Demin

So you’re considering going selvedge? Here are five points to remember when searching for the perfect pair of selvedge denim.

1. Raw verses selvedge Contrary to popular belief, raw denim and selvedge are not interchangeable words. Selvedge is denim that has been woven on shuttle looms, this creates a tightly woven band running up the fabric’s edge – preventing it from fraying. Raw, is any fabric that hasn’t been distressed, washed, rinsed, or otherwise treated to make it feel soft or look artificially aged. Although most selvedge jeans are sold raw, not all of them are.

2. Go snug, not sag Selvedge will contour to your body over time. Let it work its magic by starting snug – leave just enough room to fit your pointer finger between your body and pant. Soon they will fit like a glove, and you’ll be quite comfortable.

3. Denim weight for winter and summer Denim is measured in ounces per yard, and can range from as light as eight ounces to as heavy as 32. Lightweight jeans are more comfortable during the summer, but heavier ones can last longer and give you sharper contrast fades. Midweight will get you where you want to be.

4. Show some cuff When wearing a suit, it’s great to show cuff, especially if you’re sporting a monogram or a nice pair of cufflinks. Denim is no different. Cuffing allows you to show the jeans’ distinctive line of selvedge — the pop of textured fabric can add a little extra contrast to your look. When rolling, have the cuff end just above your ankles.

5. Wash rarely, if at all You may lose the unique indigo dye when you wash. Some experts say, you should never wash, but that’s not always practical. If you’re going to wash, turn them inside out and only use cold water.

There have been some style greats that have rocked the denim shirt. Don’t fear it. Denim shirts go great with:

1) Khakis

2) Boots

3) Contrasting color denim jeans or chinos (white or black denim)

Bob sported the denim shirt on many occasions.

Jeans fade, thus it’s not a wise idea to try and match a denim shirt specifically with the same shade of denim jeans. The jeans will likely fade faster. So you might as well pair it up with non-denim items. Those are just a few tips for how to wear a denim shirt for guys.

This is the first in a series of featured brand bio for RYE 51’s blog, The Distillery. We’d like to highlight curated brands and designers we carry so you can easily see why we have included these brands in our selection, and what makes them extraordinary. Our first featured brand bio is J Brand. J Brand is a popular Los Angeles-based denim company. The company was co-founded by Jeff Rüdes in 2004, an entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in the fashion industry. Rüdes and his other co-founders created J Brand on the premise of “creating a perfect fitting pair of denim with a classic, sophisticated, and timeless look.”  J Brand creates jeans for men and women, and are often referred to as J Brand Jeans, even though their official name does not include the word “jeans.”

J Brand Arrives on the Scene

J Brand officially launched at the Ron Herman Melrose Denim Bar in L.A. in 2005. Now they distribute their denim to premium specialty stores and luxury retailers, like RYE 51, around the the US and 25 countries worldwide. Their most famous skinny is the Houlihan Cargo Pant, named for the M*A*S*H character Hot Lips Houlihan and originally perceived as a novelty item. The novelty item ended up being a revolutionary piece as Frank Doroff, Vice Chairman of Bloomingdales department stores explained it was their “best selling pant.”

Although J Brand got their start with women’s denim, in fall 2008, a men’s line was introduced embodying modern classics with a masculine sensibility. In spring 2012, J Brand introduced a ready-to-wear collection designed to pair back to denim with luxurious contrasting fabrics while continuing the simplistic attention to detail and sensibility of the brand. J Brand continues to be an industry leader in the fashion world. The breadth of the brand includes past collaborations with such designers as: Proenza Schouler, Christopher Kane and Simone Rocha.

In 2010, J Brand collaborated with Kane, Erdem, Kirchoff, Meadham and Nicoll to launch 5 x 5, and allowed each designer to create their vision of J Brand.

They also worked with Creative Director Karl Templar and photographer Craig McDean for their 2012 – 2013 ad campaigns, and are always innovating.

Popular J Brand Jean Fabric & Fits for Men

Fabrics J Brand uses for men include: denim, stretch denim, twill, and raw. The fits J Brand has include straight (Kane), slim (Tyler), skinny (Mick), and relaxed (Cole).  You can order J Brand online at RY51.com, or pick up at pair at one of our physical stores. Keep up with the latest line and seasonal releases for J Brand on their websiteand social profiles: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.