The Raw Truth About Denim

Few wardrobe staples are as versatile as a pair of raw denim jeans.  While raw denim looks dark and crispy when brand new, it molds to the wearer and develops unique patina and fades depending on how it's worn.  After breaking raw denim jeans in, they feel like a security blanket, something to wear that’s comforting and that might give off a stroke of good luck.

The resurgence of raw denim at the end of the last decade has been a welcome change from the distressed denim that dominated the market for 30 years beforehand.  Once upon a time, all denim was raw; jeans were more durable, and each wearer had to break in their own pair.  People, however, are impatient creatures, and when the 1960s rolled around factories were advanced enough to start pre-distressing jeans.  This eliminated the need to break in jeans, and they began coming with readymade rips and fades.  When the distressing looks the same on each pair, denim loses its soul and becomes freaky.  Besides, nothing screams fashion victim like wearing factory faded jeans.

I own two pairs of Baldwin jeans in their Henley fit.  Baldwin is based out of Kansas City and their jeans work well for guys who work out or have a bit of musculature.  Since I’m a runner, I have strong thighs; because of this, other brands of denim - from Levis to A.P.C. - fit funny on my build.  Baldwin’s Henley cut is slimming without constricting the wearer.  After wearing super-skinny Levis in high school, that’s a mistake I never want to make again.

One pair of my Baldwins is 2.5 years old and shows its age well.  Unfortunately, I once threw them in the dryer, so they’ve shrunk to a point where they’re a little tight on me.  The fades and patches on them have so much character, however, that I’ll suck up the trimmer fit and wear them on occasion.  My go-to pair (pictured) is 1.5 years old and is just beginning to break in.  Thankfully, they haven’t seen the washer as much as my older pair (and when they do, I line dry them) so they’ve retained more of their original dark blue hue.  They’re beginning to fade nicely, and in the next several years, they’ll achieve the faded blue that I want them to.

Jeans: Baldwin, Jacket: Baracuta, Shirt: GANT Rugger, Boots: Red Wing Heritage