How To Inherit The Very Best Jeans

Welcome

We love denim. So much so that we believe we have the perfect pair for everybody; so we have prepared something special for you... Take this step by step, fit by fit guide as the Masdings.com bible of denim if you will. It holds the secrets of how to choose jeans that not only fit you, but suit you. It will even reveal how to make sure that they live a long and happy life, and perhaps most importantly, how to make sure they look better than everyone elses when they’re on your legs. So here we go. Remember these words, for they may well just convert you back to jeans, and turn you into a denim head (not a bad thing).

A (very) brief history of denim

Time for a quick history lesson so that you can appreciate just how important jeans are for your wardrobe: Jeans originated from the American gold rush-workers needed a strong wearing trouser that would take the strain of their work. Made entirely from cotton, and finished with rivets to help ease the strain at pressure points on the material, jeans quickly progressed from work wear to everyday casual attire with the growth of youth culture. Lesson over (that was easy). Fast forward to the 21st century and you’ll see just how far jeans have come. Now no longer designed purely for work, new treatments and styles mean that there is now a pair of jeans for every occasion. After the massive popularity of chinos, jeans were easy to forget, but never quite went away. So what next for you and your fair weather legs? Will you continue along the chino path (it’s still stretching on by the way), or will you up sticks and turn to the old faithful, ever reliable denims?

The Fit Guide

Loose

- This fit offers you more room all the way down the leg. Extra room on the thigh, calf and ankle equals a great fit if you have wide legs. Go for a loose fit if you don’t like a snugger fit around your legs.

Skinny

- Skinny jeans will give you a very close fit. It is important to note however that some skinny jeans will fit differently to others in terms of space on the thigh calf an ankle. A super skinny will be almost skin tight, where as a regular skinny will allow some room for manoeuvrability whilst still giving a skinny look. Skinny jeans are very trend conscious.

Carrot

- Just like the vegetable, but not orange (thank goodness). Loose on the thigh with a leg that tapers down to the ankle, a carrot fit jean will be skinnier on the calf and ankle than the thigh.

Tapered

- A tapered jean is essentially your middle ground between a skinny and a straight. Unlike the carrot where the skinny style graduates down from the thigh to the ankle, a tapered jean gradually gets skinnier all the way down.

Arc Pant

- An Arc Pant jean is an individual G-Star concept. It follows the lines of the drop crotch style without the excess material around the crotch. The Arc Pant has a twisted leg, which when held up makes the legs look bowed. When they are on, they fit similar to a carrot style, with a loose thigh but skinny calf. They fit tightly around the ankle, and give you some individual characteristics. The bow on the leg gives a 3D effect to the jean, as it twists round your leg. This style is completely individual to G-Star.

Drop Crotch

- The drop crotch style comprises of two key points: a bowed leg with a crotch that sits a lot lower than a standard fitting pair of jeans. The bow leg allows for a roomy fit on the thigh whilst giving a skinnier fit on the calf and ankle.

Straight

- Does exactly what it says on the tin. Straight from top to bottom with no gimmicks or alterations, these are jeans in their purest form, with no frills but the wash.

Bootcut

- Tight on the thigh with a kick at the ankle, bootcut style jeans cover some of your shoe as they give an extra roomy fit on the ankle.

Types of Denim

Raw

- Raw is denim in its purest form. After the dying process, the denim receives no more treatment, meaning that is highly susceptible to change, allowing you to literally leave your mark on the jeans you wear. They start life as a rich, dark indigo, however, raw denims will begin to alter and fade over time and show signs of stress where you apply it most. The location, level and type of stress are completely different for everybody, meaning that you can end up with a unique pair of jeans in your wardrobe. Regular, heavy wear will produce these effects quickest. Raw denim is also well priced compared to other washes due to its lack of treatment. Although they feel stiff to begin with, they will be very comfy when broken in (this takes a few wears), and act as an excellent investment.

Washed

- This is a broad term used when referring to any denim that has been treated. Washes can vary, due to the techniques that are used to achieve certain looks. Some washes may be extreme, with abrasions and patches. Others may be simple and graduated throughout the style. Washed jeans already have a soft handle (feel) and do not require breaking in. They will still change slightly with wear, but no way near as obviously or aggressively as raw denim.

Caring for your new jeans

As you already know from your brief history lesson in denim, jeans are very hard wearing thanks to their material and construction. However, no pair will last forever, and there may well come a day when your old faithful friend gives up the ghost and dies. However, there are a few things you can do to increase your jeans life span. Check them regularly for signs of wear and tear. The obvious places such as the crotch and pockets are likely to go first. Check them inside and out, as you’ll see the first signs of damage at the seams. If you see a bit of damage, get it repaired ASAP. Reinforce the area around it if you can, but don’t panic. Catch any damage at the first sign of wear and tear and you can stop it getting worse. Avoid over washing your jeans. Some manufacturers advise one wash every 6 months. This however is completely up to you. If they begin to smell, put them in the freezer. This will kill the bacteria without the effects of a heavy wash. Damp cloth any spills or marks, but avoid the washing machine at all costs. Remember, jeans are your friend-you will spend a lot of time with them. So when they do die, give them a proper send off- you can always recycle your used denim, or use it as spare patches for a new pair.

How to wear your jeans

So now you have your new pair of jeans in mind, how will you wear them? First things first; what do you want your jeans for? If you’re going down the smart route, consider a dark wash. They tend to look a lot cleaner when they’re on, and go with any colour shirt imaginable. The fit isn’t important at this stage, but remember that twisted styles do look more casual on. Don’t mess around with rolling them up or having hem sit lower on your hips-wear them simply for the best results. Want your jeans for casual wear? Make sure you pick a colour that you are comfortable in. Some people will wear nothing but light wash jeans. Others will have nothing but raw. The choice is yours, as long as they suit you, opt for any colour you want. Choose your fit wisely- get a style that reflects you, and suits what you wear. Now decide how you’re going to wear your jeans. This can be dependent upon many things-where you’re going, what you’re doing, what you are wearing with them…don’t be afraid to experiment with a turn up at the bottom of the leg and show off some seam detail. Rolling them up past your ankle and showing the world some mankle is on trend this summer. Do the same during the coming winter, but make sure that you’ve got nice socks on! This looks great with any footwear, whether you’re rocking brogues or Converse. So there you have it. Here ends the talk. Don't forget, you can always come in store or email us to answer any queries you may have on any of our jeans; but for now...Go forth and enjoy denim!

Ryan J Gray