21 Best Men’s Jeans: Skinny, Slim or Relaxed Fit

The ZLZs are 70 percent cotton, 28 percent poly and two percent Spandex, so there is plenty of comfort stretchability built into the denim. This maker modulates the leg opening (as well as the thigh) depending on waist size. For example, a 31 waist has a 12.2″ leg opening while a 36 waist has a 13.5″ leg opening. The price is very affordable and, as one reviewer (who gave them 5 stars) says, “For a sub-$30 pair of jeans, I’m actually quite surprised at the quality.” Color is navy blue (dark) and the instructions say to machine wash cold with like colors. Zipper/button closure.

Naked & Famous puts a great deal of emphasis on the type of denim they use, and this pair of skinny jeans is a great example of that. The denim is Selvedge denim made in Japan using vintage low speed looms. It ends up producing a fabric that feels hand woven. The Super Skinny Guy cut is, according to Naked & Famous, a “tapered version of our classic Skinny Guy fit, fitted from the waist to thigh and tapered from the knee to hem to a super slim leg opening.” The jeans are 100 percent cotton with a five-pocket construction and a contrasting stripe on the coin pocket. Back pockets are plain.

A dark blue wash pair of men’s jeans is an excellent buy because it can be dressed up and it can be dressed down. You can even wear a vest and coat from a casual suit with these jeans. Levi’s 510s are one of the skinniest jeans made by Levi’s. The leg opening is a very slender 13″ and the fit from waist to hem is all skinny all the time. A great aspect of these jeans is that they’re made with 99 percent cotton and one percent Elastane, so they do have some comfort stretch capability. The 510s come in many other colors (a total of 17 available) and denim weights, so check the fine print here to see the differences in the amount of Elastane, etc., that is in the different types of denim.

If you’re looking to move from a relaxed fit to a slim fit, these might be the place to start. Reason? They’re very stretchy, yet they have that definitive slim fit look. Joe’s Jeans are 75 percent cotton, 16 percent poly, six percent Lycra Spandex and three percent Elastane. (It’s the Spandex and Elastane that provide the stretch.) These jeans are called “Griffith” color, but we’re just saying they’re black. You can get this style of Joe’s Jeans in nine different colors (as of this writing). According to Joe’s, their slim fits were “created for the man looking for something slightly narrower but not quite a skinny fit.” These have a 14.5″ leg opening,

We’re including this pair for three primary reasons: it gets outstanding reviews from customers; the price can’t be beaten; it’s an Amazon’s Choice product. The Urban K Skinny Jeans have plenty of stretch in them since they’re 97 percent cotton and three percent Spandex. Says one reviewer: “If you’re looking for quality skinny jeans, I certainly recommend these.”  There are 21 different colors available.

This pair is from the L.A. based company headed by Paige Adams-Geller (a former Miss California) and they partner only with “the best wash-houses in the country,” according to their company bio. The Lennox fit is “a modern skinny fit” and the rise is medium, so it sits just below the waist. Paige describes these skinny jeans as “slim through the hip, down the leg and finished with a narrow opening just above the shoe.” The color is “Black Shadow” and the pants are 54 percent Rayon, 23 percent cotton, 22 percent poly and one percent Spandex, so there is some stretch.

Legendary denim brand Levi’s calls this pair of men’s jeans “the ultimate skinny fit for men.” The 510s are, in fact, one of the skinniest cuts that Levi’s makes. This pair has a low rise (sits below the waist) and is skinny from hip to ankle. The leg openings are 13″ and the fit is skinny through the seat and the thigh. For comfort, the 510s are stretchable, with a 98 percent cotton, two percent Elastane makeup. These would look fantastic with a clean pair of white sneakers and any shirt.

These jeans feature a zip fly with button closure and the traditional Levi’s five-pocket styling with the arcuate stitching on the back pockets. Color on this pair is called “Jet” but we’re being old fashioned and calling it “black.” The 510s also give you tons of flexibility: they come in 14 different colors and denim weights. For more details on understanding Levi’s fit and denim, check out this page on their website.

These are some primo jeans. A couple of things to consider. They don’t taper from the knee down (like skinny jeans or like non-straight-cut slim fits) but they are a slim fit, meaning there is a bit less fabric for a bit more contoured fit. This pair is 98 percent cotton, two percent Elastane, so there is the stretch in the denim. The leg opening on these jeans is 15.5″. They’re five-pocket style with the signature Calvin Klein omega stitch on the back pocket. There are a ton of colors available (35), but these Osaka Blue joints will work very well for the dress up or the dress down. Calvin Klein says these compare well to Levi’s 513s, which are Levi’s “slim straight” jeans.

