Black denim is the underrated hero of the jeans world. While dark dress jeans will always be the go-to for any event where you need to look your best, black jeans are a unique alternative that will help you stand out from everyone else. They are the perfect pair to wear with sneakers and a T-shirt, Chelsea boots and a button-up, or dress shoes and a sport coat. Of course, there are options everywhere but it’s our job to point you in the right direction.
When to wear black jeans
Darker colors are typically reserved for the cooler weather. Fall and winter are perfect for the appearance of the black jeans, pairing perfectly with your flannels, wool coats, and your favorite pair of rugged boots. However, don’t sleep on them in the spring and summer, as the right pair of jeans will breathe well and pair just as well with your summer drivers and T-shirts. Dark denim jeans will work just as well from the casual events in your backyard to dressier events paired with a sport coat.
Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jeans
Wrangler is synonymous with cowboy culture and it has a denim heritage as rich as anyone else. Its signature Cowboy Cut is designed to “fit like a glove,” meaning that they are form fitting but give you room to move in all the right places. The Cowboy Cut comes with a leather patch added to the signature W embroidery on the back pocket.
A.P.C. Petit New Standard
The French denim masters at A.P.C. created its New Standard skinny fit jeans over a decade ago and the fit continues to be the standard for skinny jeans. While the New Standards come in many shades of denim, there is something about an ultra-slim silhouette that just looks best in black. The current model has 2% stretch blended with the cotton for more mobility.
Levi's 501 Original Shrink to Fit
Any jeans list would be incomplete without mentioning a pair of Levi’s. This offering from the grandaddy of denim is its Shrink to Fit version of the original 501 fit. It’s selvage denim that is meant to be washed as infrequently as possible, allowing the denim to mold to your body with wear. The off-black tone is almost a dark charcoal gray and will develop a nice patina with age.
MONFRERE Deniro Noir
MONFRERE is a brand founded by to brothers-in-law who both have a past in the fashion industry. They developed a particularly attractive denim that reflects their tireless mission to innovate and perfect products that are a signature mix of provocative and modern. These cotton-poly blend Japanese denim jeans are the perfect form of comfort and will retain their shape no matter what.
Guess Coated Tapered Jeans
Guess has been one of the go-to names in the jeans world for decades. While it have given the big boys like Levi’s a run for their money in dominance, it has branched out to more than denim, which give Guess a leg up on the competition. These coated jeans will bridge the gap between jeans and leather pants, giving you the comfort of one and flash of the other.
Devil Dog Dungarees Flat Rock
Devil Dog Dungarees has been making jeans for three quarters of a century that it has called “Tough as a Marine.” While it has been going toe to toe with the bigger brands, its customers have been enjoying some of the best on the market. These black options from Devil Dog will be the number one go-to pick for any wardrobe.
Buck Mason Maverick
Buck Mason is a company that prides itself on California outdoorsmanship and offers some of the most rugged and manly clothes out there. These Japanese-milled jeans are some of the manliest and top-of-the-line pants you will have in your closet and will look just as good with a sport coat as they do with a leather jacket.
Todd Snyder Slim Fit Selvedge
The love of New York City and the desire to recreate the new American man with everything from tailored clothing down to jeans has driven Todd Snyder to offer some of the most unique and stylish products you will find for your wardrobe. These 100% cotton selvedge jeans are a modern slim fit without being too tight and will keep you looking incredible from Battery Park to Washington Heights.
Mott and Bow Mercer
Mott and Bow is about elevated basics, taking some of the most straightforward items you have in your closet and making them your new favorites. Black jeans are going to be your new favorites, and these soft twill denims are going to be the perfect fit.
A styling note
The current fashion for how jeans fit varies greatly. Anything from baggy to skinny is considered fashionable by one brand or another. That fashion only applies to blue jeans, not black. Black jeans, as a rule, should always be on the slim side. They don’t have to be back skinny jeans, but they shouldn’t be baggy. Black clothing is slimming but only when it matches your silhouette. When you’re buying black jeans you should go with the slimmest fit you’re comfortable in. Don’t go skinny if that’s not your thing but don’t go past slim-straight either.
