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Browse all 3sixteen jeans →CT-120x ~ Classic Tapered - Shadow Selvedge
The verdict
Fit
The Classic Tapered cut pairs a high rise and roomy top block with a taper below the knee, described as working for guys with bigger thighs who still want a slim taper as well as those wanting a roomier fit. Size down one from a slim-taper size for a leaner look or keep the same size for comfort.
Quality
The 14.5 oz. indigo-x-black Kuroki Mills 'Shadow' denim is documented fading to bright, high-contrast electric blue; one owner review after months of hard wear notes 'bright seam fades and super dark inner folds' though that same heavy use earned 'two crotch repairs so far.' Construction includes felled inseams, a selvedge fly, and branded hardware.
Is the price fair?
At USD 270 it sits in the mid-to-upper Japanese-selvedge range; reviewers rate the Shadow fabric among the best-aging denims, so the price is reasonable for buyers who value fade potential over a plain everyday jean.
Best for
The lifter or bigger-thighed wearer chasing a dramatic, well-documented high-contrast fade in a tapered leg.
Care
Wear it raw as long as comfortable, then wash cold and inside-out sparingly to protect the indigo warp and keep the black-weft contrast sharp.
Grounded in reviewer & owner reports: 3sixteen CT-120x Classic Taper Shadow Selvedge · Fade of the Day – 3sixteen CT-120x (9 Months, 4 Washes, 1 Soak) · 3sixteen CT Classic Tapered Fit Jean
What owners report about 3sixteen jeans
Reviewers consistently point to the fabric as the reason to buy: the mainline jeans use a 14.5 oz Japanese selvedge denim, sewn in the USA, that reviewers describe as having heft while staying soft on the inside because of its open-end weft yarns, with a 12 oz multi-season denim offered on some cuts. Owners who wear pairs hard report fast, high-contrast fading. The trade-off is wear rate: one owner's pair worn daily for 26 months without washing developed large blowouts, with the writer noting the denim wears down as quickly as it fades.
- Strengths
- The denim itself — heavy, soft-backed Japanese selvedge that fades fast with strong contrast — draws the most consistent praise.
- Watch out for
- The same fast-fading cloth wears through fast under hard use; long stretches without washing accelerated the damage, and one long-term wearer reported large blowouts.
- Sizing
- Reviewers describe the cuts as slim-but-not-skinny with a respectable rise; the straight-leg cut suits those who find a slim-tapered leg too narrow.
About 3sixteen's jeans line as a whole. Sources: My Recommendation for Jeans: 3sixteens – Put This On · The Friday Find: 3sixteen's Classic Straight Selvedge Jeans | The Style Guide · Fade Friday - 3sixteen ST-120x (26 months, 0 washes, 0 soaks) - Heddels
