Joe's Picks
← Trousers Worth Hanging in Your WardrobeJeans Worth Every Wear Worth Knowing About
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Carpenter Jeans That Get It Right
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Regular fit carpenter jeans Project X Paris
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$18.59
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Contrast Stitch Jeans You'll Be Glad You Found
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Raw Indigo Wash Contrast Stitch Turn Up Hem Wide Leg Jeans
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$23.80
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Jeans With Patchwork Detail Done Properly
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Izabel London Patchwork Detail Frayed Skinny Jeans In Blue
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$55.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Logo Jeans That Punch Above Their Weight
CIRCLE FASHION
DSQUARED COOL GUY JEANS Size: , colour: BLACK
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$375.00
CIRCLE FASHION
Printed Jeans That Don't Try Too Hard
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche White Wide Leg Jeans, Size:
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$22.00
BONMARCHE UK
The Faded Jeans Worth Knowing About
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Grey Faded Wash Straight Leg Jeans
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$22.40
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Carpenter Jeans That Get It Right
Carpenter jeans had a moment, then overcorrected hard into costume territory, and most of what's out there still hasn't recovered. The hardware is too loud, the fit is too shapeless, the loops and pockets feel like they're performing utility rather than delivering it. When they're done right though, they occupy a genuinely interesting space in a wardrobe. Relaxed without being sloppy. Workwear influenced without the fancy dress energy. The key is proportion. A carpenter jean needs a straight or very slightly tapered leg, hardware that sits flush rather than dangling, and a rise that doesn't turn the whole thing into a statement. We've been looking specifically at versions that work with a clean trainer or a simple boot, and that sit well with a heavyweight tee or an overshirt without requiring the rest of the outfit to explain them. These are the ones that understand what carpenter jeans are actually supposed to do.
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Regular fit carpenter jeans Project X Paris
$18.59
MADE IN PARADIS UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Utility Pocket Jeans
$14.99
LA REDOUTE UK
CIRCLE FASHION
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD CARPENTER JEANS Size: , colour: BLUE
$300.00
CIRCLE FASHION
THE_DOUBLE_F
Lisa carpenter jeans with chain
$351.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
SNEAKIN UK
Jeans Solid Col Tommy Carpenter
$26.21
SNEAKIN UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Carpenter Jeans
$11.99
LA REDOUTE UK
SNEAKIN UK
Jeans Lee Carpenter
$46.96
SNEAKIN UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Carpenter Utility Jeans
$23.79
LA REDOUTE UK
SNEAKIN UK
Jeans Dickies Garyville
$43.85
SNEAKIN UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Loose Fit Carpenter Jeans in Mid Rise
$62.99
LA REDOUTE UK
SNEAKIN UK
Jeans Solid Mason Carpenter
$58.86
SNEAKIN UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
M&co Stretch Carpenter Cropped Jeans In Indigo
$31.45
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Contrast Stitch Jeans You'll Be Glad You Found
Most men own jeans that do the job and nothing else. They fit well enough, they wash well enough, and they sit in the wardrobe doing perfectly acceptable work. Contrast stitch jeans are what happens when a pair actually has something to say. The detail is small but the effect is not. Orange or tan stitching against a dark indigo or black denim catches the eye in exactly the right way, the way a considered choice does rather than a showy one. It signals that you thought about what you put on, without making that thinking obvious. We've been particularly drawn to pairs where the stitching is tight and even, where the denim weight is substantial enough to hold its shape through a full day, and where the cut sits properly rather than relying on a trend to carry it. These are not jeans that need much help. Wear them with a plain tee and let the detail do what it does.
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Raw Indigo Wash Contrast Stitch Turn Up Hem Wide Leg Jeans
$23.80
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Plus Indigo Contrast Stitch Wide Leg Jeans
$21.00
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Mocha Contrast Stitch Wide Leg Jeans
$12.75
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Dark Blue Mid Waist Contrast Stitch Flared Jeans
$13.25
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Indigo Contrast Stitch High Waist Wide Leg Jeans
$12.50
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
STUARTS LONDON
Lois Jeans Terrace Jeans - Retro Water W" L"
$85.00
STUARTS LONDON
STUARTS LONDON
Lois Jeans Sierra Jeans - Darkness W" L"
$95.00
STUARTS LONDON
STUARTS LONDON
Lois Jeans Terrace Jeans - Darkness W" L"
$95.00
STUARTS LONDON
RAW DENIM
Mens Regular Fit Grey Denim Jeans
$19.99
RAW DENIM
STUARTS LONDON
Lois Jeans Terrace Jeans - Momo W" L"
$30.00
STUARTS LONDON
Embroidered Jeans That Look the Part
Embroidery on denim is one of those details that either looks considered or looks like a mistake, and the line between the two is thinner than most men realise. The wrong placement, the wrong scale, the wrong colour palette and you end up with something that belongs at a festival in 2009. But when it works, it genuinely works. A well placed floral motif on the thigh, a small graphic near the hem, something subtle running along the back pocket. These are pieces that do the talking without shouting.
