Are Jeans Really Back? Your Jeans for Men Playbook: Fit, Wash, Flex
The denim revival you’ve been missing
Denim is quietly reclaiming its place in menswear. Jeans may have stepped back during the rise of athleisure and tailored trousers, but 2025 is marking its return in more measured, thoughtful ways.
After seasons dominated by joggers, technical pants, and tailored trousers, 2025 is signaling a return to jeans, but with room to breathe. And with the wider cultural shift toward relaxed silhouettes, baggy jeans are making a stronger showing, driven by a surge in relaxed cuts. At the same time, industry watchers describe a “Goldilocks” moment in denim: neither super tight nor overly enormous, but just the right balance.
Within this shift, classic washes retain their value. Dark wash jeans continue to be a reliable go-to for their versatility and ability to transition from casual to more polished settings. While light colored jeans play well in warmer months or layered with darker outerwear to create contrast, designers are also experimenting with gray faded jeans as an alternative middle ground that adds character. And while it’s not yet mainstream, pull on jeans are creeping into conversations as a hybrid comfort factor, especially for men looking for ease without sacrificing a denim look.
As Taelor Head of Styling Melissa Slavick says, “The best new jeans are the ones that feel like they were always in your rotation — classic, comfortable, and true to how you move.” That sense of “wear them and forget them” ease might be the deciding factor in this denim resurgence.
How are jeans supposed to fit?
In today’s landscape, jeans should feel like a second skin that allows motion, not a rigid shell. As you try a pair, move around. If the seams pull, or your silhouette distorts, that pair is not right.
Melissa Slavick adds, “I tell guys: stand, sit, squat — your jeans should move with you. If they feel stiff or pull at your pockets, that’s a red flag.”
The front break should land naturally over your shoes or boots—especially if you plan to style jeans and boots together. A too-long inseam or overly flared leg will spoil the clean line when paired with footwear.
What jean style is in right now?
At this moment, the denim pendulum is swinging towards a relaxed structure. Ultra-skinny cuts are diminishing in dominance, giving ground to baggy jeans and relaxed straight-leg styles that still retain shape. Vogue names “long and loose silhouettes” among the fall 2025 denim trends, calling them among the most wearable directions right now. In parallel, denim watchers see dark wash jeans as a durable anchor, and gray faded jeans as a worthwhile option when you want texture without extreme wear. At the same time, a hybrid vibe is emerging. Vogue notes “slacker jeans,” a crossover of baggy and bootcut elements, is bringing ease and subtle movement to the frame.
Are skinny jeans still in style in 2025?
The discussion on skinny jeans is coming back—but not in the way we remember them. Some trend observers see a renewal of skinny jeans, especially in more moderated or hybrid shapes with stretch, but they emphasize that the ultra-tight, rigid versions of old must be left behind. Others argue that the “anti-skinny” movement remains strong, favoring looser silhouettes over constrictive fits. So yes, skinny jeans are being revisited in 2025, but if you try them, lean toward versions with clean lines, modest taper, and comfort built in—not a second skin.
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Are ripped jeans still in style?
Rips and distressing still have their place, but they’re more considered now. The vogue is for earned distress—natural fading, soft frays, minimal slits—rather than over-the-top shredded denim. Too much pre-distressing risks tipping into gimmick territory. The smart way is to allow your denim to develop patina over time and let the character grow organically, rather than buying dramatic rips off the rack.
What to do with old denim jeans?
Your older pairs don’t deserve exile. For one, they make excellent candidates for casual or utility wear: bag them out with wear and tear in low-stakes settings. If you’re handy, transform them into shorts or cutoffs, or use patches of denim as repair or design accents. As Slavick puts it, “Old jeans carry stories. Don’t bury them. Just know when to relegate it from your spotlight rotation.”
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The modern denim game plan
If your jean wardrobe now leans heavily on slim or rigid designs, begin evolving gently. Introduce a well-fitting pair of dark wash jeans as your default. Add a relaxed or baggy jeans cut as contrast. Save a light blue jeans men or light colored jeans pair for summer or contrast layering. Experiment with gray faded jeans for texture. If pull on jeans in your preferred cut pass your mobility test, try one. And don’t write off cheap jeans—some low-price denim still delivers quality and fit that earn a spot in rotation. The smart comeback of jeans is not about nostalgia. It’s about upgrading what works—and doing it deliberately.
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