When it comes to staying updated and modern in your style, one of the items that can have the biggest impact is your denim. Every fall we like to do a denim audit of our closet, removing and donating any outdated pairs and making a list of denim trends we’d like to try. Our top jeans to have this fall include almost every length, width, and rise under the sun–that’s good news! Most likely you already own some of these styles, and if not, there’s a denim update that will fit and flatter your body type!
Straight Leg
Our top denim trend we consider a must-have is a pair of straight leg jeans. It’s the perfect gateway jean to ease out of skinny jeans and into a wider leg silhouette! We’ve been hearing that skinny jeans are making a comeback (see more on that below!), but overall the trend of a more relaxed leg has become mainstream in stores and on the street.
Straight leg styles can come in high or mid rise, and in crop or full length styles. We prefer a slightly cropped style that’s at or just slightly above the ankle bone. These Joe’s Jeans & JCrew pairs fit amazing and we like the length for our 5’6” height. Another style we’ve recommended for the past couple of years is the Levi’s Wedgie jean.
This jeans style works well with a flat shoe such as a slim sneaker, a ballet flat or Mary Jane, a mule, or a loafer. They can also be dressed up with a heel. For styling with boots, we recommend a boot with a slim shaft that goes up under the hem of the jean. An ankle boot is a more outdated boot style and is tricky to get just right with the length of the jean.
kick crop flare
For a little added flair from a straight leg, we love having a “kick crop flare” aka ankle flare jean in our denim lineup. The subtle flare balances a curvy figure and is the one denim style we swear looks good on every body type and works with every shoe! We especially love these with a cute heel for date night. To style with a boot, choose a taller, narrower shaft that slides up under the leg of the jean. For a save option, check out Krista’s Levi’s pair, and for designer pick, the Mother Hustler is top rated. The stretchy fit is super flattering!
Wide Leg
We can confidently say wide leg jeans are here to stay, so if you’ve been hesitating, now’s the time to give them a try! Often we get the comment, “I’m short, these jeans won’t work for me!”, but this style is actually more versatile than most people realize. If you’re petite, a crop wide leg can provide the right length without alterations and a slim shoe like a retro sneaker or pointed toe boot will visually elongate the leg. Krista loves this pair from the Loft and I’m digging the Low Slung Baggy jean from Madewell!
We love the comfortable lower rise of this pair from JCrew. A high rise trouser style is also so flattering and makes a polished foundation for a workwear outfit. The trick with wide legs is to pair with a slim shoe style, rather than anything chunky or that has a rounded toe. A chunky shoe with wide leg or baggy jeans visually stops the eye and creates a “stumpy” look, which only a teenager can make look cool!
Cuffed
A cuffed jean is really trending for fall, and we’re loving it! A rule of thumb when you want to amp up your style is to add an unexpected touch, and the cuffed jean does just that. Both crop and full length options have their place in your closet, with the same shoe styling guidelines for wide legs applying here. This trend is especially nice for our petite friends–you can just cuff a regular length straight or wide leg jean and you’re good to go
save: kohl’s—————————————Splurge: Citizens Of humanity
Skinny Black or Dark Denim
If you’re like us, you’ve held onto your skinny jeans knowing they’d eventually come back around, and they have…sort of. We’re seeing them crop up again this season because frankly, after a season or two of pretending the opposite, the fashion girlies have realized they’re hands-down the best option for pairing with the tall boots in our closets! What’s fresh is dark denim, so we suggest sticking with that or black jeans to create a chic, modern skinny jeans look. We’ll see how the skinny jeans saga plays out in the spring…
Barrel Leg
The most controversial denim trend is the barrel jean. When we first shared them the response was clear–you either LOVED them or HATED them! After seeing a few iterations from different brands, we personally think they’re fun and cute, but we lean towards a less exaggerated leg style. Two more options: the Everlane Way High Curve jean has a nice, subtle shape and we love the Splendid Carson Pant for a non-denim look. Krista recently tried on the American Eagle barrel jean and they were perfect! Just the shape we like, and affordable too!
We suggest styling barrel jeans with a slim shoe like a ballet flat or fitted kitten heel boot. They would also look fabulous with a pair of heels and an oversized blazer for a stylish date night outfit!
We hope you loved our top jeans to have this fall! Not every denim trend will resonate, and it’s certainly not a must to wear every trend. The important thing is to feel good in what you’re wearing! The one thing we’ve learned, however, is that trying something on can often be a pleasant surprise! Bottom line: be open and have fun! What denim trend are you thinking of trying??
Xoxo Julie & Krista
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