The Best Slim Jeans for Men Are Immortal

The denim pendulum is in a constant state of flux, but right now, it’s swinging towards the best slim jeans for men. For the last few years, menswear fans have relished the extra legroom afforded them to by jeans of positively Bieberian proportion, which, hey, nobody’s knocking. (To be abundantly clear, nobody’s advocating for a return to skinny jeans, either.) But in 2024, slim jeans—those figure-lengthening, butt-lifting, clean-lined American classics—sure seem posed for a dramatic return to form.

To help you arrive at the party on time, let’s define your two routes there. Slim-straight jeans are streamlined through the thigh and knee, with a consistent leg opening down to the ankle, creating a clean silhouette that avoids hugging the leg. Slim-taper jeans are tailored through the thigh and knee but taper significantly from the knee to the ankle.

Finding the best slim-fit jeans for you is all about personal preference, though given that old standbys like Levi’s and Wrangler offer great options that don’t break the bank, your search really can start and end with one of their models. That said, plenty of capital-D Designers make a beautiful pair, too—ditto the small-batch denim specialists we know and love—and every single pair worth your time is immediately below.

The Best Men’s Slim Jeans, According to GQ

Best Slim Jeans Overall: Levi’s 511 Slim-Fit Jeans

Levi’s

511 Slim-Fit Jeans

Pros

Unimpeachable pedigree
Reliably available in a range of washes
Genre-defining slim-but-not-skinny silhouette

Cons

Fellas, we’re going to be honest here: we could really live without the added stretch

It’s tough to move away from the tried-and-true 501s and 505s, but that’s exactly what many people did when Levi’s dropped the 511s in the early aughts. The 511s offer a slim fit that’s sharp but not overly tight, giving you a trim look without the painted-on effect of skinny jeans. Plus, a touch of added stretch assures you can move freely without feeling restricted. This light-wash pair arrives with a a broken-in feel, sparing you the rigor of breaking in raw denim.

Best Budget Slim Jeans: Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim-Fit Jeans

Wrangler

Cowboy Cut Slim-Fit Jeans

Pros

Who doesn’t want to look like a cowboy?
Reliably available in a range of washes
Almost always on sale

Cons

Cut a bit slimmer than some of our other winners
If you’re a thick-thigh’d guy, you might want to look elsewhere
Looks killer with boots, less so with sneakers

We love the Cowboy Cut. Designed with rodeo cowboys in mind, Wrangler’s iconic, affordable slim-fit has since become a symbol of heartland American style, worn by iconic countryman George Strait, and even Patrick Swayze in Road House. With a high rise that keeps your shirt securely tucked, and a secure fit through the seat and thigh, their light-flare, boot-friendly design ensures they’ll also fall perfectly around your ankles, even when you’re sporting the highest of roper boots.

Best Budget Slim Selvedge Jeans: Uniqlo Stretch Selvedge Slim-Fit Jeans

Uniqlo

Stretch Selvedge Slim-Fit Jeans

Pros

Selvedge rarely comes this cheap
Ample room to maneuver
Two inseam length options to dial-in your fit

Cons

The leg opening is a bit narrower than we’d like
This selvedge won’t fade as elegantly as pricier alternatives

Leave it to the ‘Qlo to serve up a comfortable yet stylish pair of selvedge jeans for under $50. Unlike the slightly-flaring Wranglers, the fit of these is a true slim straight, perfect for pairing with a wide range of footwear, from Chelsea boots to loafers to sneakers. (They’re also one of the more sustainable options available here, thanks to Uniqlo’s innovative ‘BlueCycle’ Jean technology, which drastically reduces the amount of water needed to produce jeans.) And if the affordability and sustainability aren’t enough to sway you, the retailer sweetens the deal with its online inseam alteration service. Choose a cutoff or visible hem and pay nothing, or opt for a professional chain stitch for just $5.

Best Upgrade Slim Jeans: A.P.C. Petit Standard Jeans

A.P.C.

Petit Standard Jeans

Pros

Unimpeachable pedigree
Premium Japanese selvedge
The 2% of stretch will stay our little secret

Cons

Substantially less stiff than comparable selvedge alternatives
Sizing can be a puzzle
Shorts kings beware: these run long

A.P.C.’s Petit Standard slim jean has enjoyed a cult following for years. The 12.75 oz. Japanese selvedge denim fades exquisitely, the tan contrast stitching indicates that you didn’t just pull these off a department store shelf, and the extra length at the bottom allows you to stack, roll, or hem equally—whatever look you prefer. Plus, A.P.C tries to make everything, like, 5% better season after season, and the latest version of the Petit Standard has been upgraded with 2% stretch for instant comfort.

