Image via Complex Original
Denim anything and everything is an indispensable part of a man's wardrobe. These days, there's never been more variety of jeans to choose from, whether you're into skinny stacked fits, workwear-inspired patchwork jeans with a wider leg, or moto jeans that stand apart from their denim brethren.
The denim madness doesn't stop there, either. Beyond the tried-and-true trucker jacket, Levi's takes the bomber into a bluer territory. There's also great options for shirts and accessories like caps and kicks. Check out our exclusive editorial of 15 Dope Ways to Rock Denim Right Now.
Photography by Akiko Higuchi
Market Editor: Mitsu Tsuchiya
Grooming by Kiyonori Sudo
Best Bomber Jacket: Levi's Vintage Clothing
Bomber by Levi’s Vintage Clothing, $330, available at levi.com
Hat by Stampd LA, $140, available at stampd.com
Instead of the usual nylon, this 1950s-inspired MA-1 bomber jacket is made in 2x1 lightweight sky blue denim with cotton/wool rib cuffs and collar. So while it's not as historically accurate as its predecessors, at least it looks pretty cool. Its classic short fit is great for layering longer tees under, while vintage details like a Talon zipper will appease even the most discriminating repro nerds.
Best Patchwork Shirt: Longjourney / Best Chore Coat: Nudie Jeans
Shirt by Longjourney, $495, available at barneys.com
Jeans by Natural Selection, $200, available at naturalselectionlondon.com
Hand-pieced in Los Angeles by re-purposing vintage fabrics and deconstructed clothing, Longjourney creates garments that are truly one-of-a-kind. And we mean that in the "literally, no two pieces are alike" kind of way. This shirt is crafted of mixed-weave patchwork in various shades of blue, and the unique nature of each shirt ensures your homies won't break the G-code if they cop the same piece.
Workman Jacket by Nudie Jeans, $299, available at mrporter.com
Pants by Saturdays NYC, $118, available at saturdaysnyc.com
Sneakers by Vans, $70, available at vans.com
Inspired by a classic 20th century French worker jacket, the chore coat is a workwear staple rocked by Paul Newman and Bill Cunningham alike. The Swedish denimheads at Nudie produced this jacket in a 100% organic Turkish denim with beautiful greencast indigo shade with a wash that gives it a bright blue hue. It makes a statement without screaming "look at me!" Though, you may want to avoid wearing a crisp white tee underneath, unless you feel like getting indigo on it.
Best Black Jeans: Paige Denim / Best Carpenter Jeans: Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply
Jeans by Paige Denim, $189, available at paige.com
Sweater by Bonobos, $118, available at bonobos.com
Shoes by Joe Fresh, $39, available at joefresh.com
These ain't your run-of-the-mill black jeans. Paige takes innovation to the next level with Heat Reflect Denim. These jeans feature unique fibers that wick away moisture and a patented top coating that blocks heat. So much for that thing about black absorbing all heat. Take that, science.
Painted Jeans by Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply, $198, available at denimandsupply.com
Shirt by Lucio Castro, $220, available at ronherman.com
Shoes by Joe Fresh, $39, available at joefresh.com
Carpenter jeans got a bad rap thanks to the '90s. Leave it to Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply to channel the best parts of the hardy pants and a finish that looks like Jackson Pollock meets Sid Vicious. You don't need to know an oil paint from a watercolor to make these look good, just keep everything else in your kit simple.
Best White Jeans: H&M / Best Moto Jeans: True Religion
White Jeans by H&M, $50, available at hm.com
Shirt by H&M, $35, available at hm.com
Sneakers by Common Projects, $420, available at thecorner.com
All white isn't just for when you're feeling godly, the tonal look is much easier to wear than you think. Don't go for an exact match, it's all about colors that complement each other. Unlike trying to put together a suit from a jacket and pants that are almost-but-not-quite the same, you want a bit of contrast between your layers. It's actually tackier to go for the head-to-toe Pantone match—it makes you look like a Backstreet Boy.
