Light Denim for Spring
Four comfortable variations on jeans for the warmer months
The world of denim is a wide one to say the least. With roots in workwear, the fabric staple has become a casual (and more recently) everyday wardrobe standby. The myriad types of denim, along with the range of cuts and colors is a continual source of fascination in the fashion community the world over. Raw indigo denim will always have its place in our wardrobes and a solid pair of black jeans is a sound sartorial investment for anyone. But, as the weather slowly begins warming up, we’re gravitating toward lighter washes. Denim-makers have paid special attention to the more washed look this season, imparting the same attention to detail and quality with the materials and construction found in the raw, heavyweight jeans we’ve come to live in. We scoured this season’s offerings, seeking a range of price points, fits and color variations for spring.
Levi’s 501 CT in Shordich
The 501 is a garment that truly needs no introduction. Launched in 1873, the button-fly 501 has been tweaked—albeit moderately—over time to suit the needs of its contemporary wearers. The 501 CT marks the latest of such design iterations. With a slightly more tapered leg opening and looser fit through the thigh and hip, the CT can be worn in a variety of ways depending on sizing—where sizing down offers a streamlined fit, sizing up gives a loose yet put together feel and true to size gives a classic straight fit. The 501 CT in Shordich ($78) brings a light distressing and decidedly casual, classic look and feel.
Carhartt WIP Fulton Pant in Blast Wash
The streetwear counterpart to the Dearborn, Michigan heritage workwear brand, Carhartt Work in Progress continues to expand its reach from Europe and Asia into North America. Its hardworking roots are evident in the contemporary collection, with special attention paid to both durability and function. The Fulton Pant in Blast Wash ($138) come equipped with strategically placed bar tack stitching at stress points to ensure long-lasting wear—whether you’re skateboarding, chopping wood or catching rays. Size them down to channel ’90s Seinfeld or go true to size for a relaxed, breezy fit.
Nudie Jeans Tight Long John in Saltwater Indigo
Gothenburg, Sweden’s Nudie Jeans made a name for themselves as one of the key players in the initial wave of enthusiasm that surrounded specialty denim. Though the brand still offers its collection of raw indigo-dyed denim (that’s one of the most environmentally friendly on the market) it has expanded its repertoire to include a wide range of washes, as well as a full ready-to-wear collection. The Tight Long John in Saltwater Indigo ($199) was inspired by California beaches in the ’90s and features a saltwater rinse for added effect. With it’s carefully treated, ultra soft 11 oz organic denim, this is the perfect jean to throw on after a day of sun and surf.
3×1 M5 Lorimer
The denim specialists at NYC-based 3×1 have won the hearts of denim-heads around the world with their bespoke program that offers full-on custom jeans to suit the needs of individual customers. If one-off jeans aren’t in the cards, their line of ready-to-wear denim is equally enviable with scrupulous attention to detail and passion in every stitch. The low-rise slim M5 Lorimer adds 2% of Lycra stretch to a 12 oz Japanese selvedge that comes from one of the world’s most renowned mills in Kurabo. Comfortable but trim enough to dress up, expect the M5 to stay in heavy rotation for years to come.
Images courtesy of respective brands
