Get a Leg Up on Denim Fashion

	Earnest Sewn's Hutch

Earnest also has a handy fit guide, as Ylvisaker explains: "The Fulton, our best-seller, is the classic five-pocket straight-leg jean, based on American heritage. The fit transcends trends, and is worn by everybody from the hipster to the banker.

"Then we have the Hutch, which is a conservative boot-cut, if you need to even out the proportions a bit. The Hemingway is more relaxed through the entire leg, for the more 'athletic' build. The Kyrre (pronounced 'Keer') is a slim tapered jean of rigid, not stretch, denim; and the Ace is our 'rocker' boot-cut, slim to mid-calf before coming to more of a flare at the very end."

Fit Yvilsaker advises customers to go with the tightest pair they feel comfortable with, because the denim is going to stretch with wear; they'll go back to the original fit with washing, but that's another no-no for purists. Real denim-lovers will wear those babies until they mold perfectly to the body, which with today's specialized washes and seaming won't take too long.

Then, Yvilsaker recommends either hand-washing and then line-drying, or just spraying with Febreze if they get too stinky. Woolite has made a new detergent just for hand-washing dark clothes, as does a specialty line called Caldrea, available at finer stores.

Whatever you do, do not throw your jeans in the dryer, and always turn them inside-out before washing.

If you do decide to dry-clean them, which sort of defeats the whole point, never, ever, let them put a crease down the front; Yvilsaker shudders at the very thought: "I wouldn't want to see that."