Moto Jeans by True Religion, $328, available at truereligon.com
Jacket by Club Monaco, $178, available at clubmonaco.com
T-shirt by The White Briefs, $56, available at thewhitebriefs.com
Under the helm of campaign creative director Russell Westbrook, True Religion's got a few solid swishes under its belt lately. Case in point? These slim-fitting moto jeans with a lived-in gray wash and subtle branding. Pair them with a leather jacket and dark T-shirt for a foolproof look that works just about anywhere.
Best Printed Shirt: Gap
Gap, $60, available at gap.com
Beef up your boring chambray with a patterned denim shirt. This one from Gap features an allover raindrop print that draws attention to details like the white buttons and crisp buttondown collar. Rock this buttoned all the way up with a pair of raw denim—untucked, duh.
Best Denim Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Best Denim Hat: Saturdays NYC
Shoes by Jimmy Choo, $725, available at jimmychoo.com
Sweater by Club Monaco, $180, available at clubmonaco.com
Jeans by Cocurata, $240, available at cocurata.com
Believe it or not, Jimmy Choo also offers some fire handmade kicks for dudes, too. The Prescott is an Italian-made oxford shoe with a denim upper. Sort of like the plain dress shoes you'd wear with jeans anyway, but made of a washed denim material.
Hat by Saturdays NYC, $45, available at saturdaysnyc.com
Shirt by Saturdays NYC, $108, available at saturdaysnyc.com
Washed denim caps and warm weather style go hand-in-hand, and this one from Saturdays NYC mixes '90s style with a bit of modern streetwear tastes, like the luxe leather strapback and the contrast brim.
Best Ripped Jeans: Topman
Topman, $75, available at topman.com
Cardigan by Lucio Castro, $460, available at luciocastro.com
T-shirt by Welcome Stranger, $42, available at welcomestranger.com
Sneakers by Common Projects, $420, available at thecorner.com
If it's warm outside and you don't have at least one pair of almost-destroyed denim in your closet, you're bricking it. Thankfully, Topman went ahead and did most of the work for you in this pair that lets you get your grunge steez on, and the best thing? They're under a hundred bucks. Rock them with a chunky cardigan, loose-fitting tee, and subtle kicks to channel the GOAT, Kurt Cobain.
Best Denim Jacket: Won Hundred / Best Patchwork Jeans: Junya Watanabe
Jacket by Won Hundred, $330, available at eastdane.com
Jeans by Won Hundred, $265, available at wonhundred.com
Shoes by Gap, $40, available at gap.com
Won Hundred takes the trucker jacket and takes it to a whole new level of blue, coating it so it molds to your skin and breaks in over time, resulting in a jacket that's 100% your own.
Jeans by Junya Watanabe, $1,735, available on mr.porter.com
Shirt by Lucio Castro, $220, available on luciocastro.com
Levi's and Junya Watanabe are no strangers to collaboration, and this iteration of their partnership references the Japanese art of "boro," aka fabric collaging. The resulting patchwork denim gets its beauty from the wabi-sabi nature of it all—perfection in imperfection, etc. But at the end of the day: It just looks really cool.
Best Colored Jeans: 7 For All Mankind / Best Denim Trench Coat: Burberry Prorsum
Jeans by 7 For All Mankind, $198, available at 7forallmankind.com
Trench Coat by COS, $175, available at cosstores.com
Shirt by COS, $99, available at cosstores.com
Ever break in a pair of denim to the perfect fade, only to have it be ruined several washes later? First off—don't wash your jeans so often. Second, try 7FAM's triple blue No Fade Denim. Processed with a unique rinse that helps these jeans retain their shade, they're then coated to make sure they stay that way.
Trechcoat by Burberry Prorsum, $2,095, available at burberry.com
Shirt by Lucio Castro, $220, available at americanrag.com
Jeans by Gap, $70, available at gap.com
Burberry Prorsum is the British trench maker's forward-thinking fashion collection. It takes the label's storied coats and breathes new life into them by mixing around materials, fits, and fabrics. That's how you end up with things like this amazing Japanese selvedge denim trench coat. Double-breasted with a belted waist and contrast stitching, it may not keep the rain at bay, but at least it'll keep your steez intact.