Your Complete Guide to Jean Color

Every color you need to be wearing

Written by Salvatore Marashi

Every guy owns a pair of jeans. They’re reliable, easy, and (usually) just look damn good. From time to time you might find yourself stuck in the same style rut. That trusty pair of go-to jeans are great but you shouldn’t be wearing them every day. Fret not, we have the solution. Changing up your jean color is the perfect answer for breathing life back into your wardrobe. So here’s your guide to every jean color.

Beyond the Blue Jean

So those jeans we were talking about earlier, yeah the pair you wear religiously, they’re blue jeans, right? I’m sensing a mid-wash, somewhere between light and dark. That go-to example of what a pair of jeans should look like. Great! Those jeans are good but let’s expand your horizons.

Light and dark wash jeans are excellent starting choices. They’re still classic looks and will fit with pretty much anything in your wardrobe.

Light Wash: The Easiest Way to Change Your Jean Color

Light wash

Light wash jeans nail summer style. They pair well with both lights and darks, letting you look weather appropriate no matter if your wearing winter holdovers like black or navy.

Look Damn Good in Dark Wash

Dark Wash

Dark wash jeans function much the same way. When paired with lighter colors, they keep you from veering too casual. With dark tops, they create a streamlined look that has the added benefit of being slimming.

Together, these should be mandatory for your jean collection.

Seriously Cool Black Jeans

While blue jeans are cool and all, there’s something badass about a pair of black jeans. They have just the right amount of effortless style without venturing too far into the black leather pants category of a heavy-metal guitarist.

Literally, pair them with anything and they’re going to work.

White Jeans: The Jean Color You Didn’t Realize You Needed

White jeans may seem daunting and well they kinda are. However, when done right, white jeans can show off some serious sartorial skills.

For white jeans, you’ll probably have to try on lots of pairs. The wrong one and you’ll look more like your wearing a pair of painters pants than getting ready to relax on your private beach. Additionally, stick to slimmer styles. Anything baggy and you’ll be invoking 90’s R&B vibes (if that’s what you’re going for then, by all means, ignore all of our fashion advice). Keep it simple and form-fitting. The reward will be worth the effort.

Tan Jeans: No Longer Just For Workwear 

Tan jeans are criminally underrated. They give your look serious style points without some of the risks that come with white jeans. This is especially true in the summer when wearing black jeans in the blazing sun is a form of torture.

Pair them with pastels or dark colors to play up the contrast.

Military Vibes With Olive Jeans

There’s a reason the military chooses olive. Besides the functionality, it looks damn good. Olive jeans capitalize on that timeless style. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other shades of green such as emerald or forest.

Unfortunately, olive doesn’t look good with everything. Gravitate towards solids like whites, blacks, and navies.

Maroon Jeans: The Adventurous Jean Color

For guys with balls of steel, maroon jeans might just be your next move. I won’t lie that maroon jeans are tough to style. However, the right shade of not-too-bright maroon is understated enough but will still get you noticed for all the right reasons.

Take extra care to craft an outfit that’ll work with these jeans. If you pull them off, then you have our eternal respect.

Jeans epitomize men’s style more than any other item in your wardrobe. With the responsibility of everyday wear, it’s time to elevate jeans out of the style vacuum they’ve been relegated to.

What jean colors do you love? Let us know below.

Photo of Salvatore Marashi

Salvatore Marashi

SOURCE: THE GENTLEMANUAL