Black jeans occupy a very useful position in a man’s wardrobe because they do casual well but they also push convincingly into smarter territory in a way that indigo or distressed denim simply doesn’t. With a clean minimal trainer or a simple leather shoe and a good shirt or knit the black jean creates a smart casual look that works in a wide range of situations where indigo denim would feel too relaxed. The fade resistance of the black matters more than it might seem. Black jeans that grey out quickly lose the quality that makes them useful because it’s the depth of the black that gives them their smarter capability. A straight or slim straight cut is the most versatile interpretation and tends to work across the widest range of outfits without the specific styling requirements that wider or more cropped cuts sometimes need.