Our global round-up of the men who wear it well.

Everyone has a pair of jeans or a denim jacket in their wardrobe, even those with award nominations, personal trainers and an entourage. What separates the workaday from the exceptional? The way it is worn, of course. Scroll down to see how the world’s most stylish elevate their humble denim pieces to indigo mojo.

Denim is Mr David Beckham’s middle name. Well, technically, it’s not – he has two, Robert and Joseph – neither of which have any style connotations. But you know what we mean – the man has worn a lot of jeans, and worn them well. Here he’s hopping on board spring’s safari trend with a khaki field jacket, offsetting the outward-bound piece with some lightly worn dark grey jeans. They’re cut slim and worn a little long so they crinkle along the leg – a silhouette that not only works for the footballer’s physique, but seems to show no signs of going away in the next half decade. At least, that is, if we’re to judge by the “tighter, tighter!” onward motions of Mr Hedi Slimane’s work at Saint Laurent.

Denim on the red carpet can go badly wrong. But Mr Robert Pattinson has news for us: it can also be a breath of fresh air. The main reason why this look works – take note, Mr Riff Raff/ Ms Katy Perry – is because it’s restrained, using a single accent of indigo denim, in a shirt, to complement the midnight blue of the suit. He’s also wisely decided to go without a necktie, which means he looks, as is proper, like a movie star rather than just a very cool maths professor.

Yes, Mr Pharrell Williams’ most notable style proposition in the past year has been the giant hat. But let us consider his jeans, an item slightly easier to replicate in the day-to-day wardrobe. Here, he has used a ripped, slouchy pair (with carefully scrunched turn-ups) to disrupt the more formal stylings of his crisp navy blazer. It’s a knowing, deliberate contrast, which has enabled him to carry off a tailored piece in a casual manner, without looking like someone’s dad. Plenty to be happy about.

At 6’3”, Mr Paul Bettany is presumably among those who find standard-sized jackets a little on the short side. He has, however, made a strength out of this difficulty in this outfit, offsetting the slim and waist-skimming fit of his denim jacket with a wider-legged trouser, which makes the most of his admirable height without making his legs seem spindly. Of course, lots of other things work here: the pairing of denim and cotton gabardine (both hardy, classic workwear fabrics); the simple colour scheme (indigo tones vs brown tones); the sturdy brogue boots. But, though we’re sure they’re necessary, we also like the Mr Allen Ginsberg-esque glasses as an accessory – very poetic.

Denim and splattered paint are a good combo – Mr Jackson Pollock knew it (read more in this week’s denim icons piece). Mr Lex Kendall, founder of eco-bike company Evolve Motorcycles, obviously knows it too, judging from this shot. But forget the backdrop for a second – the look in itself is perfect gallery wear. The chambray shirt is relaxed yet presentable, while the military undertones of the khaki chinos and thick-soled black shoes give the outfit an injection of rigour and precision. Keep it this simple and you too will be excused from wearing socks.

The Milk Studios founder shows us here how to dress up jeans: choose a pair in a dark shade, add a pair of bench-made shoes, wear with a shirt, tuck in – you’re done. Well, there’s a little more to it than that. The slim black belt is well chosen for adding a little formality to this look – brown might have taken it further towards the workwear spectrum – while the turn-ups are also perfectly executed (and advisable – there’s something a little OCD about having your jeans tailored to exactly the right length).

In case you hadn’t noticed, the weather has not been great in New York this 2015. In fact, it’s been bad enough to have evinced this me-against-the-elements look from actor and musician Mr Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), replete with furry lumberjack hat and shearling jacket. What makes this great, rather than a simple Twin Peaks rehash, is the choice of fabrics in each of the garments – the jacket is refined in a high-quality wool felt, while the coated effect on the dark-wash denim jeans gives a contemporary sheen. In short, it’s all about making these rugged influences sleek enough for the city. And he’s pulled it off wonderfully.

Actor Mr James Marsden looks fantastic in a suit, but this is a man who also has innumerable denim looks up his sleeve. Key to his success in the field is his judicious and subtle use of colour, which is clearly evident in this picture. Whether the grey-blue tone was suggested by his weathered moccasin boots or the contrast lining of his jacket, it’s been explored with rigour, the lighter grey shades echoing the fade marks on his jeans. These, in themselves, have obviously been washed and cared for well – if you want the same effect, be sure to check out MR PORTER’s guide on how to look after your jeans.