The Do’s and Don’ts of Rocking Baggy Jeans

The appeal of baggy jeans is easy to understand—they’re loose, they’re comfortable and they give a laid-back appearance that suits your easygoing attitude. But wear these voluminous bottoms the wrong way and you’ll look less than appealing.

We’re breaking down the cardinal rules of baggy jeans so you can let loose without falling apart.

DO go for soft fabrics.

When your jeans have volume to them, it’s best to stick to denim that’s a little lighter and softer than your usual pairs. Choosing a thicker, more rigid textile will not only make baggy denim extremely heavy due to the excess fabric, but the jeans also won’t drape in the laid-back cool way you want them to.

DON’T wear them to work.

While baggy jeans can look great on anyone, they’re certainly not appropriate for formal functions of any kind. Wearing baggy jeans to work is a one-way ticket to a demotion, or, at the very least, some unforgiving water cooler gossip. Stick to casual hang-outs for these jeans.

DO look for a good fit at the waist.

Just because your jeans are baggy doesn’t mean that you don’t need to pay attention to fit. On the contrary, it’s even more important to make sure that your baggy denim fits you in the right places—namely, your waist. Make sure that the waistline of these pants hits you at or slightly below your natural waist, with the back pockets far above your calves. Exposed boxers might have seemed like a good idea back in high school, but it’s time to upgrade and hike up.

DON’T let fabric pool around your ankles.

Baggy jeans can give your look a cool effortlessness, but let them go too long and your slacker vibe will look stumpy. Puddling fabric around your ankles shortens you by inches, making you look like you haven’t grown into your breeches yet. Keep your baggy pants hemmed to your ankle, or, if you’re feeling bold, a few inches above them.

DO experiment.

We’re all for breaking out of the traditional silhouettes for menswear. The baggy T-shirt on baggy jeans look works, but why not do something unexpected? Try a slightly cropped tee (read: no belly-button showing) to offset the volume of the pants, or button a tailored shirt all the way up for an artistic take on the shape.

Baggy jeans are for more than just slackers and teenagers. Turn up the volume on your denim with a pair of baggy jeans.

Loosen up! These jeans are here to help you relax.