Best Jeans for Men

Distressed, ripped, tattooed or all-dark and sleek – jeans are now very OK, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, in the office and out of it, as everyday wear in men’s clothing. They’re so ‘in’, that Yves Saint Laurent even once commented that, “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.”

When it comes to jeans dudes, you don’t have to go super-tight, but at the same time, don’t be afraid of going to a tighter cut than what you might normally feel comfortable in. Slim tapered jeans look great on most men, but if you’re not game, a straight leg or boot cut will function just as well.

Jeans are accentuated best by the shoes you wear (see examples in the image gallery below) and by the top you choose to match the jeans with.

In summer, a simple tee will do, and in winter, try layering – wear a white tee or singlet, a jean shirt (open) and a dark biker leather jacket also open worn over the jean shirt – HOT!

When it comes to designer jean labels, True Religion, Levi, Rock & Republic, Diesel, even JAG, all offer edgy, progressive design inspired by rock & roll and bikers with an emphasis on modern silhouettes and sleek fits. And if you hadn’t thunk it already, the denim industry is a trillion dollar heavyweight that has a finger in every fashion label – and the ad campaigns for denim go through the roof – both in originality and price, as denim marketers try to catch your attention.

Ignore the hype and look for the best deals possible: You can get great specials on jeans (particularly at the end of a season), but without a special, a really good pair can be found for around $140 or so if you shop cleverly. This is not unreasonable, a good pair of jeans should last you a long time if taken care of properly.

Here’s a breakdown of the best jeans styles around and a bit of info on what you should pick for you!

Straight and Loose Fit

Straight jeans are cut the same width from thigh to hip and seem to suit most men, especially those a little heavier all round. Straight jeans also suit the older gentleman because they tend to be more classic and traditional but please, please gents DO NOT TUCK your shirts into your jeans unless you have a waist to die for. Big tums accentuated by tucked in shirts are not flattering at all; instead try a dark, untucked shirt with a u-shaped silhouette to make you look slim.

Loose fit jeans have more room on the bottom and thigh by about an inch. They have a tapered leg but it is a bit looser than the classic cut. Loose or relaxed fit jeans are the most popular for men because they generally feel more relaxed and they allow men to move more and be active.

Boot Cut

Western jeans are a similar fit to classic jeans because they have a slim fitting bottom and thigh, but instead of a normal leg they have a boot leg cut which simply means the jeans are tighter around the bottom of the leg.

Slim

‘Slim fit’ is exactly that – slimming and tapered all the way down from thigh to heel. Suited to the slimmer and muscled man.

Tight & Skinny

A trend that’s been around for a while (and that doesn’t look to be going away that quickly either) is the ’skinny jean’ – a blood constricting fit, cut throughout the leg. Tight jeans are particularly popular with teenagers and young adult males. This generation is currently in the midst of a jeans revolution. Skinny jeans are a part of the younger generation’s culture and way of expressing themselves and making their own fashion standards.

Carrot Jeans

Carrot jeans are for the brave. The very, very strong and courageous. This new, and growing trend made for the trend mad youth market is suited to the daring male fashionista.  Apparently a brainchild of the Levi Corporation, the style was “inspired by the Tokyo’s underground subcultures and (is) a fresh attitude to an otherwise tired and drab denim world”. As the name suggests the jeans are baggy around the thighs – sometimes excessively roomy a la harem pants – and taper down to a narrow ankle. Not for me folks, not for me, but if you’re game, please rock the carrot by all means!

And finally, here’s a sneak peek at Mangano’s new denim for men ad campaign. HOT!

The Bald and the Beautiful

Bald is bold. Bald is BAAAAD. Boys, bald is back.

While you shudder in the bathroom at your tresses clogging up the sink, when you whimper at the sight of your mane clinging to your girl’s nails when she drags them through your scalp, when you begin wearing caps and fedoras at jaunty angles to hide the growing empty real estate on your noggin’ please try and remember … if Travolta can rock it, so can you.

(FYI – Travolta has recently re-jigged his look to a cool, velvety, hairless panache that translates enormously well in his new role in the blockbuster movie  ‘From Paris with Love’.)

Bald is fierce. And women love fierce-bald, infact I know of many who drool at it.  Little babies too, as they rub their pudgy fingers across smooth baaaaaald plains of their dada’s cranium.

