I have a theory that the best denim comes from two people who disagree a little, and AG Jeans fits it nicely. It began in Los Angeles in 2000, when denim designer Adriano Goldschmied teamed up with manufacturer Yul Ku. One brought the eye for washes and design, the other a deep knowledge of how jeans actually get made.

Ku bought out Goldschmied's stake in 2004 and has been the owner and founder at the helm since, and his earlier years in Los Angeles garment manufacturing still give the brand a maker's perspective. Today it calls itself a denim and knitwear house, and its own story talks about craft, fit and how it is produced, with ozone technology, laser finishing, solar energy and water recycling. I find that mix of familiar jean shapes and technical curiosity distinctive. Clothing made to be worn, not fussed over.

The jean names here already do useful work, because they tell me where to begin. The Sandra Straight Leg Jeans, Billie Straight Jean and Sydney Straight Jean are the steady center, and the Hattie Barrel Jean is the one with a curve. The Adria Low Rise Wide Leg Jeans and Adria Wide Leg Jean give you more room, with a lower waist on the first.

Then there is the closer-fitting side: Sandra Skinny Jeans, Farrah Skinny Jeans and Prima Skinny Jeans, plus the Farrah Bootcut Jeans and Brinley Straight Leg Jeans for a longer line. I would pair a barrel or wide leg with a neat knit or a tucked tee to keep the proportions balanced, and a longer jacket softens a skinny pair. Start with the rise and leg you reach for most, and only try a new cut when you want the outfit to shift. What I would skip is changing rise and leg shape in the same fitting, since you will not know which one you liked.

The line is not only jeans. The Analeigh Short and Ex-Boyfriend Short are two quite different takes on the short, the Mari Straight keeps a straighter line, and the Sadie Crew Tee is the simple top that finishes things off.

Picture a warm afternoon in one of the shorts, that tee and a light overshirt for when the air cools. I would keep the rest of the outfit clean so the cut can do the work, and tuck in the Sadie Crew Tee when I want a little more definition at the waist. Familiar pieces, still room to change the proportions.

I keep coming back to AG for the maker's point of view: a company born from the meeting of denim design and manufacturing know-how, still thinking about fit, fabric and how jeans are put together. That gives the collection a sturdy center, even as the options travel from skinny to barrel and straight to wide leg. I would begin with the shape that feels most like my everyday self, then add another proportion when I want a change. Although I suspect the barrel will tempt me first.