How To Buy Jeans Online

Yes, You Can Buy Great-Fitting Jeans Online - Here's How

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Jeans have come a long way from the days of when you only cared how well they held up strutting through the neighborhood. They’ve become a symbol of the modern man, the individual for whom corporate attire (i.e., suits) is a noose and a reminder of the casual freedom to be lost. With greater style options, such as cut and fit, come numerous decisions. All of which can be comfortably made online free of all department store vexations. 

The liberty of shopping from our MacBook is freaking heaven, as we’re afforded more options and the freedom to purchase what we want, when we want. But with such convenience comes hindrance, as out quest for buying the perfect pair of men’s jeans introduces several hurdles that we’re able to leap over when shopping for denim in person. Trying to guess the right fit or whether a certain style is forgiving isn’t exactly something you can determine in photos, no matter how dope it looks on the model. Then comes the hassle of comparing different retailers and drawing your own measurements. Sounds pretty complicated, but it’s not.

So before loading the virtual cart with impulse buys, we highly advise taking our crash course in buying men’s jeans online. Zip it up, gentlemen!

Measuring Your Waist 

Same way a man obsesses over his penis size should be the same effort he puts into knowing his waist size. And not just for denim jeans. All forms of pants from corduroys to khakis, sweats to slacks. Grab the soft tape measure and get to work.

Start by wearing something form-fitting underneath like briefs. Then measure around the waist near the naval area. Sure, it’s a little higher than where you’re likely to wear distressed jeans, but it’s a standard routine to figure out most waist sizes. Move forward by placing a finger between the body and tape measure to gain the most accurate readings. Takes no more than two minutes. 

Note: Measure the inseam as well. This consists of going from the crotch to the bottom of the leg. It’s best to measure this on a pair of jeans that already fit to a T.

Jean Size Translation 

Measuring the waist is just a starting point. That can translate differently to what jeans fit your shape. You’ll want to compare those numbers to a manufacturer’s size chart. This presents you a visual base to work with since no real man has the time, nor patience to jump shop-to-shop squeezing into skinny jeans. Some experts believe choosing a pair with measurements don’t differ by more than an inch from yours will insure the best buy. But you see, here’s the thing. Not every retailer designs its denim to what most of us consider standard sizing.

Do Retailers Stay True To Size? 

The hottest pair of jeans can also be the most deceiving. What fits flawlessly on a sales associate or window mannequin might not compliment your physique, at all. Familiar with the phrase vanity sizing? Course not. This is a common practice amongst clothing retailers used to change clothing sizes from what’s normal to what’s ‘tailored for our body type.’ At least that’s what the brand sells buyers on. Numerous retailers are guilty of vanity sizing with no shame in its business game. Social shopping network Fitbay compiled data from 100,000 users that calls out fashion labels that run too small or too large amongst males and females. Check out the graph here. 

Denim Debutante might a good source for pairing popular denim manufacturers to their natural fit, though it’s based primarily on women’s jeans. Still, it could be worth looking at just to gain a sense of a brand’s reputation, which you can also investigate by searching through Reddit fashion forums for consumer feedback. You’ll learn more on what jeans are more forgiving than others based on the different types circulating the market.

Know Your Style 

No one said picking the best jeans for your body type was as simple as ordering takeout. Settling on a denim style is tough. It’s a game of trial and error, for you’ll find that not all men’s jeans are flattering—in fit or style. Recognize your body shape and choose a denim that works best with it. Begin by revisiting your current selection in the closest and try on every go-to pair to see which look best.

This can serve as a measuring stick for fashion newbies unsure of their personal taste. Simply put, you want denim that glides onto the body and makes it easy to move around. Something that offers comfort, performance, versatility, and obviously, aesthetic appeal. Check out some of the popular styles to consider when browsing through denim jeans categories.

— Skinny Jeans —

Best for: Slim and thin
What was originally condemned as the ‘rodeo cowboy look’ has transitioned into a modern fashion statement. Since designed to be worn bunched at the ankle, most skinny jeans for men come with slightly longer lengths than other cuts and make for the tightest fit. Look for options that grant some breathing room for it’ll showcase muscularity better. Rock them with trendy sneakers or vintage-styled pieces. 

— Bootcut —

Best for: Bulk and brawny
Garnering a more traditional cut, this type of denim sits comfortably below the waist and provides a looser fit in the leg. The enlarged hem is complimentary for muscular and tall guys as it provides balance for stretched bods. Bootcut jeans are also suitable for designer and work boots. Leaner men will enjoy the support in the rear, but can complete the look with bootcuts featuring rear-flap pockets, if details matter that much. 

