Three questions before choosing your size
For men, the choice almost always comes down to three questions: how much width at the thigh, how much width at the ankle, and how much ease to move. The size comes after.
Denim has been our expertise since 1974, and it is probably the department where we answer the same question most often: which one do I take? The answer depends mostly on what you do with your days.
The fits we carry
Straight. The benchmark. Even width from thigh to ankle, enough ease for the day, enough body to stay sharp with a shirt. If you own only one pair of jeans, make it this one.
Slim. Closer to the body, tapered towards the ankle. It falls well over a low shoe and gives a cleaner silhouette. Some elastane makes a real difference to comfort. Check the composition on the product page.
Denim jogger. Softer waistband and cuff, the spirit of jeans with the comfort of loungewear. Practical for the road and for long days.
Choosing around your use
Office work or a sharp look: straight, dark and even wash, no heavy distressing.
Physical work or days on your feet: straight with some stretch, for ease when crouching.
Going out, a cleaner look: slim, medium or dark wash.
Travel, comfort first: jogger.
The wash matters as much as the fit
Dark, even denim goes everywhere, including places where jeans are barely tolerated. A light or distressed wash is more casual, perfect for the weekend, less so at the office. At equal fit, changing the wash completely changes the register.
Length: the most common mistake
Too long, and the jeans pile up on the shoe and break the line. Too short, and it reads as a costume. The right length leaves a slight break, no more. Measure your inseam once and write it down. It is the most useful number for ordering online.
Brands and sizes
We carry Pentagone, Levi's, Lois, Projek Raw and Guess among others. Sizes do not correspond perfectly from one brand to the next. Refer to the size chart rather than the label in an old pair. When in doubt, trying in store is still the fastest way to settle it, and we have 23 stores across Québec.
Start with the thigh, not the waist
For men, the sticking point is almost always the thigh. The waist can be handled with a belt, but a thigh that is too tight cannot be corrected.
If you are torn between two sizes, try crouching first. If the fabric pulls noticeably at the thigh, the fit is too tight, even if the waist seems right. It is the quickest test, and it is the one we have people do in the fitting room.
Build and fit
A few reference points, without treating them as absolute rules.
Fuller thighs: straight leaves ease at the thigh without looking wide at the bottom. It is generally the best starting point.
Leaner build: slim holds the line well, but straight also works and ages better.
Tall: length becomes the main criterion. Check the available inseam before the fit.
Shorter: a straight leg that is neither too wide nor too long lengthens the silhouette. Avoid excess fabric at the bottom.
Jeans at work
This is a question we get often in store. The answer rests on three things, and the fit is only the first.
Straight jeans, in dark and even denim, with no distressing or rips, pass in most environments where jeans are accepted. Add a shirt and a leather shoe, and the outfit becomes noticeably sharper.
What gives away jeans that are too casual is almost always the wash, not the fit. A heavy fade, distressing, or whiskered creases make the same fit far more informal.
For a stricter environment, black or very dark indigo denim is the safest option.
Caring for men's jeans
The principles are the same as for women's jeans, but one detail comes up often with men: washing too frequently.
Jeans worn for a day at the office generally do not need washing. Airing them out is often enough. Spacing out washes preserves the colour and the shape, and that is even truer for dark denim.
When you do wash them, cold water, inside out and gentle drying do most of the work. Follow the instructions on the product page, which take precedence over any general rule.
How many pairs do you need?
Two cover most needs. A dark pair, straight fit, that works from the office to a night out. A second more casual pair, in the wash and fit you like, for the weekend.
A third is justified if it answers a specific use: physical work, travel, or a fit you wear only on certain occasions.
Frequently asked questions
Which fit for fuller thighs? Straight, generally. It leaves ease at the thigh without looking wide at the bottom.
Is stretch less durable? Not necessarily. Follow the care instructions on the product page. Cold water and gentle drying preserve the shape.
What length should I order online? Measure the inseam of a pair that already fits you, laid flat, from the crotch seam to the hem.
Can you wear jeans at the office? In many environments, yes, provided you choose dark and even denim, in a straight fit, with no heavy distressing.
How often should jeans be washed? Less often than you think. Airing them out is enough after a normal day, and spacing out washes preserves the colour.