There’s something primal about the expertly sanctioned levels of testosterone that are said to charge through the male body, pumping so hard that they force the little hair follicles right out of their sockets. It’s primordial, it’s savage and it’s very attractive … to girls who see very bald man (with exception of a few) as the species’ highly endorsed candidates for passing on their strong, best survivor-on-an-island genes to the next generation.

Let me outline the baldy benefits for those who are still questioning the style: (courtesy of blisstree.com):

Mega savings – dudes with long luscious locks have to spend their time and cash maintaining that ‘do’. Being bald is a budget friendly investment in your future.

Evolution - Bald Men are the future; the hairy are a dying breed. Hair is vestigial structure lingering from the old days when we didn’t know how to wear layers, heat our homes and stay indoors during blizzards. Bald Men are more advanced, whereas hairy men are more monkey-like.

Simplicity - Bald Men enjoy simpler lives. Less product crowding up the shelf in the shower. Less effort coordinating schedules around salon appointments. Less time spent getting ready to leave the house.  More time being a ‘real man’.

Confidence – A Bald Man is a confident man. A baldy doesn’t need to stroke their ego by brushing their hair.

Lady-love - For a girl who loves to talk, there’s no better bliss than a bald-man-listening. Baldies seem more adept at showing empathy than those guys who have hair stuck in their ears. Baldies have a better chance in scoring points with the ladies.

So for the gents who begin balding early (25% by age 30), please rock bald with bravado for life. For the 50% who get hit by hair loss by the big 5.0, shave off those last straggly locks and go all-bald and beautiful – and watch how much how your wife and/or partner warms up to you when you do. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Be you. Be baaaaaad. Be bald!!

The Westwood Homeless

Right so this must be the new way designers are showing off their ranges, because if you put all this stuff together for your daily outfit, you’d be looked upon as some homeless duff. Right? So, in viewing these pictures, you can see that the consumer would more than likely say, “Ok, I love the belt on that look, and maybe the shoes on this look” but all in all, is it a piece-meal collection or one peppered with utter genius?

“Last night the press release for Westwood’s menswear collection, for Milan Fashion Week, declared: “Perhaps the oddest of heroes to emerge this season, Vivienne Westwood found inspiration in the roving vagrant whose daily get-up is a battle gear for the harsh weather conditions . . . Quilted bombers and snug hoodies also work well in keeping the vagrant warm.” Yes. The homeless.

Of course, in the candy-colored world of Vivienne Westwood, homeless people are all young with great bodies, high cheekbones and flawless skin, and they all have super-styled hair and brightlycolored clothes. And sometimes they’ll walk around in big goofy hats or even teddy bear heads!

Darlings, you just can’t write about it! Well….I just did.

SO – we all know that inspiration comes to artists in various forms, but for a high level designer such as Vivienne Westwood to be inspired by the homeless means there has been a scary increase in percentage of these forgotten people. So if that is the case, and she is riding the dusty coattails of these people; then every piece sold from the collection, should have a percentage donated to the homeless. Our belief is if the influential are going to take something from the homeless who have nothing, then something should be given back. Agree?

2009; The year that was, well almost.

As you ponder NYE disasters and adorably futile resolutions…(but hey, they sounded good at the time), take a moment to reflect with the Stylemeisters on the year that was like a rabbit staring into headlights. I’d like to think that we were eating cointreau dipped carrots at the time, but I’d be lying. We’ll catch you at the gym, next week.

Life is life, as we will possibly sigh when we reflect on our personal journeys of 2009. Will next year be better? Will it be much of the same, will we get it? Or will we just move along with the tide? This year for some has been an absolute disaster and for others total bliss. But life is not without her disappointments or victories. We’re hoping there have been more victories than disappointments.

Our Style E-book is filled with reasons why we all need a little help with our personal style. Not all of us are born with the ability to match colours, or shapes and styles. Believe me, I’ve seen some freakin’ disasters! Our E-book is a thorough read, covering styling tips for the absolute essentials in a man’s wardrobe and is accompanied with the importance of dressing from the inside out. And we’re not talking about the ever-popular Calvin Klein’s. We’re talking about how you speak, how you sharpen your decision making, your accountability, your attitude, your self-preservation and your problem solving. Believe it or not fellas, women will be able to sniff this out like choosing the right perfume for her at the Jo Malone or Chanel counter! It is almost instant when she senses something that’s not quite right…for her. So if you’ve got love on the calendar for 2010, or you have that gorgeous gal in your sights already; best you get to our E-book www.menstylepower.com

We  at our Style HQ are passionate about searching deep within the male spirit to bring you to a profound realisation of what YOUR life is about. Men are more prone to depression, anxiety and fear these days due to the instability of the workplace, and their lack of belonging and fear of failure. We seek answers for you and have case studied people, books, situations and have talked to a lot of men and women who are at a cross road in life regarding their personal style and what they are attracting and what they’re Not.

