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You probably wear your jeans more than anything else in your wardrobe. No surprise, given they work for any social scenario that doesn’t call for a smart dress code. But subtle design details can take your chosen pair from good to great – you just have to know where to look and what to look out for.
As a menswear writer and stylist, I’ve seen my fair share of denim, from high street to vintage, small menswear labels to heritage brands (I’m looking at you, Levi’s). And I’ve developed some tried and tested denim shopping principles.
As with most menswear essentials, finding the best pair of jeans is more about fit and finish than trends, so your chosen pair should be well made using a good-quality fabric with a timeless cut to ensure you’ll be wearing them for years to come. This is my edit of the best jeans brands out there, and the styles to try.
The best men’s jeans in 2025
Best heritage denim
Levi’s 555
Best for: the OG pair of jeans
Like trench coats and Burberry or Harrington jackets and Baracuta, it’s impossible to talk about denim without mentioning Levi’s. The heritage label is credited with creating blue jeans as we know them today more than 150 years ago – and you can still buy that original signature silhouette in 20 different finishes.
I have a few pairs of the OG in my wardrobe, some of which are thrifted, but the cut I’m wearing most right now is the 555. It’s a more relaxed alternative with a dropped seat and wider leg, so it feels on trend without looking excessively baggy. Each of the five colours available (light blue, mid blue, dark blue, indigo, black) is cut from a rigid non-stretch denim, so they’ll retain their shape no matter how long you wear them.
Lee Brooklyn straight
Best for: a slim classic
Lee started out making one-piece overalls for workers before entering the denim scene in the 1920s, and it remains one of the biggest players today. The website has more than 80 styles to choose from, from a baggy 90s-coded pair to a stretch skinny (although I’d recommend avoiding the latter: this look is more likely to date).
My top pick? The Brooklyn. With a true straight cut and a slight high rise, this is the perfect everyday silhouette that feels relaxed yet intentional. The 13oz denim makes this style heavyweight enough for an expensive feel, while the low level of stretch makes it comfy, too. A win-win.
Wrangler Texas low stretch
Best for: a boot-cut
Wrangler began making jeans for cowboys back in the 1940s – the first design was the Wrangler 11MWZ, which introduced rear pockets positioned for comfort during riding, no rivets to avoid scratching the saddle, a strong crotch seam to prevent splitting and a boot-cut fit to allow for, you guessed it, boots. You can still buy the same design today; it’s been renamed the 13MWZ because it’s now made with 13oz denim.
Since the boot-cut fit is a trend that comes and goes, it might be safer to go for the Texas, the brand’s regular-fit straight leg, instead. It’s a little slimmer than your average straight leg, so it’s great for guys who prefer a more streamlined finish. These jeans have 1% elastane, so they’re comfy without feeling stretchy, and the waist size runs from 24 to 50 inches, so most body shapes are catered for.
Gap dark indigo loose-fit jeans
Best for: an affordable heritage brand
Gap might not be classed in the denim heritage label big league, but the brand’s history is firmly rooted in denim. The company actually started out as a San Francisco store selling Levi’s jeans (and records) in 1969. The label then launched its own line in 1974.
Fifty years on, it’s a go-to destination for denim. After a rocky patch in 2020, it’s now led by creative director Zac Posen, and the menswear collections are becoming stronger every season. These jeans are a prime example, with an elevated dark blue wash, a baggy yet tapered fit, an authentic-feeling rigid fabric and contrast stitching. The price is comparatively good too.
Best high-street denim
Arket Park regular straight jeans
Best for: high-street denim
Arket is the best place to go on the high street for denim. The Scandi label uses quality fabrics and modern fits for pieces that look more expensive than they are. My pick is this pair of straight-leg jeans in non-stretch denim with a classic-mid-rise waist and legs tapered from the knee. They’re good quality too: I’ve had a pair of these in my own wardrobe for years.
