by Kevin Bahler

Created on: August 07, 2008   Last Updated: August 13, 2008

For men, when it comes to jeans, the perfect pair isn't too far away. When it comes to style, there are two main options: snug and loose. More form-fitting jeans are a little dressier, great for an informal party or a casual date. Jeans that are looser or baggier will give you more range of motion and freedom. If you're going out to do chores or to play with your friends, these more comfortable jeans will serve you well.

Although jeans may all look alike, there is a large difference in quality. The original denim blue jeans were made to be used, not to be pretty. They were made for people to wear all day, every day, and to last forever. These days, I go to the store and find new pants that wouldn't last more than 20 washes. Even if you are buying jeans because they look good, there is no reason not to buy pants that will last.

Get your hands dirty. Go into a store and start feeling the jeans. Feel the pant legs between your thumb and index finger and rub them. Do they feel like denim or do they feel like tissue paper? Go for the pants that feel like they'll last forever.

Avoid the cheap places. In general, you really do get what you pay for. Some of the cheap stores like Wal-Mart or Target may sell you pants cheaper, but they may not last as long as you would hope. This wasn't always the case, though. I used to get jeans from Wal-Mart that lasted years and years. Now they last about 9 months. However, just because pants are expensive doesn't make them good either. I have never found a $200 pair of jeans that was worth $200.

Go where other people won't go. What I mean is to go check out the thrift stores. Salvation Army, Good Will, and any other local thrift stores will have more clothes than you could imagine. The perfect pair of jeans could be right there. The legs may be six inches too long, but a brand new pair of tough jeans for $6 that you take to a seamstress for hemming will still cost less than anywhere else and be just what you're looking for.

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