Raw or washed denim — which should I buy?

Raw (unwashed) denim arrives stiff and dark and fades to your own wear patterns over months; washed denim arrives soft, broken-in, and pre-faded. Raw rewards patience with unique fades and often better long-term value, but you have to size for shrink and wash it rarely. Washed is convenient and consistent, with the look decided for you. Neither is superior — it is a commitment choice. The cost-per-wear case favors raw only if you genuinely keep and wear the same pair for years; if you rotate through jeans, washed denim you like now is the honest buy.