Joe's Picks

← Trousers Worth Hanging in Your Wardrobe

Jeans Worth Every Wear Worth Knowing About

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Joe's Top Picks

Carpenter Jeans That Get It Right MADE IN PARADIS UK Regular fit carpenter jeans Project X Paris Jump to section ↓

Contrast Stitch Jeans You'll Be Glad You Found PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Raw Indigo Wash Contrast Stitch Turn Up Hem Wide Leg Jeans Jump to section ↓

$23.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Embroidered Jeans That Look the Part THE_DOUBLE_F Dark blue denim jeans Jump to section ↓

$255.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Jeans With Patchwork Detail Done Properly DOROTHY PERKINS UK Izabel London Patchwork Detail Frayed Skinny Jeans In Blue Jump to section ↓

$55.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Logo Jeans That Punch Above Their Weight CIRCLE FASHION DSQUARED COOL GUY JEANS Size: , colour: BLACK Jump to section ↓

$375.00 CIRCLE FASHION

Printed Jeans That Don't Try Too Hard BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche White Wide Leg Jeans, Size: Jump to section ↓

$22.00 BONMARCHE UK

The Faded Jeans Worth Knowing About PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Faded Wash Straight Leg Jeans Jump to section ↓

$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 Terrace Jeans - Darkness W" L" $95.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Lois Jeans Sierra 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

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

THE_DOUBLE_F Dark blue washed-out jeans $82.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

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