If my quest for denim has taught me one thing it is this: jeans, like bone-structure, are not created equal. Need proof? I’d recommend a quick trip to Nordstrom‘s amply stocked denim bar. Sure I’ve done the loose-fit, relaxed boot-cut thing (and it was OK). But taking the plunge and opting for something streamlined, fitted and slightly elastic was a life-changing experience (I blame Hedi Slimane and Pete Doherty circa 2005 entirely). Put simply, silhouette is everything – form and fit are crucial.
More often than not I’ve found that us men harbor a deep-rooted fear of ‘the fit’. What we generally fail to comprehend as a gender is that a fitted leg works in our favor. It adds height and gives proportion. (Remember Napoleon? I’d guarantee he’d rather relive Waterloo than be seen in baggy pants.) I’d also argue a form-fitting pair of jeans amps-up the sophistication factor. Wear sleek be sleek – you get the point. To ease yourself into the trim side of things I’d recommend a classic pair of 513‘s. Like most Levi’s, the 513 is comfortable, easy and very wearable – especially in their signature ‘Nightshine’ wash. I paired mine with a simple white shirt and camouflage jacket. Just basic, you know?
– Browse and shop a selection of my favorite fitted jeans below, available at Nordstrom. Detail shots by Janie Kruse. Check-out how I wore the same pair of Levi’s here.
