The Kendrick Lamar Effect: Main Stage Denim You Can Actually Pull Off
Inside menswear’s most exciting denim renaissance, from high-fashion statements to elevated classics.
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There's something poetic about Kendrick Lamar choosing this particular moment to resurrect the flared jean. While Drake stewed and the Chiefs fumbled, there he was—all $1,200 worth of Celine bootcut denim billowing across the Superdome stage, a fashionable “F-U” to a decade of skinny jean fits and shapeless streetwear.
Denim's journey from Levi Strauss's riveted workpants to today's designer statements reads like fashion's fever dream. We survived the bell-bottom revolution, weathered the JNCO storm, lived through acid wash and watched the Canadian tuxedo cycle from ironic to iconic and back again. Now in 2025, we've emerged into something we’re even missing in our government: a true (denim) democracy.
This is what makes the current moment fascinating. A tech CEO can rock raw Japanese selvedge in a board meeting while construction workers swear by their Wranglers and art directors experiment with pleated Wooyoungmi. The old rules about what constitutes "proper" denim have evaporated. What matters now is intention—understanding how different cuts serve different purposes and knowing which silhouette speaks to your personal style.
The right pair of men’s jeans isn't about price tags or designer labels. It's about finding that sweet spot where comfort meets intention, where personal style meets practicality. Good denim, like good whiskey, improves with age. It develops character, tells stories and maps the contours of your life in fades and creases. After all, if Kendrick taught us anything on Super Bowl Sunday night, it's that sometimes, the best statement is the one you wear.
Whether you're considering art-house takes on workwear or utilitarian streetwear takeovers, today's denim landscape offers unprecedented choice. The only real mistake? Playing it too safe.
The Best Men’s Jeans: How to Find the Perfect Pair
- Wooyoungmi Wide Folding Jeans
- Acne Studios Wide-Leg Distressed Jeans
- OrSlow Model 66 1966 Denim
- Marni Bleached Coated Organic Denim Jeans
- Saint Laurent Straight-Leg Jeans
- Fear of God Tapered Jeans
- Our Legacy Third Cut Denim
- T7C Seven Continents Cinch Jean in Yokohama Raw
- The Real McCoy's Lot. 005
- Drake's Indigo Rinse Japanese Selvedge Five-Pocket Jeans
- Loewe Straight-Leg Logo-Embroidered Distressed Jeans
- Kapital Century Denim Monkey Cisco Jeans - No. 1.2.3-S
- Dries Van Noten Pleated Jeans
- Carhartt WIP Landon Jeans
Wooyoungmi Wide Folding Jeans
Woo Youngmi, Korea's first luxury menswear designer, brings architectural sensibility to denim. Here, Japanese fabric gains sculptural presence through precise pleating and outseam tucks, cut in a wide-leg silhouette to demonstrate her signature blend of traditional tailoring and contemporary edge with these light-wash, non-stretch jeans.
Acne Studios Wide-Leg Distressed Jeans
These Swedish-designed blue jeans master the art of calculated slouch. The heavy-weight denim features an expertly aged wash and considered distressing, while the wide leg cut hits the perfect balance between skate culture and Scandinavian minimalism. The cropped length of these baggy jeans works especially well with chunky boots or sculptural sneakers.
OrSlow Model 66 1966 Denim
OrSlow's Japanese craftsmanship shines through premium selvedge denim and oxidized copper rivets. The roomier top block and higher rise mirror vintage Levi's 505s, while one-wash treatment means no brutal break-in period. These handle the office-to-weekend transition with ease.
Marni Bleached Coated Organic Denim Jeans
Italian organic cotton denim meets avant-garde design with Marni's distinctive bleached coating. The relaxed mid-rise and wide leg create modern proportions, while the subtle red branding adds just enough designer DNA. These jeans turn heads without spraining them, befitting creative types who treat their wardrobe like an art collection.
Saint Laurent Straight-Leg Jeans
Looking for classic rock 'n' roll attitude in denim form? The deep indigo wash and precise fading on this pair of jeans create that coveted "vintage but new" look. Moderate rise, non-stretch denim and slim-straight fit—these nail the age-old Saint Laurent Paris silhouette without feeling chi-chi.
Fear of God Tapered Jeans
Jerry Lorenzo's Los Angeles label redefines American luxury through precise proportions. Italian denim flows from a relaxed top block to an elegant taper, for more of a slim-fit jean without tipping over into skinny denim. The higher rise pairs naturally with oversized shirting, while the cropped length showcases footwear. Premium stonewashing adds immediate character.
Our Legacy Third Cut Denim
Jockum Hallin and Christopher Nying's Stockholm-based brand brings Scandi minimalism to denim. Turkish vintage-stain-washed fabric receives hand-bleach treatment for instant character. Wide thigh tapers gently below the knee. A relaxed fit, YKK hardware and copper rivets provide substance without flash.
T7C Seven Continents Cinch Jean in Yokohama Raw
These selvedge jeans are for serious denim heads only. This Japanese denim comes alive through strategic pleating at the waist, creating an effortless drape that feels both luxurious and lived-in. Thanks to thoughtful tailoring and raw denim, the oversized fit never ventures into sloppy territory.
The Real McCoy's Lot. 005
Hitoshi Tsujimoto's painstaking reproduction of 1906-era denim employs 12.5 oz natural indigo right-twill. Combining 5.8 count warp with 10 count weft yarns creates period-accurate irregular texture. Made in Japan using the country's oldest spinning machine and vintage shuttle looms, the riveted cinch back with double prong recalls workwear uniforms of yesteryear.
Drake's Indigo Rinse Japanese Selvedge Five-Pocket Jeans
Founder Michael Hill translates British tailoring heritage into Japanese denim. High-quality Okayama selvedge at 14.2 oz meets natural indigo dye and shuttle-loom construction. The higher rise, dark wash and relaxed-to-tapered fit bridge formal and casual worlds. Slanted pockets add subtle sartorial detail.
Loewe Straight-Leg Logo-Embroidered Distressed Jeans
Jonathan Anderson, creative director since 2013, translates Loewe's Spanish luxury heritage into high-end denim form. Japanese selvedge gets the high-fashion treatment with strategic distressing and subtle anagram embroidery. The high rise and relaxed thigh flow into a classic straight fit jean.
Kapital Century Denim Monkey Cisco Jeans - No. 1.2.3-S
Kiro Hirata's legendary Japanese denim brand applies three distinct indigo dyes (American, Japanese, Natural) across innovative sashiko weaving. Each pair passes through a single proprietary loom in their Kojima workshop. The higher rise and fuller seat update their classic Cisco original fit for modern proportions.
Dries Van Noten Pleated Jeans
The Antwerp Six veteran uses his signature tailoring expertise to produce sharp pleats, elevating standard five-pockets into architectural statements. A high rise and wide leg create a dramatic drape while maintaining wearability, bridging the evermore fluid gap between runway and reality.
Carhartt WIP Landon Jeans
Work In Progress, Carhartt's European division, reinterprets Detroit heritage through a streetwear lens. Stone-washing adds immediate character to heavyweight denim. Wide-leg cut updates the classic silhouette while maintaining durability. Subtle logo appliqué nods to the brand's workwear roots.
