Best Distressed Jeans For Men in 2022

Features To Look For In Distressed Jeans For Men

Before pursuing our list of the best distressed jeans for men, check out these essential features to look for to make sure you pick the right pair and style.

Color - While you might associate the color blue with jeans, there are so many other options for you to explore. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the classic blue jeans look, but with options such as black distressed jeans or white distressed jeans, there’s a chance that you can take your style to another level.

Black jeans are an excellent way to make yourself look more formal without wearing dress pants, and this makes them a splendid choice for nights on the town, even with a distressed style. White jeans are bold and unique, and although you may not think they will suit you right now, you might be surprised.

Style - When considering a pair of ripped jeans, it is not just about having as many tears as possible. Lightly ripped jeans can be just as appealing as styles that go the whole hog.

Still, you’ll want to find a style that you believe suits you the most. You should also think about when you expect to wear them. Some people may prefer lots of tears, whereas others will prefer a style that has a few distressed features, but is also more reserved.

You should also remember that the more distressed your jeans are, the fewer situations you’ll be able to show them off. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to wear them to work anyway, but a pair of distressed jeans can sometimes be too much for a club, bar, or high-end restaurant.

Fit - The fit of the jeans is always important, but this is something that usually comes down to what you prefer. Some people will like the way they look in slim fit or skinny fit jeans, whereas others might consider themselves better in straight legs.

It will also depend on your body type. As much as you may want to wear skinny jeans, you might have spent so much time on leg day that wearing jeans with this fit becomes impossible. Likewise, straight leg jeans can often look too baggy, which is something that may have been stylish in the 90s and 00s but is not especially something you can pull off in 2020 and beyond. Fashion is cyclical, though, so who knows when they might come back?

Comfort - All clothes should be comfortable, especially if you’re wearing them all day. The last thing you want to do is slide on a pair of jeans that are too tight or feel restricted around the crotch.

Ideally, you want to try a pair of jeans before you make your decision, but if you’re buying online, this isn’t possible, even if you can return them relatively easily.

To make sure you find the optimal comfort, check the sizing and whether the jeans run true to this size, as this will give you a solid indication of how comfortable the jeans will be when wearing them all day.

Distressed Jeans For Men FAQ

Q: What do men wear with distressed jeans?

A: The beauty of jeans is that they are endlessly versatile, so you can wear them with just about anything you like. Depending on your personal style, this could be a simple plain tee and a pair of Converse or Vans, or you can go for something slightly less casual, such as a polo shirt or even a turtle neck.

Really, though, distressed jeans are more of a casual choice, which is why standard t-shirts (graphic or otherwise) are arguably the best way to go. Usually, the choice of shirt and shoes will match the cut of the jeans, with straight legs being better for loud and dynamic button-ups, such as Hawaiian shirts, whereas skinny or slim fit distressed jeans would work best with a t-shirt and even loafers. A leather jacket looks good with any type of jeans.

One thing you shouldn't pair your distressed jeans with, though, is a pair of dress shoes or a crisp, formal button-up, and don’t even try to wear them with a tie. This is a total fashion faux pas, and you’ll look like a kid who has rifled through their older brother’s closet with no idea of what works best.

Q: Are ripped jeans still in style 2020?

A: Jeans will never go out of style, but will guys in ripped jeans still look good in 2020? The answer is yes, and fashion experts predict they will still be sold in stores for the rest of the year and beyond.

However, as with every fashion trend, there needs to be balanced. While distressed jeans are certain to stay in style, you need to be careful with how distressed they are. A pair of jeans with a modest number of fashionable tears, fraying, and holes will still look good, even into the new year, but take this a little too far and have more holes than denim covering the legs, and you may encounter some problems.

Q: Do ripped jeans look trashy?

A: The ripped jeans style for men could be construed as trashy. After all, why would you willingly pay to own a pair of jeans that look like they have gone through the meat grinder several times and then stamped on by a horde of wildebeest?

But, as we mentioned above, there is a way to avoid teetering too close to trash city. For one, you can choose a pair of jeans that are distressed but not too distressed. This will make your jeans stand out without making it look like you don’t care about your appearance.

Likewise, you need to pick the right time to wear your distressed jeans. We know that you will want to show off your new clothes at every opportunity. But there is a time and a place to wear distressed jeans. We shouldn’t have to tell you this time is not your best friend’s wedding day, or even when dining at a fancy restaurant. Instead, ripped jeans are more of an everyday style, although you can get away with wearing them on night’s out, as long as you don’t visit a club or bar with a specific dress code.

Q: Can you wear distressed jeans to work?

A: Wearing distressed jeans to work will all depend on your job. Anywhere that has a strict dress code probably frowns on distressed jeans, even on casual days, especially if you regularly meet with clients.

But let’s say you don’t work in one of those stuffy, stuck-in-the-past offices. Your workplace policy may allow you to wear distressed jeans whenever you like. These workplaces are usually where you are not in a customer-facing role, and you work behind a computer screen all day long. If you work from home, then you can wear whatever you like, and there’s nobody that can stop you.

Traditionally, construction workers or anyone in the labor industry can get away with wearing regular jeans, as denim is a durable material. However, distressed jeans still may not be suitable for labor-intensive jobs because of the frayed design and holes which could catch on machinery and lack of convenient pockets for tools. Any jeans with holes in the knees are not suitable for this kind of job, either, as you’ll need to kneel frequently to work, fasten, and tighten things.

Q: How are distressed jeans made?

A: There are two ways jeans companies make distressed jeans. They either do it by hand or use machines. The method will depend on the quality of the brand, with luxury jeans brands opting for the natural handmade look, whereas budget brands opt for machines such as the DenimHD Abrasion System.

While it might not seem right to purists to use a machine, you’d find it difficult to notice the difference just by looking at the jeans. The machines are exceptionally accurate and can distress the material only slightly, giving it that worn and stylish look.

As for the handmade method, the manufacturers will use a range of ways to distress the denim. They will tear and fray the areas around the tear to give it a more authentic look. To do this, they use sandpaper as well as sandblasting.

When the tears are made, they must be done against the grain. Otherwise, the jeans can disintegrate.

Most distressed jeans will follow a specific rule of how many rips are enough. The rule of thumb is two, as any more will risk the jeans looking trashed. However, you’ve likely noticed that this is not always the case, and some brands will go all out, leaving more holes and shreds than actual denim.

Sources:

1. Can You Wear Ripped Jeans to Work? - Workplace Roundtable