Mango Moby straight fit jeans
Best for: value for money
Mango’s menswear is often overlooked, but every season the Barcelona-based high-street store produces strong collections full of well-crafted, wearable pieces that won’t break the bank. The denim selection is consistently strong, from the taper to the straight leg (again, I would suggest you avoid the skinny fit). My favourite is the Moby, which comes in four colours.
M&S Autograph Japanese selvedge jeans
Best for: accessible selvedge
Selvedge is a premium type of denim that’s created using old-fashioned shuttle looms, creating a self-finished hem that doesn’t fray – this is known as a ‘self-edge’, hence the name. But if you find the stiffness and expense of it off-putting, Marks & Spencer has come up with a pair that’s softened with 2% elastane and retails for a reasonable price. The jeans are a slim fit – a little too tight for my preference, but they’d make the perfect transition from skinnies to a more modern fit. They come in three shades.
Uniqlo wide tapered jeans
Best for: well-priced Japanese-style denim
Japan is famous for its denim, so it’s no wonder the globally renowned Japanese store Uniqlo has one of the best selections going. Right now, the retailer has jeans that come in slim or wide – since Japanese jeans are best known for their voluminous yet cropped fit, I’d recommend opting for the latter. This style has a wide barrel leg that becomes a little slimmer at the ankle for a sleeker finish. If you’re covered on the mid-blue front, there’s indigo, cream and black to choose from, too.
Best mid-range and luxury denim
A Day’s March Langley denim trousers
Best for: timeless Scandi denim
This Stockholm-based brand’s MO is creating clothes you’ll want to wear just as much tomorrow as in 10 years’ time, focusing on timeless silhouettes that are designed to last.
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The denim offering is no exception. There are just three silhouettes: the Langley, which is a true straight leg; Denim no 2, a slimmer iteration; and Denim no 3, a loose, relaxed choice. My favourite is the first, which feels like the epitome of what a straight fit should be – the quality is evident the moment you try them on.
Agolde 90s Fairway jeans
Best for: loose, modern fits
Agolde has become a firm fashion favourite in recent years. It was originally founded in the 90s by Adriano Goldschmied – who is known as the “Godfather of denim” thanks to his involvement in launching denim giants Diesel and Replay – then became inactive during the 00s before its relaunch in 2014. In the decade since, it’s become catnip for the fashion crowd thanks to the premium quality, cool silhouettes and strong collaborations with brands such as RSVP Gallery.
The brand’s strengths lie in its loose, 90s-inspired shapes. My favourite is the 90s jean, which comes in 16 different washes, including some with distressed details and cut-off hems. Whichever colour you prefer, you’ll get a well-made pair of jeans in a first-rate denim.
Gant straight fit jeans
Best for: preppy designs
American prep is a popular trend right now – and no brand does it better than Gant. You can find everything from v-neck knits to Oxford shirts, slacks, baseball caps and rugby tops – all pieces crafted with longevity and quality in mind. Straight-leg jeans always have a collegiate quality, and the archive-inspired vintage wash doubles down on the look. Made using a cotton-viscose denim, these take the #1 spot for softness.
Sandro Waterless narrow cut jeans
Best for: Parisian-coded jeans
If you like an effortlessly chic Parisian look (who doesn’t?), jeans are a key component of the uniform. You’ll undoubtedly see denim in all shapes and sizes around the capital city, but the quintessentially French shape is slim yet relaxed – something that wouldn’t look out of place walking down a Celine runway. But there’s one snag – jeans by luxury French houses such as Celine will set you back roughly £800. The good news? You can get a similar look for less (albeit still a high price tag) at Parisian label Sandro – and this style is a case in point. They’re made using a raw indigo denim, but are also available in stiff black – and they’re cut to relaxed-slim perfection.
Best for: a fashion-forward silhouette
If I could choose one label to wear from top to bottom every day, it would be cult favourite Studio Nicholson. The brand puts emphasis on cut and quality rather than showy statement pieces, so it makes sense that the selection of denim is among the best.