Style is a key attraction to what you want in life, and we want the best for you! Dress sharp, feel good, brush your teeth.

Happy new year. We’ll be seeing you soon.

Vampires and their Hair

Quite unknown and obviously youthful, Kristen and Robert have exposed their real-life relationship which obviously has developed from their silver screen tension. Clearly Robert Pattinson is the heart-throb of nearly every teenage girl on the planet. And included in this group are Gen X and Baby-boomers who are happy to reminisce on such days when innocence of a first love flourished. Robbie has by-passed the Hollywood code of conduct and rule book, to draw in his co-star with chivalry, gentlemanship and respect. Wow – those are words not used nearly enough in the media these days, but the question remains…are they here to stay or are we going to have another Rihanna and Chris Brown saga?

Pattinson is to me, very uncomfortable in real life. He’s shy, awkward and with his angular face washed of the Vampire makeup of the alluring character Edward Cullen, the dangerous predator disappears and the true person remains. Feeling comfortable in your own skin must be one of the most difficult life lessons, and yet many of us blokes don’t get it until we’re starting to get that salt and pepper look on top and we give in. Oh well, youth has eluded me so I may as well just accept my look. Yes! Do that! But do it now.

The Vamprish style has always been controlled by black. Black isn’t a colour, it’s a shade. So it will sit well on anyone. Because the pupils of our eyes are complimented and the composition of this shade brings focus to the face. The timeless look of this style is in the fusion of loose fitting jeans, ties, vests and tailored jackets. Absolutely no jewellery. The best palette is charcoal, grey, deep blue, black, metallic and white. And as for the hair – that ‘just got out of bed’ look is the go.

Brace Yourself!

Nothing is amusing or frivolous when it comes to Style. Fashion on the other hand, being a very different concept, allows the ‘fashionistas’ to frolic and dance through materials, designs, carrot top jeans, fluros and more (while I’m somewhat snickering on my sleeve over being told by a trend setter that carrot top jeans were here to stay – not!) but back to Style; no, there’s nothing amusing. It’s a serious business fellas. Because it is the outward and very public expression of YOU.

Now, if you’re in a panic during this financial crisis over the cost of designer and high quality items, then fear not. Because focusing on Style allows you to stand quite still, while Fashion creates a drunken mess, Style cleans up on integrity and class.

So accessories. Braces to the Brits, suspenders to the Americans and Caps to the Aussies…we all have a very distinct signature piece per country. The Stylemeisters suggest that you have a good look at the signature piece that you want to bring into your Style. For example -  John Galliano is very ‘pirate orientated’ and Karl Lagerfeld holds his trusting fan. You cannot separate the one from the other. So gents, start your engine in this crisis and lend an ear to what is comfortable and familiar and like second skin to YOU.

In the meantime, we’re loving the reintroduction of braces. It was considered a while ago that braces were unnecessary and outdated, but thanks to a few savvy designers, they are back. And they’re looking good.
The braces are no longer humbly a mere functional item concealed behind a jacket or blazer. They are bolder and more eye-brow raising than ever. And we like it that way. Braces may have been closely associated with clowns but they were never seen on fools. Braces these days have changed shape as you’ll see in our image. Non-conforming and loud, they do not whisper timidly anymore. So when buying a savvy pair, avoid one thing – Donald Duck figures and the Disney family.

I’m a Pant’s Man – fit em’ well please!

There is soooo much out there on the www, that it’s a given you’re going to miss something. So the Stylemeisters beat their chests when they come across such a find.

Bonobos is fashion ‘man-speak’ at its best, and if you know your world animals (and not just think you’re one in the bedroom) you’ll know that the Bonobos is one of the most amazing creatures on Earth, a peace loving, communal living, and (yes, we know!) sexually promiscuous Great Ape that possesses nearly all of modern man’s better traits. The polo & trouser Bonobos company know that these beautiful creatures are in danger so they donate money with every sale and new customer that buys their product.

