dakota Regular Straight $83.13 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Slim jeans Faguo $72.98 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Trainers Pepe Jeans Ben Casual $51.14 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Short Jeans with Pocket Blend BHTWISTER $25.73 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Selvedge Straight Jeans, Mid Rise with Pockets $40.79 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Regular jeans Lee Mvp Nash $41.59 SNEAKIN UK

STUARTS LONDON C Jeans Cone Mills Denim Slim Straight Comfort Fit - Year Vintage Wash W" L" $38.00 STUARTS LONDON

Tapered Leg Jeans Worth the Closer Cut

The straight leg versus tapered argument has been going on for years and we think it mostly misses the point. A tapered jean done well is not about looking slim or following anything seasonal. It is about proportion. It sits properly at the waist, works through the thigh, and narrows enough at the ankle that it cleans up the whole silhouette without looking like it is trying to. That last bit is where most pairs get it wrong. We have been through a lot of denim to find the ones that hit that balance, and the criteria are specific. The taper has to be gradual, not aggressive. The rise has to be high enough to wear with a tucked shirt. And the wash has to be something you can wear beyond the weekend. These are not fashion jeans. They are jeans that make everything else you are wearing look more considered. The right pair changes how you think about getting dressed.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Dark Indigo High Waist Mom Jeans $11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche The Susie Slim Leg Coloured Jeans $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

STANDOUT Slim Tapered Fit Nightshine Jeans $99.95 STANDOUT

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK PrettyLittleThing Mid Blue Wash High Waist Mom Jeans $18.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Light indigo high-waisted tapered jeans $429.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

SNEAKIN UK Jeans Nudie Jeans Steady Eddie II Haze $103.95 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Jeans Nudie Jeans Lean Dean Dry $92.91 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Jeans casual Casual Friday Hurup $38.96 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Jeans Le Temps des cerises Loose Work Bleu N° $80.99 MADE IN PARADIS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor High Waist Mom Jeans In Light Blue $58.81 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Tapered Jeans Le Temps des cerises Onni $80.99 MADE IN PARADIS UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy The Susie Slim Leg Jeans, Size: $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

The Patch Jeans Worth Knowing About

Patchwork denim has spent enough time being the wrong kind of statement. Done badly it reads as costume, the sort of thing that looked considered on a mood board and unfortunate in daylight. Done well it is one of the more interesting ways to wear jeans right now, adding visual weight and texture without asking you to try noticeably harder than a plain pair. The difference comes down to placement, scale, and whether the patches feel like part of the design or something stitched on in apology. We have been looking specifically for pairs where the construction is considered and the overall shape still works the way a good jean should, sitting right at the hip, tapering cleanly, and holding up after proper wear. Not novelty items. Not pieces that demand the rest of your outfit stand down. These are patch jeans that earn their place in a wardrobe that already knows what it is doing.

GHOSTBIKES.COM Black Speedster AAA CE Ultra Black Motorcycle Jeans - " I | " Regular $99.00 GHOSTBIKES.COM

THE_DOUBLE_F Black washed denim jeans $62.40 THE_DOUBLE_F

BLUE VANILLA Pocket Rope Stretch Jeans - BLUE $38.00 BLUE VANILLA

THE_DOUBLE_F Straight jeans dark blue washed effect $264.25 THE_DOUBLE_F

THE_DOUBLE_F Blue denim jeans $73.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Kaffe Kasinem High-Waisted Wide Leg Jeans In Dark Grey $56.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

WEIRD FISH Weird Fish Corine Wide Leg Denim Jeans Denim Size $48.00 WEIRD FISH

THE_DOUBLE_F White John jeans $114.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Organic Cotton Vintage Slim Jeans Dark Grey Venom Vintage Black - Size: $37.49 SUPERDRY_UK

BLACKS Men’s Typhoon Jeans $80.00 BLACKS

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Enorsia Basic Mid Waisted Slim Fit Jeans In Black $22.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STANDOUT New Dallas Jumbo Cord Jeans $74.95 STANDOUT

Wide Jeans That Look Sharp Without the Squeeze

The slim fit conversation has been going on for fifteen years and a lot of men are quietly done with it. Not because wide jeans are a trend to chase, but because a properly cut wide leg actually flatters more body types than the skinny alternative ever did. The problem is that wide can easily tip into shapeless, and shapeless is just a different kind of wrong. What we've been looking for are pairs where the width starts from the hip and falls cleanly rather than billowing out from the knee like something borrowed from a much larger person. Fabric matters here more than most people expect. A heavier denim holds the shape through the day. A lighter one collapses by lunchtime. We've also been paying attention to rise, because a low rise wide jean is a difficult thing to wear well. These pairs have the cut sorted. Wear them with a clean trainer or a leather loafer and leave the overthinking alone.

SPARTOO.CO.UK Urban Classics TN men's Flare wide jeans in Blue $37.82 SPARTOO.CO.UK