Denim Trends: Jeans Styles Worth Wearing and How

The denim trends that matter right now are relaxed: baggy and wide-leg jeans, straight legs, and a mix of dark indigo and light washes. The 90s mom jean sits right in the middle of that shift, with its high waist and roomy leg.

Below is what is trending, how to wear each cut, and how to pick the one that suits your proportions. The outfit formulas are simple enough to try with jeans you already own.

Section 01

What denim styles are trending now?

Denim moves in swings between slim and loose. The FIT Fashion History Timeline notes that low-rise, flared jeans were prevalent in the early 2000s, and bootcut jeans grew more popular by the mid-2000s. Skinny jeans followed and became commonplace by 2006. The current pendulum has swung back toward volume, which is why the mom jean feels fresh again.

• Baggy and relaxed jeans, often with a high or mid rise
• Wide-leg and barrel shapes
• Straight-leg jeans
• Bootcut and flare, as a smaller revival
• Light washes and deep indigo

I would not call any of these a rule. Trends are a menu, and fit on your body decides what goes on the plate.

Section 02

Baggy and wide-leg jeans outfits

When the leg is wide, balance it with something more fitted or cropped on top. A bodysuit, a tucked tee or a short knit shows where your waist is, so the volume below looks intentional.

• Baggy jeans, a fitted tee, and flat sneakers for a casual day.
• Wide-leg jeans, a tucked button-up and loafers for the office on a relaxed day.
• Barrel-leg jeans, a cropped cardigan and ankle boots, since the curved leg looks best with the ankle visible.

Hem length matters more than people expect. A hem that grazes the top of your shoe keeps the line clean. One that pools on the floor reads as slouchier and wears out faster.

Section 03

Are straight jeans in style?

Yes. Straight legs are the easiest cut to wear because they do not fight any shoe or top. A mom jean is essentially a straight or slightly tapered leg on a high rise, so the formula is easy: a crisp white tee, a leather belt and minimal sneakers, or a blazer and loafers.

If you want more ideas for that cut, see our notes on the 90s mom jeans trend and these chic fall mom jeans outfits.

Section 04

Are dark wash jeans in style?

Dark indigo is in style and it is the most versatile wash for dressing up. Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd pick a dark, even wash when you want a clean vertical line, because uniform dark color reads as one long shape from waist to hem.

Pair dark denim with a camel or burgundy top, a structured blazer, or a neutral knit. For a monochrome look, try matching tones from the neutral mom jeans guide or the monochrome staples.

Section 05

Light wash jean trends

Light washes feel casual and bright, and they are the natural partner for white, pastel and soft neutral tops. Because light denim catches more light, it draws the eye outward, so it can make a loose leg look bigger. That is lovely if you want volume and worth knowing if you do not.

Washes with a faded, vintage look have a long history. FIT notes that in the 1980s, finishing techniques such as stonewashing and acid-washing became standard across the industry, which is the look many 90s jeans inherited.

Section 06

Which denim styles may feel dated?

Nobody can forecast this with certainty, but extremely skinny, very low-rise jeans are the shape most people are moving away from. That said, if a pair fits well and you love it, keep wearing it. A jacket that pulls at the shoulders is a fit problem, not a you problem, and the same goes for jeans that dig in at the waist.

Section 07

New styling rules for wearing denim

1. Choose the rise first. High and mid rise sit at your natural waist and suit most tucked tops.
2. Balance volume. Loose on the bottom, fitted or cropped on top, or the reverse.
3. Mind the hem. Show a little ankle or let it just touch the shoe.
4. Mix washes carefully. Denim on denim works when the tones are clearly different, or nearly identical.
5. Check fit before the wash. Stretch denim relaxes with wear, and rigid denim stays firm.

For a quick fit test, sit down, squat once and walk around. If the waistband stays put and you can move, the pair works.

Section 08

Choosing a cut for your shape

Body-type labels are only starting points. Use them loosely.

• If you want to define your waist, pick a high rise with a slight taper.
• If you carry weight in your hips, a mid or high rise in a darker, even wash gives a smooth line.
• If you prefer a roomier midsection, a straight leg that skims the body is comfortable, and a longer jacket adds a vertical line.
• If you are petite or tall, check the inseam, since it changes the proportion more than the label.

For color-forward options, browse the colorful mom jeans guide. Wash inside out in cold water and air dry to keep the color longer.

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