There’s always been something so “punk” about black denim. To some, it symbolizes that you're going against the grain since the jeans aren't the traditional blue. I know a lot of guys that steer clear from black denim because they have thoughts like, “what do I wear with them? Will they get insanely linty?” Black denim is often my first choice because they're so easy to wear—they look great with just about everything, especially anything in a navy-blue wheelhouse. Also, if you have to dress up for a special occasion, black denim is the answer; they make your legs look slimmer, are an excellent substitute for dress pants on more laid back occasions, and they patina just as well as blue denim—if not even better.

Of course, well-made black jeans often come with an expensive price tag because of where and how they are made. Things like specific needle stitching and the type of cotton being used can quickly jack the price up. But it doesn't always have to be that way, especially if you're looking to dip your toe into the black denim game. There are now some excellent pairs that you can pick up for well under a hundred bucks. We've pulled together a few of the best and most affordable black jeans right now, so take your pick. Just make sure you try them on so that you're happy with the look and feel—there are few things worse than ill-fitting jeans.