The Case Against “Nice” Jeans
It’s been quite some time since I complained about something largely insignificant in the grand scheme of things! So, here we are for another installment in our “The Case Against…” series.
Today, I want to talk about “nice” jeans.
You know the ones I’m talking about. I’m talking about that pair of jeans you wear for dates and holidays. They’re not your regular yardwork jeans. They’re not even your “running errands on a weekend” jeans or your everyday jeans. They’re your special jeans.
Now, before I continue, I want to make it clear that I don’t think it’s wrong to own a pair of jeans that looks good on you! Jeans are awesome and everyone needs jeans that make them feel good. My beef is not with jeans. Trust me.
Almost every menswear site will tell you that one of the staples you should have in your closet is a pair of well-fitting, dark-wash jeans. This advice isn’t wrong. Every man needs some tough pants in which he can work and play. Furthermore, a dark wash is flattering while hiding stains and dirt and it also won’t go in and out of fashion the way lighter washes tend to do.
So, yes, you SHOULD have some jeans that look nice on you in your wardrobe, meaning they should fit appropriately (not too slim or baggy).
What you should NOT do, however, is confuse those jeans with actual nice pants! That means you shouldn’t have a pair of jeans in your closet that you exclusively wear when you want to dress up.
Because jeans aren’t meant for that. It would be like having a “nice” hoodie. It just doesn’t exist.
It’s the utility that makes jeans look so good. Jeans shouldn’t be perfectly pristine.
No one really considers jeans to be anything other than ultra-casual. So, if you’re looking to impress someone, don’t go with jeans. No one will say to themselves, “Oh wow, he busted out the dark wash jeans!” They’ll just go, “Oh, I guess he thought this was a casual event.”
The key is, you shouldn’t be using jeans as your fancy wear. You already have actual nice pants for that (like chinos or wool trousers), so you already have better options than jeans.
Treat jeans the way they should be treated.
Because jeans are jeans are jeans and you, personally, are not going to change that perception even if you pair your jeans with more elevated garments. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do that (because that can look great!), but don’t mistake wearing jeans for wearing actual nice pants. Understand that you’re lowering the “niceness” of your outfit if you wear jeans.
Put yet another way, you should not have a pair of jeans in your wardrobe that you’re afraid to get dirty! If you do, then you’re using those jeans incorrectly.
But what about that pair of raw, Japanese, selvedge, deadstock, homespun jeans you got for $400 in SoHo? Well, if they fit you well, I am sure they look spectacular! There’s nothing wrong with owning something like that, if that’s what you like. Wear them with a leather jacket, flannel shirt, and boots. Or just a white t-shirt and some Chuck Taylors.
There’s a difference between jeans that look nice and “nice” jeans. Brando and Dean wore jeans that look nice. They didn’t wear “nice” jeans. See the difference?
If you wouldn’t wear them to play baseball in the backyard with your kids, then unfortunately, they’re your “nice” jeans and you should rethink that.
Again, there are always better options. If you’re looking to put a little spit-shine on your look for the day then opt for some regular khaki pants or wool trousers. In the winter, you can do corduroys. In the summer you can go with linen.
Jeans are awesome and they DO look great if they fit you properly. And of course they go perfectly with sweaters, OCBDs, waxed or leather jackets, boots and all sorts of other staples of classic menswear. But those are all decidedly casual staples. Yes, if you wore them you would look stylish and put-together. But if your goal is to UP the formality level a bit for, say, and dinner date, then jeans are not going to cut it, no matter how nice you think they are.
If you have a pair of “nice” jeans then you’re underutilizing your jeans! They should be beaten up a little bit. They want to get a little dirty!
In conclusion, don’t feel bad if you have been using a certain pair of your jeans as “nice” jeans. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to wear those jeans the way they ought to be worn!