Best Slim Jeans for Denimheads: Orslow 107 Slim-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans

Orslow

107 Slim-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans

Pros

Perfectly dialed silhouette and rinse
Soft, lived-in feel atypical to selvedge
Premium Japanese denim

Cons

Limited inventory
Sizing can be a puzzle

Named after the slim denim that’s a hallmark of Ivy style, Orslow’s 107 Ivy denim elevates the humble jean to a meticulously crafted art form. Drawing on founder Ichiro Nakatsu’s personal archive of vintage jeans, these do more than just nod to the past—they represent a deep respect for denim’s rich history, down to the vintage sewing machines they’re made on. The two-year wash process has been thoughtfully designed to replicate the soft, broken-in feel of denim that’s been worn for years, yet still allows for the development of a unique patina over time. Even the minor details of the 107 are callbacks to traditional denim manufacturing, down to the oxidized rivets and contrast topstitching.

Best Slim Jeans for Rock Gods: Celine Lou Jeans

Celine

Lou Jeans

Pros

Premium Japanese denim
As close as we’ll get to recommending skinny jeans, because, y’know, Hedi Slimane
The sudden ability to record a Billboard-topping album while broken-hearted, disheveled, and likely hungover

Cons

We double-checked the price—they’re still $1,000

Wherever fashion designer Hedi Slimane has taken the helm, his signature slim silhouettes have followed. So it tracks that the slim jeans from Celine, his current home, are excellent. They’ll set you back of course, but unlike many designer interpretations (*cough, sneakers, cough*), Celine’s denim follows all the rules: The pre-washed “black ice” rinse is made in Japan from 100% cotton, with a slim fit, low rise, and charmingly blank leather waistband patch. If you want to go designer for your slim-fits, it makes sense to choose a designer who’s stayed so loyal to the style.

More Slim Jeans We Love

3sixteen CT⁠-⁠101xs Classic Tapered Jeans

3sixteen

CT⁠-⁠101xs Classic Tapered Jeans

3sixteen’s 16-year obsession with denim is well documented, but you really feel it when you try one of their pairs on. These, their best-selling CT (custom-tapered) jeans feature a high rise and spacious top block with a slight taper from the knee down, for a fit that’s trim but never restrictive. Made in the USA but woven on the historic Kuroki denim mills in Okayama, Japan, these have also been stonewashed for a visually softer, more characterful look.

Todd Snyder Slim Selvedge Jeans

Todd Snyder

Slim Selvedge Jeans

Never content to only curate the most elegant accessories, blazers, and shoes, Todd Snyder also produces a slim-fit, taper-free selvedge jean that’s much less scratchy than your typical selvedge, and chock-full of heritage details like a shank button fly, oxidized rivets, and of course the signature red selvedge ticking that peeks out when you cuff the hems.

Kapital Slim-Fit Crochet-Trimmed Jeans

Kapital

Slim-Fit Crochet-Trimmed Jeans

When Japan’s denim genre-benders Kapital turn their attention to a category, it typically becomes the most visually interesting one in its class. These slim-fit jeans are no different: Drawing inspiration from Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, they’re decorated with crocheted skeleton bones over exactly where your own leg bones are, some classic Kapital dark humor. But the thoughtful fit is classic Kapital, too: the slim fit is a little relaxed in the top block for added comfort, and an adjustable tab at the back allows for an even more customizable fit, making sure you’ll be comfortable while having the conversations these will start.

Rick Owens Detroit Cut Jeans

Rick Owens

Detroit Cut Jeans

Want to go designer, but without the Celine pair’s faded wash? Let Rick Owens’s true black Detroit Cut slim jean be your solution—and enjoy the symmetry of the six-pocket design where most denim only has five.

Sugar Cane Slim Tapered Jeans

Sugar Cane

Slim Tapered Jeans

Much like Orslow, Sugar Cane is one of the few dedicated Japanese denim manufacturers keeping historic American denim production methods alive. Their 14.25 oz. denim is a robust fabric that draws inspiration from the iconic Levi’s 1947 fit but with a modern twist—offering a slimmer, tapered silhouette. And because they’re pre-washed, they won’t shrink, meaning as long as they fit right when you get them they’ll fit right forever.

Madewell Slim Jeans

Madewell

Slim Jeans

Madewell is once again worth weaving through mall perfume sprayers and cinnamon pretzel smells to find, in large part down to their men’s denim program, which has really locked in in recent years. This beautifully light-washed pair is slim throughout, and made from a cotton/hemp stretch blend for all-day comfort.

RRL Slim-Fit Selvedge Jeans

RRL

Slim-Fit Selvedge Jeans

While you may never receive an invitation to Ralph Lauren’s exclusive RRL ranch, you can always wear what they rock there by shopping the line. RRL’s slim-fit selvedge denim looks so good because it’s woven on classic Draper shuttle looms from the 1940s, and it falls so nicely because of the hefty weight of the 16 oz. fabric. The quality, as with all things RRL, is first class, and includes featuring a chain-stitched waistband with inserted belt loops for added durability—a nod to traditional jean tailoring.

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