It’s becoming increasingly rare nowadays to find a workplace that demands a suit be worn on a daily basis. Though jeans were once relegated to weekend or outdoor activities, the casual office dress code means that denim has become the new uniform for life: It can be worn at work, at play, and everywhere in between.
That being said, since you wear jeans so often and they take quite a daily beating, it’s not wise to invest $500 in every pair of jeans you purchase. On the other hand, because you wear jeans on a regular basis, you shouldn’t balk at shelling out a bit of cash for at least one or two pairs of high-end jeans, especially considering you’d spend three times as much on a suit you might only wear twice a year.
Mixing up your regular-priced jeans with a couple of splurge-worthy jeans will increase the versatility of your wardrobe and make you look like you spend more on your threads than you actually do. There’s just one caveat to heed when buying expensive denim: Avoid trends. Dropping big bucks on a pair of jeans so trendy they’ll look ridiculously dated in a year’s time is completely absurd.
Choose your pricey denim from among these labels, and the amount of wear you get out of them will more than justify your investment.
Gucci
It’s hard to get any more suave than Gucci, and these jeans are a gorgeous example of what those clever Italian designers are capable of creating. Beautifully cut with a straight leg and a classic medium wash, these are faded just the right amount, and the 10-and-a-half-inch rise means that they’ll sit perfectly on your body -- not too high and not too low. Of course, the Gucci label is imprinted on a leather patch on the back and all the rivets are engraved with the name of the renowned fashion house. All these features ensure that these jeans will look great on nearly everybody in addition to being completely appropriate for any occasion, save the most formal.
Paul Smith
Made exclusively in Japan from hot British designer Paul Smith and woven on an antique loom, these jeans have an irregular finish that will become super comfortable over time. The dark, natural indigo color will match all your casual and dress shirts and will mellow with a lot of wear to yield a lovely patina. A five-pocket, straight-leg fit makes they are great for pairing with pretty much any shoe.
Edwin
Though not technically considered designer denim in Japan, from where Edwin hails, this label has developed a cult-like following stateside, and a pair of these is hot property. Available in sizes 28 to 36, these jeans are cut to flatter pretty much everybody and are extremely comfortable. The look is a gently used one and the color is a classic, distressed blue. The back pockets are evenly spaced on the rear, meaning your butt will better than ever in these babies. You can literally wear these with everything, from sporty casual looks with trainers and brightly colored nylon jackets to night-on-the-town styles with dress shirts, smart shoes and quirky ties. Think of them like the cooler Japanese cousin to your favorite pair of Levi’s.
7 For All Mankind
If you can’t be bothered to spend hours at the gym, just pick up a pair of these jeans to make your legs and your butt look out of this world. They sit low on the waist with ingeniously positioned rear pockets and are cut slim through the knee, flaring slightly at the ankle opening -- a fit guaranteed to flatter many less-than-perfect body shapes. The super saturated, lightly distressed coloring also means these jeans are incredibly slimming, giving the illusion of long legs. A hint of Lycra in the fabric also allows the jeans to really move with your body. Whether paired with a blazer or a T-shirt, these are going to look hot. And since the distinctive “A” signature of 7 jeans is recognized by virtually everybody, these babies are worth every penny.
Levi's
Even if your morning routine consists of rolling out of bed and pulling on a pair of jeans from the floor, if those jeans are a pair of well-cut Levi’s, you’ll always look presentable. These Levi’s exemplify the quality of fabric and cut you should expect from a company that’s been in the denim-manufacturing business for over 130 years. This pair has a gently-used, much-loved appearance due to the dark blue vintage wash with whiskering on the thigh. An antiqued leather patch on the back completes the lived-in look of these jeans, and of course the expert cut of Levi’s combined with a slim-fit, boot-cut leg makes these becoming on almost everyone.
Diesel
A touch different than most jeans, but not so crazy that your friends will be able to spot you a mile away, these jeans will instantly make you look stealthily hipper. The dark blue color means you can wear them with almost anything, but everything you pair these with will be “funkified” thanks to the subtly quirky details on these jeans, including decorative stitching on the fly, slanted, square back pockets, and an inner-thigh patch. Diesel is a superstar when it comes to making slick, fashion-forward pieces, so you’ll be in good hands with a pair of these downtown jeans with an uptown edge.
it's in your jeans
Since your closet probably only requires one or two pairs of uber-cool jeans, make sure you choose your designer denim carefully. Stick to darker washes without too many flashy details and your investment will reap dividends and compliments for years to come.
