As an avid denimhead who has tried over 20+ brands of jeans over the past 15+ years, few labels have won me over more than Naked & Famous. While many companies over-market themselves on lifestyle branding and celeb endorsements, N&F keeps the focus on quality craftsmanship and daring new fabrics.
I first discovered them back in 2009 when selvedge denim started gaining traction among style-conscious guys. I was drawn to their funky artisanal Japanese fabrics and fits tailored to slender body types. Having worn their jeans weekly ever since, I‘ve experienced firsthand both the highs and occasional low points of Naked & Famous over a decade.
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share my experiences evaluating multiple pairs side-by-side against leading alternatives like 3Sixteen, Levi‘s, and DL1961. You‘ll get the real talk on how different N&F fits and fabrics stack up over years of wear. Let‘s nerd out over stitching, aging qualities, and hardware while helping you avoid duds to unlock the gems.
My History with Naked & Famous Jeans
Before getting to product specifics, it helps to understand my judging criteria and past adventures with denim. I work as an e-commerce photographer, so fit, comfort, and aesthetics get more scrutiny than most guys. My slim athletic build also demands proper tapering without restrictive tightness.
Over the past 15 years, I‘ve tried over 100 pairs of jeans from high-end Japanese selvedge to mainstream mall staples. I gravitate toward heavier 14oz+ denim for the texture and sturdy feel. While I appreciate brilliant fabrics, too much stretch causes products to sag prematurely making durability a requirement.
Naked & Famous Brand Background
Founded in 2008 by Brandon Svarc following over a decade in fashion production and marketing roles, Naked & Famous emerged to challenge the thinking that quality denim must break budgets. Partnering directly with some of Japan‘s most inventive mills let them bypass expensive advertising that drives up retail pricing.
While their fits skew contemporary slim, you can score a diverse array of fabrics beyond standard indigo. Special sub-labels include:
Made in Japan – Historically accurate vintage loom reproduction fabric to recreate American classics
Elephant – Using the beast‘s namesake tough hide leather for patching and trim
Denimio – Exclusive collaborations with the famed Japanese retailer
Next let‘s get hands-on with the individual jeans that left impressions through lengthy ownership.
Naked & Famous Easy Guy 11oz Stretch Selvedge Jeans Review
My first Naked & Famous purchase still ranks among my favorites for its balance of quality, comfort, and aging potential. Their Easy Guy cut works magic by blending an athletic/tapered leg line with extra room through the hips and thighs.
Key Specs
- 98% Cotton / 2% Elastane Japanese fabric
- Relaxed taper fit
- Contrast red selvedge edge
- Blackout hardware
- $155 retail
I‘ve worn this pair at least weekly for 3+ years now equating to over 150 wears and washes. The color shifted from a dark solid indigo to a fading light-to-medium blue with high contrast honeycombs and whiskers. AVG cleaning cycles, no additional distressing.
The Good
- Fabric has held up extremely well – no tears, holes, or loose threads
- The stretch material prevents sagging while retaining softness
- Red selvedge line still pops nicely against the aged denim
- Seam and hardware quality on par with $250+ Japanese brands
The Less Good
- Thighs feel slightly under scaled for athletic guys requiring more room
- Blue ear yet to emerge despite frequent washing inviting abrasion
The Verdict
An versatile pair marrying comfort and quality with Made in Japan heritage at a reasonable price point. These represent everything to love from the brand with only minor fit caveats for bulky thigh guys. 4.5/5 Stars
Naked & Famous Stacked Guy Midnight Power Stretch Jeans Review
I doubled-down on black denim with their Stacked Guy cut in a power stretch fabric. Intended as a slim low-rise fit, I got intrigued by reviews calling out exceptional comfort from the material blend.
Key Specs
- Black Japanese power stretch denim with cotton/elastane
- Blackout hardware and leather patch
- Stacked skinny cut with drop 7-8" rise
- $198 MSRP
Worn for 18 months spanning around 100 wears without washes to maximize fading contrast around creasing. Gentle front honeycombs appeared but stronger fades proved elusive.
