Denim Shaun White 4 Target $30, target.com
Shirt United Bamboo $250, Opening Ceremony, NYC
Watch Timex $35, timexstyle.com
Shoes Rachel Comey $322, kesner-ny.com

Denim Vans $45, vans.com
Hat Ransom $40, ransomshop.com
Hoodie Stüssy Deluxe $105, stussydeluxe.com
Shirt Shipley & Halmos $130, Bloomingdale’s stores
Shoes Gourmet $180, Saks Fifth Avenue stores

Denim Resin $150, estreetdenim.com
Cardigan J. Crew $188, jcrew.com
Shirt KZO $170, Fred Segal, L.A.
Boots Palladium $55, palladiumboots.com

Paying premium prices for jeans is a little 2003, so we picked the best affordable denim brands for ballers on a budget. Which means: all of us.

ASK A DENIM GURU

Complex Expert Kiya Babzani of Self Edge answers our queries.

What really separates $200 denim from $50 denim?
I’d like to think that you’re paying for better quality, but unfortunately 99% of the time you’re paying for the designer’s name. Often, the consumer doesn’t see the difference until after months of daily wear when the denim has aged naturally.

What do you see as the next big trend in denim washes?
We hope that raw denim continues, as it is denim in its original true form. Just like you wouldn’t purchase a T-shirt with holes or a watch with a cracked bezel, we see no point in buying denim that looks like it’s been worn for two years already.

What are three affordable brands you’d recommend?
Real Japan Blues, Iron Heart, and Flat Head are doing amazing things. These brands put so much work into the denim itself that the way their jeans look after a few months of wear is something you’d have to see in person to believe.