It's the twentieth century's favourite piece of clothing. Who would have thought that a humble workman's fabric would become the staple of every wardrobe, no matter what culture, taste or class? Denim has been worn since the mid eighteenth century, being produced by the cotton factories in the United States under George Washington.

Since those beginnings over 200 years ago, denim has become a fashion statement - its utility and reasonably-priced quality and durability was never intended to be sold as a luxury item or source of envy. Yet in 2010, the jeans you wear, and how you wear them, are analysed and advertised to us all day long, in magazines, on TV and in movies.

The usual fashion feature on jeans will give you a rundown of what shapes are on offer, and what those shapes mean for the wearer. Skinny jeans: rock chick/under-nourished glamour girl. High-waisted: 50s and 80s-inspired trendies and design students. Boyfriend: off-duty, relaxed, feminine girls who can pull it off.

But does any of that really matter? Is there really a language of denim? And is it possible to find a pair of jeans which just…fit, rather than say something about you?

Whilst you can spend £200 upwards on a super-selective designer pair of jeans, the sensible option is to find something that allows denim to do what it does best: be cheap, wearable and available to anyone. For that reason, the high street is a good place to start - online and on the pavements.

Try shops like New Look for their styles of jeans; they have denim sections of their own, and with the prices much lower than designer competitors, their shapes are already more appealing to the shopper on a budget.

What is more, because jeans go through a lot of wear and tear, you get much better value for money with a cheaper pair of versatile New Look jeans, for example, than Victoria Beckham diamond-studded couture. After all, you don't want to spend £200 a go on a wardrobe staple that needs re-vamping every year or so.