We have been particularly interested in pairs where the embroidery feels like part of the design rather than an afterthought stitched on to justify a higher price. The denim underneath still needs to fit properly. The wash still matters. Embroidery does not fix a bad jean. What it does do, on the right pair, is give a simple outfit a reason to exist. These are the ones that actually look the part.
THE_DOUBLE_F
Dark blue denim jeans
$255.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK
CARHARTT WIP NEWEL OPUNTIA CHALK WASH JEANS
$95.00
FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Washed jeans Project X Paris Effet Décapé
$25.55
MADE IN PARADIS UK
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Timberland SANDOWN BACK EMBROIDERED TREE LOGO DENIM PANT men's Jeans in Blue
$86.00
SPARTOO.CO.UK
LA REDOUTE UK
Bleecker Slim Fit Jeans
$76.50
LA REDOUTE UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Medium blue jeans with logo embroidery
$78.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
MONSOON
Sequin Floral Embroidered Wide Leg Jeans Ivory
$30.00
MONSOON
LA REDOUTE UK
Embroidered Wide Leg Jeans
$24.99
LA REDOUTE UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Men's Vintage Skinny Jeans Dark Blue Frontier Repair Blue - Size:
$64.99
SUPERDRY_UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Dark blue washed-out jeans
$82.50
THE_DOUBLE_F
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Enorsia Distressed Straight Jeans In Blue
$32.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Jeans Le Temps des cerises Baron
$85.75
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Jeans With Patchwork Detail Done Properly
Patchwork denim has a habit of going wrong in the most visible way possible. Too much contrast and you look like a quilt. Too random in placement and it reads as an afterthought rather than a design decision. The reason most men avoid it entirely is understandable. The reason we keep looking at it anyway is that when it lands right, it does something plain denim simply cannot. It gives a basic outfit a focal point without asking you to change anything else you're wearing.
What we've been looking for specifically are pairs where the patchwork feels considered. Tonal pieces that add texture rather than noise. Constructions where the placement makes structural sense around the knee or thigh rather than scattered across the leg at random. Good base denim is non negotiable too. The detail has to sit on a pair of jeans you'd want regardless.
These are not novelty pieces. They earn their place in a serious wardrobe.
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Izabel London Patchwork Detail Frayed Skinny Jeans In Blue
$55.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
INSTOCK UK
White Lighting Bolt Jeans - W L
$95.00
INSTOCK UK
HATSHOPPING.CO.UK
Jeans Denim Patchwork Flat Cap by Lierys
$88.95
HATSHOPPING.CO.UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Acne Studios Preloved Patchwork Detailed Jeans In White Cotton In Ecru
$161.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
STUART TREVOR UK
White Lighting Bolt Jeans
$95.00
STUART TREVOR UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Izabel London Star Patchwork Detail Skinny Jeans In Blue
$55.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Logo Jeans That Punch Above Their Weight
Logo denim has a credibility problem, and most of it is deserved. Too often the branding is doing all the work while the jean itself is cut badly, made cheaply, and fades in a way that looks tired rather than worn in. But there is a version of this that works, and it comes down to whether the logo earns its place or just shouts for attention. The pieces we have pulled together here sit in that more considered territory. The branding is present but it is not the whole story. The construction is there. The fit is there. These are jeans that would hold their own without the label, which is exactly what makes the label worth wearing. We have included options across price points because this is one area where spending more does not automatically mean getting more. It means knowing what you are actually paying for. These are the ones where you are paying for the right things.
