I never used to be a huge fan of denim. (Not because of the style or the way it looked, in fact I loved the way it looked – so why didn’t I like it?)

Well because it wasn’t very comfortable or practical for me – a guy who played a lot of sports and had larger legs. To be fair a huge part of it was not picking the right style or size for myself, and I’d end up being disappointed with the experience overall. Denim is one of those materials that looks great and works well with almost anything. You’ve seen the Canadian tuxedo in action and other lovely denim pieces that attest to how great its style potential is – but I guess I wasn’t doing it right.

When I began to ease into wearing denim (sounds silly, I know), I started wearing pieces that were too big for me, and they looked rather sloppy, kind of like I had no idea what I was doing. This was simply because the more form fitting denim just wasn’t comfortable enough – or made it look like I was wearing leggings, so I didn’t feel 100% comfortable in most pairs of jeans.

So what changed?

I decided to expand my horizons and try to explore different brands to see if there was in fact a difference, and if you don’t want to read any further and want to know – yes. It makes a huge difference.

Moving away from larger denim sizes in common fast fashion brands, such as Zara or H&M, is a great idea if you want to be comfortable in pair of quality denim. You will definitely spend a little more, but it is well worth it. Here’s why.

The higher quality denims will feel heavier and have durable stitching (you can tell with closer inspection, you don’t have to be an expert). You’ll also notice that they look and feel better when you put them on, usually accentuating your figure a little more – which tends to be a more flattering look overall. The elastane blend usually does the trick, but it really makes a difference when you compare a pair with and without. I did a post a while back about a brand that I really enjoyed called Fidelity Denim. My experience with them was fantastic, and those jeans continue to be some of my daily staples. Another great brand worth mentioning is Levi’s – a common household and heritage brand that you simply can’t go wrong with. Seriously, you don’t even have to take my word for it.

But today, I want to focus on another pleasant experience I had recently. Hint: It’s with Jean Machine.

To be honest, I bought a pair of Levi’s 510s from there during first year of university, and I completely forgot about the store. I popped in to the Eaton Centre (Toronto) location recently and rediscovered what they did so well – focusing on the perfect fit. I met with a style specialist who was wonderful (thank you Shida), and she ran through various options with me based on my figure. I did try a few things that were way out of my comfort/style zone, but I guess you never really know until you try, and I was shocked to see how some styles worked so well.

A decided to go with a pair of Mavi Jeans, a brand that I’ve heard good things about, but never had the chance to try on until now – and they were just great. Yes, they’re a slim fit – but the stretch in them makes a considerable change in how they fit, without making them look like leggings, or too tacky. I added the most perfect addition: A Levi’s denim work shirt (trucker jacket, kinda), which works so well as a layering garment, or top piece. I stuck with black because I don’t do too much of it usually, and it really does work well with anything if you give it a chance.

#FitMatters when it comes to denim – so the next time you find yourself looking for the right pair of jeans, pop into a Jean Machine and have a specialist evaluate the proper fit for you, and you’ll be happy you did so.

The opinions stated in this post are mine. I had a wonderful experience at the Jean Machine in Eaton Centre and therefore I’ve recommended it. Feel free to check it out, or any other location that you see fit for yourself. Stay stylish fellas.

All photography is courtesy of Julie Yeh (@julie_yay)