— Straight Leg —

Best for: Ectomorph-mesomorph
Not too tall, nor too small, these are simple and classic jeans intended for casual wear or dressing up. Most designers construct straight leg jeans from hip to foot. Average-figured men will appreciate how this style of denim highlights their lower half. Slimmer crowds should go with a straight-leg, low-rise fit as it’ll conform to their hips and offer extra legroom. Any sort of footwear works here.

— Relaxed Fit —

Best for: Stocky specimens
The name implies all. A laid-back fit targeted for bulkier men, this denim style is cut fully to give hefty guys enough space for maneuverability. Think professional athletes and muscle heads. If you’re one looking to flaunt those strong glutes, chiseled waist, and huge ass, you’ll want to slip into a pair of these. Though be warned for wearing relaxed fit comes with red tape as some fashion houses can design its jeans too roomy. Opt for a more streamlined shoe like a pair of All-Star Modern Converses or desert boots to sharpen the look.

— Athletic Cut —

Best for: Athletic types
Pairing the legroom of a relaxed fit with the widened hem of a boot cut, this crossbreed denim comes tailor-made for the fit and ripped. The style is more hard to come by, but not impossible to track down. Keep in mind it’s also a great alternative for stocky men that features more shape and contours to their frame for adequate comfort. Sporty shoes compliment the style best.

Adjusting Jean Sizes

Perfection is an illusion. We say that because no piece of denim is made to precision. Could be in the threading. Could be in the rise, better known as the distance from the bottom of the crotch area all the way to the top. But even the most benighted fabric experts can discover unique ways of fitting jeans to their size whether off just a few centimeters or actual size. 

• Rock A Belt: Typical. Right? So why avoid the obvious. A well-tailored belt will adjust to the waistband of your jeans and wrap itself snugly around the body. Check out this collection of best belts for men available now.  
• The Hot Wash Technique: Throw them suckers into a hot wash cycle with no fabric softener or conditioner. Dry them on the hottest setting under the longest time set. Dry cleaning denim is another alternative that potentially works, along with starching and stretching the material several times to reduce the waist size. Just know this is only a temporary fix since the material will slip back to its original shape.
• Add An Elastic Band: Nothing you can’t learn from a DIY google search. Pick up a 5-inch piece of elastic band and cut it to 1-inch. Use a seam ripper to cut two slits into your jeans at 7-inches apart on the inside of the waistband. The back-belt loop can help you center these slits. Hook a safety pin to one of the elastics and insert it into one of the slits, moving both the pin and band through the waistband to where the end of the elastic is even with the first slit. Start sewing through the elastic and waistband to secure all in place. Do the same with the second slit and remove the pin from the elastic. 
• Fabric Softener: Apparently, dousing your denim jeans with this solution is effective and helps when the waistband begins to stretch out. Fabric softener shrinks the material and won’t affect dry areas. Spray it on the waistband and let it saturate on the fabric completely. This should make for a tighter fit.
• Alter The Seams: There are three standard seam allowances—¼”, 3/8”, and 5/8”—that you’ll find on a sewing machine. The standard is usually the later, but it doesn’t hurt to check for confirmation. Pin the top side of the waistband seam with the right sides together and fold the jeans out of the way to start stitching. YouTube personality Angela Kane offers a few video tutorials to brush up on your sewing skills.

The Denim Collective

There’s no shortage of options out there with over 100 denim jean distributers available online. This includes some of the industry’s top indie brands offering their collections on popular retailers such as ASOS, East Dane, Mr. Porter, Nordstrom, and Union Made just to name a few.

Yet not every fashion imprint can make a pair of denim that attractively molds itself to your anatomy, no matter its brand legacy. And this can be attributed to a variety of factors like construction, detailing, fabric, and precision fit. Cost can even play big a role in determining your purchases, for some brands might charge little enough to stock up for an entire season or ridiculously high to swallow an entire week’s earnings. No one said looking good came cheap.

Anyways, these are some of the big names in denim retail worth bookmarking that make shopping online super-conducive for your lifestyle, swagger, and of course, funds.

Trunk Club

3x1

Frank + Oak

Huckberry

Mott & Bow

East Dane

JackThreads

Kenneth Cole

Five Four Club 

Know The Return Policy

Today’s fashion brands preach good business practices. Which is why you’ll notice most provide free shipping and returns. Reason for that is they sympathize with the idea of certain denim styles not fitting to form. That and the fact they can make the occasional mistake of sending the wrong size, saving face in advance by packing each shipment with a pre-paid return label. Always look over the Terms of Service section, which details the brand’s exchange and return policies. 

The only rule to abide by is ensuring all returned items are unworn—no stains, rips, viable signs of usage, or alternations. Failure to comply might result in you being charged and keeping the order. Other times you might just be charged a restocking fee that’s often waived if an exchange is needed. Oh yea, knowing the maximum number of days you have to return the product helps too.

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