CIRCLE FASHION
DSQUARED COOL GUY JEANS Size: , colour: BLACK
$375.00
CIRCLE FASHION
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Tommy Jeans Tonal Logo Badge Hoodie Oat Marl Heather men's Hoodies in Beige
$40.00
SPARTOO.CO.UK
JUICY COUTURE UK
VINTAGE WASH WESTERN DIAMANTÉ FLARED JEANS - Blue
$90.00
JUICY COUTURE UK
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
VERSACE JEANS COUTURE sneakers in leather
$93.60
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Men's Men's Cotton Slim Straight Jeans Black Venom Washed Black Organic - Size:
$64.99
SUPERDRY_UK
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Calvin Klein Jeans SPLIT LINE LOGO SHIRT men's T shirt in White
$33.15
SPARTOO.CO.UK
SCHUH
Tommy Jeans Men's Greenwich Mix Trainers in Dark Green & Brown, Logo Detail, Size:
$43.99
SCHUH
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
VERSACE JEANS COUTURE bag in nylon
$73.00
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Puffer Jacket Pepe Jeans Maddie
$89.15
MADE IN PARADIS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Trainers Pepe Jeans Archer Block
$65.90
MADE IN PARADIS UK
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Calvin Klein Jeans TRANSPARENT STRIPE LOGO TEE men's T shirt in Black
$33.15
SPARTOO.CO.UK
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Calvin Klein Jeans Crew Neck Small Logo Shirt Black men's T shirt in Black
$24.00
SPARTOO.CO.UK
Printed Jeans That Don't Try Too Hard
Most printed jeans fail before they leave the shop floor. The print is too loud, the fit is wrong, or the whole thing reads as a costume rather than a considered choice. Getting it right is actually quite simple but most brands overcomplicate it badly. The print should feel like it belongs on denim, not like it was transferred from a different fabric entirely. The cut still needs to work. That part does not change just because there is something happening on the surface.
What we have pulled together here sits in the space between plain and try-hard, which is where the interesting stuff always lives. Subtle florals that read as texture from a distance. Geometric prints that have enough restraint to pair back with a plain tee or an open overshirt. Nothing that announces itself before you walk into the room. These are jeans that reward a second look rather than demanding a first one. That is exactly where printed denim should sit.
BONMARCHE UK
Bonmarche White Wide Leg Jeans, Size:
$22.00
BONMARCHE UK
BLUE VANILLA
Floral Printed Flared Jeans - S STONE
$30.00
BLUE VANILLA
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
VERSACE JEANS COUTURE cotton t-shirt with logo
$49.51
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
BLUE VANILLA
Floral Printed Flared Jeans - L STONE
$30.00
BLUE VANILLA
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Hooded sweatshirt Pepe Jeans New Nouvel
$41.55
MADE IN PARADIS UK
OXYGEN_CLOTHING
Jeans Registered T Shirt
$29.50
OXYGEN_CLOTHING
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Trainers Pepe Jeans Kimi mesh
$53.98
MADE IN PARADIS UK
BLUE VANILLA
Floral Printed Flared Jeans - M STONE
$30.00
BLUE VANILLA
BLUE VANILLA
Floral Printed Flared Jeans - STONE
$30.00
BLUE VANILLA
STUART TREVOR UK
'Peace' Laser Print Jeans in Indigo.
$108.00
STUART TREVOR UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Star By Julien Macdonald Eyelet Stud Boyfriend Jeans In Blue
$34.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Joe Browns Floral Printed Wide Leg Jeans In Blue
$65.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
The Faded Jeans Worth Knowing About
Most faded jeans are not actually faded. They are distressed, which is a different thing entirely and rarely a good one. What we are looking for is the kind of wash that looks like the jeans have lived a little, not like they have been attacked with sandpaper in a factory. That specific blue, somewhere between indigo and pale, is one of the hardest things to find done well at any price point.
The cut matters as much as the wash. A great fade on a bad fit is still a bad pair of jeans. We have been looking closely at options where the two things work together, where the wash is considered rather than gratuitous and the cut sits properly through the seat and thigh without going full workwear.
These are jeans that work with a white shirt on a warm evening as easily as they do with a heavyweight sweatshirt on a Sunday. That kind of range is rare and worth paying attention to.
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Grey Faded Wash Straight Leg Jeans
$22.40
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
High Rise Washed Flared Jeans Light Blue -
$37.84
YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL
CIRCLE FASHION
DSQUARED TEDDY JEANS Size: , colour: BLACK
$445.00
CIRCLE FASHION
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Plus Black High Waist Faded Boyfriend Jeans
$22.40
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
TOKYO LAUNDRY
Jeans Elba Slim Fit Denim Jeans in Grey Stone Wash WL
$24.99
TOKYO LAUNDRY
THE_DOUBLE_F
Light blue jeans with washed effect
$297.50
THE_DOUBLE_F
FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK
ESSENTIEL ANTWERP JANSEN LIGHT BLUE BOYFRIEND JEANS
$181.00
FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Light blue washed jeans with rips
$57.50
THE_DOUBLE_F
THE_DOUBLE_F
Blue washed-effect jeans
$36.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
SNEAKIN UK
Jeans Jack & Jones Clark Original
$42.79
SNEAKIN UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Wata Cut jeans in Clay Breeze Wash
$286.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
OXYGEN_CLOTHING
s jeans
$99.00
OXYGEN_CLOTHING