Do Ripped Jeans Have A Place In A Man’s Wardrobe? – 5 Things To Keep In Mind For Styling Ripped Jeans

I have one pair of jeans that has holes in them.

I’ve had the jeans for probably ten years or so. They didn’t start out with holes, obviously. At first, the holes that formed were in my back pocket where I keep my wallet. Over time, the knees got a bit worn out and, finally, about six months ago, the right knee split open.

Since then, I still wear the jeans but the hole in the knee has gotten a bit larger and the fabric around the hole has frayed considerably.

When the hole in the knee appeared, I realized that I needed to either patch or replace the jeans, so I bought a new pair of jeans for about $30 from Dickies.

But I still wear the ripped pair, which is something that surprised me.

I always thought ripped jeans were a bit “middle-school” and, now that I am a serious adult, I would have no use for them.

But I discovered that, yes, there IS a place for ripped jeans in a man’s wardrobe. If you have a pair of ripped jeans and are wondering how you can wear them without looking like an extra from a 90s teen comedy, here are five things to keep in mind.

 #1 – They can’t be too ripped.

The ripped parts should be incidental and not the sole focus of the jeans. My ripped jeans have two conspicuous holes in them and the most obvious one is in the knee… which is a logical place for a tear to be.

There is a definite line between “these jeans have a hole in them because they’re well-loved” and “these jeans are falling apart and I am either too lazy or clueless to get rid of them”.

Feel free to continue wearing your ripped jeans if they have JUST STARTED showing signs of wear.

#2 – They need to be authentic.

You need to EARN those rips! None of this faux distressing garbage. Authenticity is kind of a dirty word in the world of style, but in this case, your jeans need to be authentically distressed BY YOU! That also means that you can’t buy them pre-distressed by someone else, like in a vintage shop. That doesn’t count.

If you buy ripped jeans BECAUSE they’re ripped, then you’re trying too hard.

#3 – Don’t try to dress them up.

This one is pretty obvious, but don’t try to “dress up” your ripped jeans or wear them in any sort of “elevated” kind of way.

No, they won’t look cool with a sport coat.

No, they won’t look good with loafers.

The only time ripped jeans look good is when they are part of a decidedly casual outfit, which brings me to my next point…

#4 – They are not versatile.

Ripped jeans are not versatile. Because they are strictly ultra-casual, they need to be coordinated more carefully. You can’t pair ripped jeans with an oxford shirt, or merino sweater. But you can combine them with a t-shirt and leather jacket.

Basically, ripped jeans do not slide as easily along the Formality Spectrum as regular jeans do. They are not a piece you should attempt “High-Low Dressing” with.

Bottom line: don’t try to get cute with ripped jeans. If you try to wear them outside the realm of ultra-casual, they are going to look out of place.

#5 – They are never the best choice.

While ripped jeans can look good, keep in mind that they are never the best choice.

Your regular, dark wash jeans or cuffed selvedge, or airy, light wash is going to look better, in every instance, than any pair of ripped jeans you own.

Why?

Because, like I stated earlier, the rips should be incidental. If you’re choosing to wear the jeans because they’re ripped jeans, then you have made the rips the defining feature of the garment.

What exactly are you trying to say, in that instance? What are you trying to communicate?

I only wear my ripped jeans when my regular jeans are in the wash. I wear them DESPITE the rips, not because of them.

When it comes to ripped jeans, the key is to tread lightly. Don’t overthink it too much. It’s like going sockless. If you’re putting a ton of thought into your outfit, then you have already galloped past the easy-breeziness that is required of ripped jeans.

Ripped jeans are for lounging around the campfire. Or hiking with the family. Or chopping wood, amirite?!

Ripped jeans CAN occupy a place in your wardrobe, but that place is very specific. Don’t try to “make them work”.

Here is a list of some items that can go with ripped jeans.

Boots. Leather jacket. Boat shoes. Sneakers. T-shirt. Flannel shirt. Baseball cap. Polo shirt (provided the activity in which you’re engaging is very casual).

Here is a list of items that DO NOT go with ripped jeans.

Loafers. Brogues. Sleek boots, like Chelseas. Shirts with button fronts, like OCBDs. Sport coats or blazers. Smooth fabric sweaters, like merino or cashmere.

Also, make sure you’re wearing them in an appropriate climate. Ripped jeans in summer can work, but ripped jeans when it’s below zero look a little strange.

Lastly, I would like to make the point that wearing a garment that has seen better days can be beneficial for your children. They’ll see that you don’t just cast something aside if it shows a little bit of wear and tear. They might even see you patch the hole and give the garment some new life. That shows you don’t spend money frivolously, which is another good lesson to impart.

Wearing ripped jeans will also demonstrate to your children how to observe certain levels of propriety. They’ll see that you once wore those jeans with a sweater to your in-laws’ house, but have relegated them to yardwork and backyard football games once they developed holes.

These are important lessons! It will hopefully save them from wearing something inappropriate to a high-stakes event later in their lives, like a date or work function.

So, if you have a pair of ripped jeans and want to incorporate them into your rotation, just remember to keep it simple and casual.