I've dedicated much of my life to the search for the perfect pair of jeans . They're the backbone of any great wardrobe , so it's worth the hunt. I've spent seasons breaking in a single pair of raw selvedge denim from boutique labels, stocked up on mall-brands, scoured the internet for vintage gems , and experimented with every fit imaginable . Don't get me wrong, I still have a few nicely broken-in pairs of fancy raw denim I cherish, but when push comes to shove, the jeans I return to most, much like my Esquire editors, are the ones I bought for next to nothing. I've worn through more Wrangler Cowboy Cut jeans than I can count, and nothing beats a pair of vintage Levi's 501s —many of which you can still find for under $50 if you're willing to do a little digging.

In 2025, t

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