A good pair of jeans can be the most reliable, comfortable and stylish piece of apparel in your closet. Which means that, when the time comes to buy a new pair of jeans, you want to make sure that you are purchasing the perfect pair that you will want to wear for several years to come. Good denim is a definite essential, and is well-worth the right investment if you know what you are looking for. We have compiled a short denim guide to make the decision a little easier to make. Check out our denim breakdowns below.

We're sure you have heard the term 'selvedge' when it comes to denim. The explanation is easy... "selvedge" refers to denim that has been woven on shuttle looms, resulting in a tightly woven band running up the fabric's edge – preventing it from fraying.

During the 1950s, the demand for denim jeans increased dramatically. To reduce costs, denim companies began using denim created on projectile looms. Projectile looms no longer left the tight woven band on the edge, but rather a loose hem. 

A common misconception is that all selvedge denim jeans are raw denim jeans and vice versa. Some jeans will have a pre-washed or "distressed" look that comes right when you buy them off the shelf. This means that the denim won't stretch or change much, and have less of a "breaking-in" process. Raw denim, on the other hand, will is much stiffer and can take months (and based on some preferences, years) to properly break-in to your body shape.

What cut is best for you? Along with the variety of washes and finishes, denim companies usally offer at least 4 different cuts. Tapered jeans cut closer to the body as they come down your leg. Straight fits are the original cut with a leg width that never changes. Whether you prefer yours to fit skin-tight, or would rather opt for a stacked look, the choice is yours! It's all in the details. As if the options weren't plenty, details can make all the difference in choosing the correct pair of denim for you. Finishing details can vary from the color of the buttons and rivets to the color of the stitching and even the waistband label. This is all up to personal preference, but being aware of the different options always puts you ahead of the game.