Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Whether you like to cuff your jeans, stack them, or hem them to a no-break length, you can’t go wrong with a pair of heavily tapered selvedge. There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for a new pair of raws, which is why we’ve compiled a list of tapered selvedge jeans that will hopefully contain something for everybody.
1) Benzak Denim Developers: BDDXDR-711
The Dutch Benzak Denim Developers make some great jeans, and their BDDXDR-711 tapered fit exemplifies that wonderfully. Made in Japan from a 16oz. Japanese selvedge denim, these jeans feature chambray pocket bags, hidden back pocket rivets, and constructed with seven different types of thread.
Available for $305 from Division Road.
2) Tellason Stock: Slim Tapered Jean
If you’re just starting out, there are few better options than Tellason’s Stock line. Their stock jeans are made in the same San Francisco facility as their mainline but retail for less than half the cost. Using a 14oz. non-selvedge Cone Mills denim, the Slim Tapered fit is analogous to their Ladbroke Grove, which was inspired by the countercultural fits of 1960s London.
Available for $120 at Tellason.
3) Japan Blue: JB0304Z-J
If you want a pair of Japanese selvedge with a tapered leg and don’t want to spend a boatload, then Japan Blue and their JB0304Z-J is the obvious choice. These jeans are made from 12.5oz. denim with tonal stitching, and feature a slim leg and heavy taper. The yarn is rope-dyed to give a deep indigo hue that fades beautifully with wear.
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Available for $128 from Denimio.
4) Iron Heart: IH-777S-21
If you are looking for a pair of tapered jeans but also want heavyweight denim, then Iron Heart’s IH-777S-21 are the obvious choice. These 21oz. behemoths feature IH’s quality denim and construction, and are made from indigo/white denim with a right hand twill and two twisted weft yarns. While heavyweight tapered jeans are going to take some breaking in, the result will certainly be worth it.
Available for $345 from Iron Heart.
5) Somet: 033
Somet isn’t the most often suggested denim brand, but based on their 033 jeans maybe they should be. These jeans feature black/black denim, tonal black stitching, Somet’s iconic white leather patch, and gold plated rivets. While this last detail might be a bit too gaudy for some of you, it’s hard to deny that it looks perfect on these jeans.
Available for $295 from Blue in Green.
Plus One – Pure Blue Japan: SN-019
There are a lot of types of denim irregularities, but if you’re like me it doesn’t get any better than nep—and Pure Blue Japan’s SN-019 are some of the best neppy jeans on the market. Made from 16oz. denim with many white neps, these jeans are really something special. They have a relaxed tapered fit to ensure you get a narrow leg opening while having ample room in the thigh.
Available for $340 from Blue Owl.