Bonobos employ intelligent, empathetic people who provide exceptional customer service, free shipping, easy returns, and overall a fantastic experience. No Markups, No Sales Pitches. Why? Because they hate shopping too. They also dislike bad service, retail music that is too loud, and dressing rooms that are too small. Worst of all, the Ninjas at Bonobos hate losing time shopping when you could be doing better things like – beating your chest like a Bonobos! So now, you can experience the ease of online shopping on ‘your time buddy!’.

So who are these ninjas, the stylemeisters ask…
Bonobos was created in 2007 by Brian Spaly and Andy Dunn while they were roommates at Business School. As legend has it, Brian began altering pants for himself using a girlfriend’s sewing machine until Brian and Andy’s friends liked the pants so much that they demanded pairs of their own. They started Bonobos to solve a simple problem: men’s pants just don’t fit well. They’re either too tight to be comfortable or too baggy to look good. By innovating in a few key areas, we’ve developed a fit that looks and feels great for a wide variety of men.

We love em!

Sport & Fashion Combo…

It’s not often you come across a ’sportswear’ label that has successfully infiltrated the men’s ‘fashion’ world. When we say that, we mean they have dominated two categories in the garment business. You’d sit and ponder wouldn’t you, to whom it it would be to achieve this. The German’s – with their attention to detail & magnificient engineering? The Italian’s – with their undoubtable skill in tailoring? The American’s with the likes of Nike who are cross-pollinating with uber-cool streetwear collections? Or would it be an inconspicuous label from Sweden? J.Lindeberg. This stunning brand’s apparel is truly second to none, with the company’s main collection being progressive golf and ski wear. With all the noise in the sportwear industry, and of course the compeition to win the race, this magical line of tailored sportswear and suiting seems to just sit back and watch life go by, with a big smile on its face. And what does J.Lindeberg stand for? Elegant but not traditional. Bohemian but not snobbish. Arty but not intellectual. Youthful but not young. So as you scroll through the pages of www.jlindeberg.com – keep in mind that smile, that sits on the face of the brand as it watches the world go buy, probably with a cigar in hand. We like it!

Confidence to look good!

It's time to find the best YOU!

Clothes make the man. We say it over and over in our E-book. If you don’t believe me, take a close look at the women who stare you up and down when you walk through the street. A-huh, they are checking you out. And since the first impression is your external architectural style-map (because they haven’t had a moment to sit down and listen to your incredible take on world politics) this is what you’ll be judged on. Or think back to that pang of jealousy you felt the last time you were sitting in a pub with some mates, downing a Leffe Blond Belgium Beer (now that’s a nice one) and you saw an impeccably dressed guy walk into the pub and immediately command the attention of the room. Your jealousy was scoffing sentences in your head like, ‘humph, so what he looks like Brad Pitt with his Armani suit on. It’s probably fake. Who cares, I don’t. I’ve got $1mill in the bank and I’m driving a Maserati. Twit, if he thinks he can walk in here as if he owns the place’. Ha – I’m laughing as ten years ago I probably did that! But back to the topic at hand. You want to be that guy! You want to command the attention of the room. You want to have every head turn to you when you walk adorning your Prada suit. Right?!

We have created an E-book that we’re pretty chuffed about because it’s covering so many topic to bring the best man out in YOU. When you’re not sure what to ditch in your wardrobe, or what pieces to invest in for your new ‘look’, then we have the most classic, and edgy tips for you. We know that women have been driving and dominating the fashion scene for decades, and now, more than ever (in this time of instant gratification), we need clarity and simplicity. Don’t get dismayed with advertisements screaming ‘buy me, buy me’…we know you’re confused. So we went to work, late nights, sleepless nights (Well that was Style-meister) to help you out. You don’t need to blow your savings budget to upgrade your wardrobe. Take it one step at a time. We know when you feel good about your appearance, you’ll naturally project confidence.

Loose fitting clothes – art or deception?

There are reasons why men wear what they wear. And at Style Power we have looked into the psyche of why we do such a thing. Men will usually wear what they are use to or have seen. But they also wear clothes to purposely look good or bad. (I see you’re perplexed) In this instance, loose fitting clothes are to hide something, and in most cases it’s a body that men don’t feel good in. And this is the reason why in our e-book we unpack the archetypes of men as well as disclosing 3 key body shapes to educate you in what will really look good on you, and more importantly make you feel good.

In a word loose fitting clothes represent, sloppy. Eek. (Unless of course you are a rapper). Choose clothes that fit your body. This might take some experimentation by mixing and matching certain cuts and styles until you find the right fit for your body that is flattering; but it is worth the time.