A Good Pair of Denims is a Must

Denim 101
Owning a pair of jeans means much more than having the receipt to prove it. Every detail from the fit in the waist to the cuff must meet your needs—you’re the one that has to wear it. So make it yours with these simple denim-related tips. After the jump, get instructions on caring for your denim, what to look for when you’re shopping for denim, and the best way to style your denim.

INSIDE-OUT

Unless you want more fading, always turn your jeans inside-out when washing them.

HANG DRY

Hang drying jeans keeps their shape and allows them to take a natural aging process.

USE YOUR HAND

If you have a pair of jeans that drops perfectly on your sneakers, put your hand inside the leg and stretch out your fingers to check the width. Now you can quickly measure the width of new jeans when shopping.

WALLET WATCH

Slim down your bulky wallet so you don’t wear down a square in your back pocket. Invest in a money clip or a paper-thin card wallet.

HEM IT UP

Launder your jeans before taking them up. Also, have the original hem reattatched.

The terms you should know to be a true denimhead.

SELVAGE: Originally called “self-edge,” it is woven on antique shuttle looms, and is recognizable by the inside seam having a white edge that prevents it from unraveling.

LEFTHAND TWILL: Used by Japanese high-end brands, it’s softer than the more common righthand woven denim.

RISE: The length of fabric from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband.

RIVETS: The metal tabs that are placed at the stress points to prevent tearing, most commonly

on pockets.

WHISKERING: A fading of the ridges and creases in the hip, crotch, and knees that gives the appearance of aged denim

Keep Your Dark Denim Crispy
via Oak NYC
The classic combination of dark denim, a fresh white tee and clean kicks is pretty unstoppable. But the success of the ensemble relies heavily on keeping your jeans as dark as when you first bought them. It’s not rocket science, but for those of you who’ve wondered how to maintain crispy blue-jeans, we’ve laid out three sure-fire tips to help achieve the right look…

1. Never wash them. Yeah, that’s right, NEVER. We know you neo-grunge types are rejoicing, but most guys ain’t feeling this. Don’t worry; if you really can’t stand the idea of living in your own funk, read on.

2. If you must wash, put them inside out and use cold water. Let them air dry as the dryer heat can rough up the weave of the denim and lighten them up.

3. Cop some specialized soap. Dark denim connoisseurs swear by Woolite for All Darks. This will help you rock your dark jeans with minimal fading without feeling like Pete Wentz.