This pair of skinnies from GUESS Factory is a classic skinny jean which is the perfect pairing with your best pair of sneakers or your best boots. They’re a dark indigo wash that has been faded just enough to give them a lived-in look, but they’re not so “customized” that they can’t be worn dressy. To put that another way, these work for business casual and they work for regular casual. The rise on these babies is medium, so for those of you who are used to a true waist, they might not work perfectly. For guys who have already gone a bit lower with where the waist rides, they’ll be very familiar. The leg opening is 14″ and they’ve got five-pocket construction with a zip fly and button closure.

 7 For All Mankind’s “Slimmy” is a slim fit pant that is slim from “hip to hem,” according to Seven. The leg opening on this pair is 15″ so it’s going to have the appearance that’s closer to skinny jeans than relaxed fit jeans. As for comfort, these will be comfy because they’re 98 percent cotton and two percent Spandex (meaning the pants feature the stretchability factor).

These Tommys are “Mid Comfort” color but, again, we’ll be old school and call them a blue wash. While these aren’t the dark blue versions, we do think they are fully suitable for a little bit dressier get up (the shoes have a lot to do with this, as well as the top) or a little bit more casual. The Scantons are 98 percent cotton, two percent Elastane, so they’ve got the stretch in ’em. They do taper from the knee to the hem and the leg opening is 14.25″. These come in 23 different colors. If you’re interested in something with a weathered blue jean look, the Tommy Hilfiger Original Ronnie Athletic Fit Jean might be your gig.

We’re starting our Men’s Best Black Slim Fit Jeans section with a pair that is extremely popular.  According to Levi’s, the 511s are “a great alternative to the skinny jean — you’ll get the same lean look with added comfort.” That’s pretty much describing the difference between any slim fits and skinny jeans so, duh, Levi’s. But we do want to thank Levi’s for a fashion tip: “For a laid-back daytime look, try a slightly scrunched leg and sneakers. Once night rolls around, try a 2-inch cuff with a Chelsea boot.” The jeans are 99 percent cotton and one percent Elastane so they do have some stretch and, therefore, comfort. They do have a medium rise, meaning they sit just below the waist and they are slim cut from hip to ankle. The leg opening is 14.5″ and they’re zip fly/button closure. There are so many colors available in this style…we lost count. Okay, there are 38 (as of this writing).

Diesel gives its jeans some odd names and the Sleenker’s no exception. It’s also a KA, rock-solid pair of black slim fits. The color is an “uninterrupted wash,” meaning that there aren’t any irregularities. They’re 98 percent cotton, two percent Elastane, so it has some stretch. Five-pocket styling and tonal stitching. Zipper fly with button closure. You do have to hand wash this pair but they’re worth it.

As we said in the intro, there are differences in the fit of men’s jeans from manufacturer to manufacturer. This is a great case in point. Wrangler’s Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean aren’t quite as “slim” as other slim fit cuts. However, they do have a slim seat, thigh and knee and this pair does feature a straight leg opening. A significant difference between the Wranglers and the other brands in our Slim Fit section is the fact that these feature a high rise, meaning the waist will be “normal” (not low) and just under the belly button. These are “Shadow Black” but they come in 24 different colors (as of this writing). They feature Wrangler’s 5-pocket styling with the “W” stitch on the back pocket.

7 For All Mankind had a big impact on the luxury denim industry when the company was formed in 2000. The name refers to the fact that they think everyone should own seven pairs of their jeans. While that would be nice, we realize it would also take some time to build that kinda wardrobe (ka-ching!). So it’s fitting that you’re looking at this par of Austyn Relaxed Straight-Leg Jeans because you’re the kinda guy who wants to relax! These jeans are 98 percent cotton and two percent Spandex, so they’ve got comfortable stretchability. The jeans are a straight leg, so there isn’t a taper to the leg opening, which is 17.5″ They’re roomier through the hip and thigh. The Austyn’s have slight “whiskering” and fading through the thighs and feature some distressed appearance at the pocket and hem. Button closure and zip fly. They’re shown in “Los Angeles Dark” color, but they’re available in six different colors.

Silver Jeans Co. says it “handcrafts” its jeans with an emphasis toward “superior softness, stretch, and mobility.” The Zac cut is a relaxed fit that features straight legs (there is no tapering from the knee to the hem). It has a medium rise, so the pants sit just below the waist. The denim color is “Medium Indigo” and it has a bit of distressed, worn-in look to it, but not too much. Silver says these jeans are best for “athletic or medium builds.” The back pockets are embroidered with Silver Jeans Co.’s signature S-scroll stitching. As of this writing, they’re available in 20 different colors.