(Photo: Hannah Whitaker )

For a long while now, the dominant jeans look has been skintight and inky-dark—leggings, basically, in everything but name. That’s over. This is next: jeans that are shredded, ripped-up, destroyed (but very comfortable). They’re going to be a mainstay of the summer 2009 wardrobe—which, now that the weather is reliably above 70 every day, is rapidly coalescing. The version above is from Madewell (limited-edition hand-distressed jeans, $175 to $250; 486 Broadway, at Broome St.; 212-226-6954); other options are below. For more of what you’ll be wearing this summer, click here.

(Photo: Hannah Whitaker)

Cheap Monday hand-patched jeans, $70
at Inven.tory
237 Lafayette St., nr Spring St.; 212-226-5292.

(Photo: Hannah Whitaker )

Siwy Hannah jeans, $198
at Intermix
1003 Madison Ave., at 77th St.; 212-249-7858.

(Photo: Hannah Whitaker )

Distressed light-blue jeans, $425
at Acne Studio
10 Greene St., nr Canal St.; 212-625-2828.

Related:

• Archive: “Best Bets”
• Table of Contents: Jun 1, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!