Denim Trends: Jean Styles and How to Wear Them

The denim trends worth your attention right now are relaxed: straight legs, wide legs and baggy shapes, in washes that run from pale blue to deep indigo. Mom jeans sit comfortably inside that picture, since a high rise and a roomy hip and thigh are what most of these cuts share.

Trends move quickly, so treat this as a way to choose, not a rulebook. Pick the cut that fits your waist and hips, then pick a wash that works with what is already in your closet.

Section 01

What denim styles are trending now?

Fashion moves in loops. The FIT fashion history timeline for 2000-2009 notes that low-rise, flared jeans were prevalent in the early 2000s, bootcut jeans grew more popular by the mid-2000s, and skinny jeans arrived in 2005. Today's shapes are largely a reaction to that skinny era: more fabric, more room, and a rise that sits at or near the waist.

The shapes you will see most often are straight-leg, wide-leg, baggy and barrel, with bootcut and flare as the more fitted-at-the-thigh alternatives. Mom jeans overlap with several of them, which is why they keep working.

Section 02

Are straight jeans in style?

Yes. A straight leg is the easiest cut to wear because it falls from hip to hem without tapering or flaring, so it reads as clean and balanced on most frames. Look for a hem that just touches the top of your shoe or breaks slightly over it.

Style it with a tucked-in tee and loafers for daytime, or a fitted knit and ankle boots when it is cooler. If the waist gaps at the back, that is a fit problem, not a you problem. A tailor can take it in for a modest fee, or you can try a belt.

Section 03

How do you wear baggy and wide-leg jeans?

Baggy and wide leg jeans outfits work on one rule: when the bottom has volume, keep the top closer to the body. A fitted bodysuit, a cropped knit or a tee tucked in at the front gives the eye a waist to find.

• Choose a hem that skims the floor in the shoes you will actually wear, or hits just above the ankle for a sneaker look.
• Add a belt to mark the waist if the rise is high.
• Keep shoes slightly substantial, such as a chunky loafer or a clean sneaker, so the leg opening does not swallow them.

For a longer look at relaxed cuts with a retro feel, see our piece on the 90s mom jeans trend.

Section 04

Are dark wash jeans in style?

Dark indigo never really leaves. It is the dressier end of denim: the even, deep color looks sharper next to a blazer, a silk top or a heel. Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd note that a dark, uniform wash reads as one solid shape, which makes the leg look longer and the outfit more formal than a faded pair of the same cut.

To make dark denim feel less stiff, mix in a soft texture such as a brushed knit or a relaxed cotton shirt. If you want to try the look in a quieter palette, our neutral mom jeans guide has ideas for pairing.

Section 05

Light wash jean trends

Pale blue is the fresh, casual counterpart. Light washes catch more light, so they draw the eye outward and make a leg look wider. That is handy when you want a relaxed shape, and worth knowing if you would rather keep things streamlined.

Cream, white, soft gray and navy all sit well against light denim. For stronger color, colorful mom jeans can be paired with the same logic: one bold piece, everything else quiet.

Section 06

How to style denim trends in a few formulas

If you are wondering how to style denim trends without overthinking, these combinations are reliable:

• Straight-leg dark jeans, white button-down, loafers.
• Wide-leg light jeans, fitted tee tucked in, belt, sneakers.
• Baggy mid-wash jeans, snug knit, short boots.
• High-rise mom jeans, tailored blazer, simple top, ankle boots.

For all-day wear, look for denim with a little stretch if you want it to keep its shape, and check that the rise sits comfortably at your waist when you sit down. Wash jeans inside-out and avoid frequent machine drying to protect color and shape.

For casual mixing, pairing mom jeans with athleisure pieces is an easy next step, and street style mom jeans looks show more finishing ideas.

Section 07

Why denim keeps coming back

Denim began as work wear: the Fashion Institute of Technology's denim exhibition page describes it as an ideal work fabric because of its durability, most famously in Levi Strauss & Co.'s clothing for gold rush fortune hunters. That toughness is why a good pair lasts through trend cycles, so choose fit and fabric before chasing the newest wash.

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