When Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss created the first contemporary blue jeans in 1873, the tailor and fabric wholesaler produced a style that would revolutionize the clothing of the working class.
The sturdy material was used by laborers and miners of the time, but there was no telling the subcultural power which the trousers would come to yield over the next 150 years. And there certainly was no hint that denim would end up on couture runways.
The long and varied history of jeans is too long to go into depth on, but it's what has made jeans a staple in everyone's wardrobe. Jeans are one of the rare items that people of every social class, age, and geography wear, and that means that there are countless options to choose from.
Any fit of trousers imaginable can be found in denim, whether that be skinny jeans reminiscent of 70s rockstars or the controversial bell-bottomed flares of the 80s. Similarly, you can pay as much or as little as you want for your jeans.
Head into any high street retailer and there'll be a vast selection of jeans available at cut prices, but go into Balenciaga's new couture shop and you can buy a pair of jeans for $27,000.
Denim is so desirable that Bottega Veneta even went as far as re-creating it in high-grade calfskin leather.
The pants are part of creative director Matthieu Blazy's first collection and, as you can see from the picture below, there's no telling that the legwear isn't denim (or that it retails for $6,900) unless you have a really close look.
With so many options available, we have broken down what our favorites are. Regardless if you're team skinny jeans, baggy jeans, or somewhere in-between, find a style to suit you below.
Scroll down to find the best jeans on the market
Straight-leg jeans
If you had to point toward what a "standard fit" of jeans is, it would be these — and for good reason. Having a bit more space in the leg means that you have more range of movement, there's no risk of your blood flow being cut off, and they are Switzerland in any debate about how wide jeans should be.
While a plain pair of straight-leg jeans could be considered a wardrobe essential, it doesn't have to be a plain option. Check out some of our favorites below.
Distressed jeans
If Balenciaga is to be believed, there is no such thing as a pair of jeans that are too distressed. Denim is one of the few materials that manages to look better with every scuff, tear, and loose thread that hangs from it — and it's something that designers know only too well.
Whether it be a simple open seam at the bottom or a huge knee blow-out, the options when it comes to distressed denim are almost infinite.
Wide-leg Jeans
No matter how much we try and resist it, the obsession with Y2K in fashion is showing no signs of slowing down and that means that a staple of the era is once again enjoying the limelight. Even the king of skinny silhouettes, Hedi Slimane, has started exploring big and baggy jeans with his Celine collections.
From the runway to your favorite Instagram influencers, baggy jeans are being adopted everywhere, but nobody has given them quite as much love as Justin Bieber. The popstar is deep into his oversized phase and if you're wondering how to style large-than-life denim, just take a look at Baggy Bieber's unhinged outfits.
Skinny Jeans
If market research is to be believed, then gen-z has canceled skinny jeans. Thanks to a Tik-Tok-based rebellion against tight-fitting jeans, the numbers point to baggy-fitting styles being in vogue currently. But, of course, nothing is quite that black and white.
The ripped skinny jeans adored by Love Island contestants and footballers alike may make you cringe, but nothing can stop Lenny Kravitz-style rockstar skinny jeans from being cool. Rap's love of rockstars has meant that many artists are looking to its most famous dressers and replicating their looks. The likes of Playboi Carti, Lancey Foux, and Lil Uzi Vert are reminding us all of what made skinny trousers popular in the first place — regardless of what TikTok says.
Black jeans
Of course, it isn't only about the traditional blue-wash jeans, denim can be dyed in a number of colors and the most popular has to be black. A pair of black skinny jeans are a necessity for punk rockers but, for anyone who isn't trying to be Johnny Rotten, they are still a wardrobe staple.
You can never go wrong with an all-black outfit and these are our favorite jeans to create one with.
Statement jeans
Having gone through the main styles that should be in everyone's wardrobes, it's time to experiment with some more eye-catching options. These are your statement jeans.
Playing such a central role in contemporary fashion, there are countless designers putting their spin on jeans to create something truly different from the crowd. Once you've covered every base and have jeans for all occasions, there are pairs such as these Y-Project jeans with multiple cuffs.
Jorts
When jeans become shorts, they turn into one of this season's most popular legwear styles: Jorts.
Big and baggy denim shorts have had a full-blown renaissance which has even seen jorts and Timberland boots become a popular pairing again. Whether it be A$AP Rocky, Gigi Hadid, or just your local streetwear enthusiast, jorts are everywhere at the moment.
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