As the seasons shift and we finally bid goodbye to the dark and gloomy months, many of us resolve to make a change. Some opt for invigorated exercise regimes, while others want to take up the daily habit of reading on their commute. Me? I'm hoping to adopt a brand new jean shape this season.
Since skinny jeans died a timely death in 2016 (or, wait, are they back?), I've been all about the 'Mom' jeans, namely the mid-rise, straight-leg style of Levi's 501s. Slim enough to feel 'flattering' (whatever that means) and baggy enough to read as 'cool', they've ticked my denim box for years. And, while my usual personal style idiom is: 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', another phrase is nagging me; variety is the spice of life, after all.
About eight years into my monogamous relationship with 501s, I'm considering opening my relationship to barrel-leg jeans.
Best Barrel Leg Jeans
We The Free Lucky You Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans
This Y2K iteration comes in 11 different shades and washes.
Cos Arch Jeans
Slung low on the hips and ending sharply on the ankle, Cos' Arch is your entry-level barrel-leg jean.
Frame Long Barrel Jeans
Slightly higher and tighter on the waist, Frame's light-wash jean is an especially flattering option.
H&M Tapered Leg Jeans
H&M has delivered the ultimate everyday jean with a gently tapered leg.
Toteme Barrel Jeans
The off-white hue of Toteme's Barrel jeans is perfect for pairing with neutral separates.
With a high waist and light stretch, Whistles has served up an especially comfortable option.
Ganni Dark Blue Stone Stary Jeans
Ganni's stellar pair comes in a host of blue tones, as well as some liveler metallic finishes.
Alaïa High-Rise Barrel-Leg Jeans
The most coveted option straight from the runway? It could only be Alaïa.
Agolde + NET SUSTAIN Luna Jeans
The visible front seam on Agolde's Luna jean look so cool in the flesh, particularly when paired with mesh flats and a heavy knit.
Usually, high-waisted, barrel-leg jeans are notable for their extreme tapered leg. Coming in all different washes, their slim ankle and baggy knee seem to be the perfect combination of relaxed and sleek. And I'm not the only one with a wandering eye, according to Lyst they've seen a 150% increase in searches for barrel jeans from September to October of 2023.
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
Alaïa sent a fabulously extreme pair down the AW23 runway, but Free People, Frame and Toteme (the top searched denim brands for barrel jeans on Lyst) have all released slightly more affordable styles that would work as well with with heels and mesh flats as they would with trainers and loafers.
I'm going to pair mine with a With Nothing Underneath shirt and Loeffler Randall's Ginger ballet flats to work this spring. Oh yes, and that's another new-season style resolution that I'm setting; it's time to wear heels to work again.
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