The London-based designer’s signature fit is sleek yet boxy, inspired by the traditional Japanese cut, and the jeans follow suit. Expect structured wide legs, heavyweight fabrics, slightly cropped lengths and pleats in all the right places. My favourite is the Puch, which is elevated with a wide cuff and sharp single pleats on each leg.
Best responsible denim
Asket the Regular jeans
Best for: responsibly made denim
It’s often hard to make jeans sustainably, but these by responsible label Asket are made using organic cotton and recycled metal buttons. They’re almost entirely manufactured in Italy, too, keeping the carbon footprint as low as possible for each pair. The website even details each garment’s environmental impact with a transparent CO2 emissions and water and energy usage breakdown.
Beyond manufacturing, these jeans are designed to transcend the trend cycle and live in your wardrobe for years to come. If this fit looks too relaxed for you, the label also offers a slim alternative.
Nudie Jeans Deadstock
Best for: deadstock options
This Swedish denim expert uses only organic cotton sourced from Turkey and India, and the brand’s mission is to make jeans that last for decades – if you have a pair that’s beyond repair, you can return it for recycling.
You can also choose to buy from the deadstock collection, which has been crafted using denim left over from previous designs – and each design details the year the deadstock fabric is sourced from. They’re always limited edition, so they often sell out. Subscribe to the mailing list to become a member and you’ll be notified when a new pair goes live.
Vintage denim
Best for: sustainable denim at a great price
Since denim is built to last, it’s always worth looking at the preloved market – I found my favourite pair of Levi’s 501s in Goodwill for just $12. Fit is obviously crucial, so I’d recommend finding a silhouette you like before searching for that specific style at online retailers such as Vinted and eBay, vintage stores and even charity shops – the latter is usually best for a bargain. Take a look at my guide to secondhand clothes for more tips and tricks on navigating the preloved market.
Shop at Vinted, eBay, Depop, Rokit, Beyond Retro or Oxfam.
What you need to know
How should my jeans fit?
Let’s talk about silhouette. There will always be a shape that’s in vogue – one minute it’s all about skinny jeans, the next a 90s-coded baggy fit stomps down the runway and all over your TikTok – but some cuts seem to outlive the trend cycle. If you want your jeans to last beyond the next season, a classic straight or slim cut is best.
What type of denim is best?
Heavyweight denim generally looks and feels more expensive. In my experience, stretch jeans lose their shape quickly compared with a more rigid textile, but some men prefer the softness and comfort that comes with a touch of elastane. Denim devotees will tell you selvedge is the best choice. Not only is it more durable thanks to its untreated finish, but it’s also known for developing a rich natural fade over time that you don’t get with other denim.
What colour of jeans should I get?
Each colour and wash ticks a different box. Generally, it’s best to stick with blue, black or neutrals and avoid anything too distressed. Every man should have a trusty mid-blue in their collection, while indigo is great for a smart-casual dress code. True black is the most versatile and cream is stylish for summer, while light blue is the most casual. Once you’ve found the fit you like, I’d recommend buying it in a few colours.
What are the best denim brands?
There are good high-street options – just make sure you choose a pair by a brand whose quality you trust. Dedicated heritage denim brands are generally the safest bet, while luxury labels will guarantee quality but come with a hefty price to match.
If sustainability is a priority for you, it’s worth bearing in mind that denim isn’t a particularly environmentally friendly fabric. The average pair of jeans takes 3,781 litres of water to make, according to the UN Environment Programme. But some labels are making an effort to produce their denim as ethically as possible. Among them is Asket, which uses organic cotton, recycled materials and provides an environmental “impact receipt” with every order.
But perhaps the most responsible way to shop denim is to buy secondhand at thrift stores, charity shops and online marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted. Either way, shop wisely, stick to classic shapes, and you’ll be wearing your jeans for years.
For more men’s fashion from the Filter, read Peter Bevan’s guide to transitional dressing and the best suits under £400
Peter Bevan is a stylist and fashion journalist covering menswear, womenswear and beauty
