Athletic Cut

A denim hybrid, this contemporary cut blends the legroom of a relaxed fit, the flared hem of a boot cut and the snug seat of a straight leg. It’s an emerging style that is becoming more popular.

If your build is…

Athletic Buy in bulk. This style is tailor-made for your physique.

Stocky This cut is a terrific alternative to a relaxed fit, providing more shape and contour to your frame while still offering sufficient legroom and comfort.

Average Wear these as a comfy alternative to relaxed-fit jeans.

Thin Look elsewhere. Lean legs are lost in the roomy cut beneath the knee, reinforcing a skinny shape rather than shadowing it.

Relaxed Fit

These laid-back pants are cut fuller from the thigh to the hem, allowing ample legroom for maximum comfort. A word of warning, however, some renditions of this style can be too roomy , creating a sloppy appearance.

If your build is…

Stocky Breathe easy. Relaxed-fit jeans cut bigger guys some slack, creating interior space so legs can flex and move. Look for styles with larger back pockets, which will make you look like you have less junk in your trunk.

Athletic Wear these for a more comfortable fit. Muscular quads can have a hard time wiggling into some jeans, but an especially forgiving trim in the thighs absorbs them with ease.

Average or thin Avoid this cut. The width in the legs can be difficult to fill for the typical guy, creating a style that’s almost too laid-back.

Straight Leg

A simple, straightforward design means these classic jeans play a more reserved role in sculpting your appearance. They’re equally adaptable on the formality front, capable of being both dressed up or down. The jeans are intended to be straight from hip to foot, which can be difficult to judge in a mirror,but if you leave a couple of centimetres for movement from the thigh down, they’ll fall right into place.

If your build is…

Athletic or average Stock up. This everyman’s jean is just snug enough to show off your sculpted lower half, but not so much that you’ll look like a beanpole. Taller guys should pick straight-leg cuts in a medium rise to maintain proper proportions.

Thin Go with a straight-leg, low-rise fit to ensure that the style sits comfortably on your hips and leaves a few extra centimetres of legroom.

Stocky Proceed with caution. Straight cuts can sometimes deviate from brand to brand, and bulkier frames are more prone than other body types to be done in by the otherwise neutral cut.

Skinny Jeans

Calf-clinging denim was the domain of vintage Western icons Roy Rogers and Gene Autry long before Mick Jagger shimmied into a pair. In the past three years, this style has been reborn as an indie-rock staple. They come in slightly longer lengths than other cuts, because they’re meant to be worn bunched at the ankle. The extra fabric is kept above the shoe line, though, since the narrow bottoms keep the hem from falling underfoot.

If your build is…

Thin Dive in. But don’t go overboard; a snug fit shouldn’t put your moving parts on display, so look for styles with a small amount of stretch, which will create the illusion of a slightly larger frame.

Average Go with your gut. The fabric on these jeans can be forgiving, but they can be a tight squeeze for belly-heavy builds.

Athletic or stocky Skip these.The cut can make larger legs look like a pair of stuffed anacondas. If you favour the tight and narrow feel, go with a slim-straight fit instead, a rare but growing style.

Boot Cut

The enlarged hem on this style accommodates and flatters sturdier footwear like work boots. From the knee to the waist, however, the cut is more traditional, creating a fitted silhouette that sits at or a bit below the waist and remains slightly loose in the leg.

If your build is…

Athletic or average Consider this your go-to style. The cut is especially suited for taller men, because the enlarged hem balances out a stretched frame.

Thin Rejoice: a leaner build benefits from a boosted emphasis in the seat. Need even more support in the rear? Look for rear flap pockets to round out your exterior.

Stocky Steer clear, unless you carry your weight above the waist, in which case the roomier legs can create a straight line from hip to feet.