The New Rule For Men’s Denim? The Weirder, The Better

Those raw, indigo jeans that dominated the denim discourse for decades are so last season - it’s time to add a bit more oomph to your denim game.

Over the years, designer labels and brands took the cuts and washes to illogical extremes, and the denim inventory got as infinite as the internet itself. Today, fashion-forward men are levelling up their wardrobe with a new crop of reimagined jeans that have never been more varied: bigger, baggier, cropped, wide, straight, kick-flared, light, dark, deconstructed, embellished, with bold graphic prints, and in many ways, unconventional—than ever.

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Across the board, men’s fashion runways are traveling back in time for 2025, with their repertoire including every permutation of jeans imaginable. Y2K-inspired, low-rise silhouettes reigned supreme (hello, bootcut jeans—perhaps, a by product of Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl appearance) at Paradis and special attention was paid to the hem that was souped up with cleverly stacked waistbands. Metal ornaments and thin belts with chains decorated the sides of Amiri’s retro blue jeans. Acne Studios' photo-realistic trompe l'oeil denim looked more deceased than distressed. Elsewhere, ribbon-like adornments of retro prints were a recurring theme in Alessandro Michele’s debut collection of straight-leg denim for Valentino.

It’s official: statement denim is trending among menswear consumers who are pushing the boundaries of traditional jeans wear into the category of wearable art and embracing bolder fashion choices for everything, be it dressing for a relaxed work environment, a weekend getaway, and beyond. Perhaps you’re partial to a slouchy, wide-leg look or have yet to say goodbye to those skinny jeans of yore (hey, no judgment here). Trust us, regardless of your tried-and-true fit, there’s no better time than the present to add some funked-up denim to your rotation.

Lived-in Jeans

Consider how your fit would look after a scuffle in the streets—that's apparently the vibe for the season, according to brands like Acne Studios, Egonlab, or Diesel. From subtle fading to dramatic rips and tears, these jeans lend a gently aggro edge to the otherwise elegant affair. Worn-in or worn-out? Choose your fighter.

All Patched Up

This trend is definitely a step above the rest. Dive headfirst into the style via designers like Kartik Research and Junya Watanabe, who are on a quest to showcase the punkier extremes of formal wear, presenting several versions of patchwork denim. On the other hand, Isabel Marant added subtle patches to straight-leg jeans, making a strong case for DIY appliqué.

Reaching for the Extremes

When we talk about experimental washes, extreme is the only way to go. Acne Studios Trompe l’oeil jeans make a return, featuring a myriad of gradient finishes, distresses, and snake imprints. The denim feels almost alien, as if from another planet. On the other end of the spectrum, Jeanne Friot opted for bleached seams to reveal an outlined effect while dip-dyed grey denim was crafted with asymmetrical seams for the classic Feng Chen Wang look.

Stack It Up

The "weird jean" trend has officially followed us into 2025 (even though it probably shouldn’t have). Designer brands are releasing a pair of jeans that have not only one but multiple waistbands (for no reason whatsoever). In an iconic, fantastically Parisian space—A$AP Rocky’s creative agency Awge, for example, cinched up the much-loved ’90s straight-leg denim at the hem featuring layered waistbands for its recent runway debut.

All That Jazz

Jeans are anything but basic, especially when covered in embellishments. Seen on the Spring/Summer 2025 runways of Dsquared2, Amiri, Lemaire Bluemarble, Emporio Armani, etc., this trend reveals signs of decorated denim ahead. Think sparkling sequins, metal ornaments, intricate embroidery, and bold appliqués that scream drama. Men take note—sometimes more is more.

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Blown out of Proportion

Picking up where 2024 left off, voluminous denim is set to make an even bigger splash this year. Runway collections at Namesake, Sacai, and Juunj moved away from high-rise, snug fits toward slouchier, low-slung shapes that felt effortlessly cool and unbothered while designers like JW Anderson, Loewe, and Maison Mihara Yasuhiro enhanced loose fits with moto stitching, twisted seams, panelling, and other details that pushed the bottoms beyond basics.

A Stamp of Approval

These splurge-worthy jeans are at the top of my wish list. Take a classic wardrobe basic, add a little personality to it, and let your denim do all the talking. Spotted on recent men’s runways, Dhruv Kapoor printed his denim jackets and jeans with red bunnies. Elsewhere, French-Canadian label Paradis used its signature bird motif throughout the range, while an illustration of a vintage Y2K flip phone commanded the bottoms.