A straight leg jean and a loafer is close to a default outfit and it works because the two shapes agree. The straight leg holds a constant width from thigh to ankle and does not taper, so it sits over the top of a shoe without pooling, and the loafer has enough visual weight to anchor the leg without competing. It survives almost any top half. The details that decide whether it looks sharp or approximate are the hem length and the rise. A hem that grazes the top of the loafer or sits just above the ankle bone reads deliberate, while a hem stacking on the shoe reads unfinished. A mid to high rise lengthens the leg and keeps the waist defined, which matters more here than in a wide leg.

Rigid or minimally stretched denim holds a straight line and looks considerably sharper standing still, and it is the right choice if the jeans are doing work in a smart outfit. A stretch denim is more comfortable and softer in the leg, and it will bag slightly at the knee over a day. On the shoe, a penny or a horsebit loafer with a slim sole suits a narrower straight leg, while a chunkier lug soled loafer needs a wider leg to balance it, and pairing a heavy sole with a slim jean makes the foot look large. Colour is worth thinking about: a black loafer with a mid blue jean is a hard contrast, while a brown or burgundy loafer sits more comfortably next to denim of any wash.

This is the outfit we default to and the one we have refined the most, and the conclusion is that the hem is worth more attention than the label. A pair of jeans hemmed to the exact right length above a loafer looks better than a considerably more expensive pair worn at the factory length. Beyond that, a dark or mid wash with minimal distressing keeps the whole thing versatile, and a visible sock is a decision rather than an accident. If you take one thing away, have the jeans hemmed with the loafers on, and this becomes the outfit you can put on without thinking for most of the year.