One Pair of Jeans and Infinite Looks!

There is one thing which is the staple of every man's wardrobe - and if it's not, it should be: The humble pair of jeans.

Guys will spend anywhere between $20 to $400 on their perfect pair of jeans. Usually blokes will have only one or two pairs. We all know now how to wash them (basically, don't) and we all know what brands are out there. If you don't know the brands, just check eBay. The selection is amazing.

I am not here to talk brands or how they should fit. I am here to show you that you are under-using your jeans. There are so many different looks that you can create with your jeans.

So there are a number of scenarios that you may want to dress up or down your jeans. I have put together a few different looks out of my own wardrobe as a guide. Chop and change, mix them up, throw in your own gear. Anyway, enough said - here we go...

Firstly - introducing the Jeans. Levi 513 jeans in size 33. Swapped with my smaller, younger brother for a pair of 32 Lee's that I have worn once on the only day that I may have ever fitted into them. Cost of original jeans was $60 about six years ago. I have had the Levi's for about three years.

I am not going to go into what the look can be used for - that's what the girls sites do! Use your brain. Jackets are not for the Cottesloe Sunday Session in the middle of summer. Thongs are not for the Press Club in Melbourne on a Saturday night first date. You know what you should wear. I am showing you how to put it all together.

This is a more formal look. Coupling the blazer with a button up shirt, dress shoes and a belt. The scarf is to taste - some guys don't like them. I do. If you haven't tried it, get a plain coloured scarf and wear it to a dressy occasion where you won't feel overdressed. See how the scarf is received and then make a decision on it's future then.

Levi 513's, Tarocash black button up shirt ($99 Tarocash 2010), Country Road Blazer ($8 Op Shop 2009),

You can dress this look down really slightly by getting rid of the button up shirt and substituting with a t-shirt and jumper (pull-over). Also, I have taken away the dress shoes and replaced with Converse Chuck Taylors. I just about always wear a belt. I have a friend who got caught without one on a trip over east once. Disaster. It sounds really dramatic, however try running a business meeting without a belt on.

With this look, you could substitute the jumper for a hoody and obviously the sneakers can be substituted for any other casual shoe - but can you beat Converse? Really?

Levi Jeans, Chuck Taylor sneakers ($90, Converse Store, 2007), Country Road Jacket ($8 Op Shop, 2009), Leather belt ($30, Freo Markets, before dinosaurs), Ben Sherman Jumper (Christmas Present, 2003).

The next one is for when the blazer may be a bit warm. Just ditch the blazer and go with the scarf from the first set up. This is great for a night at the pub.

  

If you enjoy the preppy-look more. This is a look that you could wear to a casual workplace also. Just grab a nice striped shirt and plain tie. You can tuck it in or wear it out - that's up to you. Fact of the matter is, this look is all over the world at the moment. Guys are incorporating jeans into more formal wear all the time. Architects and advertising types have been doing it for years.

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Levi Jeans, Black Leather Belt, Converse Chuck Taylors, Fitted Business Shirt (Target, $20, 2011), Black Tie (Tarocash, $50, 2010)

Add the jacket from your favourite / only suit

Jacket (Part of suit $300, Man to Man)

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Scarf, Levi Jeans, t-shirt ($20, 2007), white hoody ($30, Target, 2007) Florsheim blowling shoes ($8, Op Shop, 2009)

This is the Australian standard. You saw Heath Ledgar wearing it in Soho and the world loved it. Go to any pub in Perth in summer and this is what the guys are wearing.

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T-shirt ($20 2007) Levi Jeans Tommy Hilfiger thongs / flip-flops ($99, 2000, Tommy Hilfiger)

So here you go; there are a heap of looks here that you can rock in pretty much any setting. You have the jeans. You also have a whole heap of other stuff in your wardrobe. Put your jeans in some interesting combinations like I have here. Lay them out on the floor. You can see what you like and then wear it.

Go for gold. Have fun with it.