The Good
- Four-way directional stretch allows complete flexibility and movement
- Snug fit hugs the body without ever feeling tight or restrictive
- Abrasion resistance showing no loose threads or thinning spots
The Less Good
- Midnight dye limits fading potential for high contrast
- Low rise cut creates too much crotch compression
- Awkward rear phone pocket placement demonstrating poor UX design
The Verdict
A perfect pair for the stretch fabric that alleviates typical break-in discomfort of skinny cuts. But odd pockets and very low rise sacrifice too much functionality. 3/5 Stars
Naked & Famous Easy Guy 14oz Vintagecast Broken Twill Selvedge Jeans Review
Hoping to rekindle my original Easy Guy magic, I took a chance on this vintage workwear reproduction style. The throwback broken twill fabric and high-contrast double indigo looked promising.
Key Specs
- 14oz double-indigo broken twill Japanese fabric
- Tapered leg cut with relaxed top box
- Exposed copper flesh rivets
- Contrast stitching and peach selvedge line
- $198 MSRP
I‘m still early in the break-in with just under 25 wears and washes logged to date. But noticeable areas of abrasion already materialized across stress points.
The Good
- Beautifully complex double indigo fabric living up to its characterful promise
- Selvedge fabric produced on vintage-style shuttle looms
- Pleasing relaxed taper cut through hip/thigh
The Less Good
- Durability falling short with loose threads and marbled fading above back pockets
- Peach selvedge merely decorative instead of indicative of high-quality yarns
The Verdict
Gorgeous textile let down by lapses in structural integrity. Unless longevity unexpectedly improves, hard to recommend despite the enticing aesthetic. 2.5/5 Stars
Comparing Naked & Famous to Other Premium Denim Brands
How does Naked & Famous stack up to category leaders over years of wearing, washing, and fading? High praise comes easy when assessing new jeans straight out the box. The truth emerges once subjected to real world conditions over time.
Here‘s how N&F compares based on my firsthand tests across 100+ pairs of raw and washed denims.
Naked & Famous vs 3Sixteen
The advantage – More vibrant, experimental fabrics from N&F using bolder yarn blends and weaving methods
The disadvantage – 3Sixteen edges out durability with extremely strict quality control and more robust hardware
Naked vs Levi‘s Made & Crafted
The advantage – N&F materials feel appreciably heftier and age more gracefully
The disadvantage – Levi‘s ratchets up finesse on intricate detailing and finish aspects
Naked vs DL1961
The advantage – No competition when it comes to N&F using far more premium and artisanal textiles
The disadvantage – DL1961 innovates functional design features like 4-way stretch and moisture wicking
Does Naked & Famous Deliver Maximum Value?
Whenever assessing brands utilizing exotic fabrics and premium manufacturing, value sits atop my criteria. As product costs escalate, small defects feel intensified demanding near perfection.
Naked & Famous generally meets expectations of outstanding quality relative to pricing for multiple reasons:
They properly set ambitions – Unlike hype beast brands commanding ultra-premium cost for basic products, N&F communicates upfront their target positioning between fast fashion and designer labels. Shoppers appropriately adjust objectives given reasonable prices.
No expense wasted on marketing fluff – Investing in superb fabric, streamlined fits, and quality construction takes priority over lifestyle branding. Their indie approach feels honest and thoughtful devoid of typical retail smoke and mirrors.
Vision balanced with discipline – N&F display commendable restraint avoiding the temptation to scale high-cost niche production. Many startups chasing the editorial hype train crash quickly by overextending capabilities. N&F show patience staying dedicated to core competencies.
Do imperfections like irregular fading and the occasional defect cause frustration? Sure – but no dealbreakers given controlled retail costs mostly hovering around $150-220.
Just apply realistic expectations upfront accounting for very fair pricing. N&F can‘t rival bespoke $300 Japanese brands but outclasses mall mainstays under $100. Their value sweet spot hits precisely for style-focused guys wanting a noticeable bump up in craftsmanship without painful price hikes.
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Naked & Famous Jeans?
If premium quality, forward-looking fabrics, and contemporary fits sound enticing, then absolutely give N&F consideration. Their imperfections feel negligible compared to most brands when contextualizing reasonable costs.
Younger consumers and skinny denim lovers tend to be their core audience. But those metrics serve more as general guidelines than rigid requirements. Nailed fit and quality exist across a variety of cuts and fabrics to satisfy many tastes.
Just focus decisions through the lens of real budget constraints. High expectations at lower prices lead to disappointment. But anticipate minor shortcomings at fair costs and satisfaction frequently follows. N&F delivers exactly what discerning denim guys desire when contextualized against rational value benchmarks.
