Explain barrel leg jeans to an idiot?

[MorrisZapp]

Keep hearing about barrel leg jeans. I've googled and they look like boyfriend jeans only not rolled up at the bottom?

Do you own any and do you find them flattering? Do they tend to be made of 90s/cardboard denim?

I have some, I love how the legs look (they are wider than my boyfriend jeans) but I haven’t found anything to wear on the top half that really works with them, so hoping for tips from this thread! Yes they are quite thick, non-stretch denim. Mine are black whistles ones. They’re also quite high-waisted.

I think the phrase has lost a lot of its original meaning and yes, often used to describe a loose straight leg. But to me, it should mean that the legs are curved, like a barrel.

I really like them. Are they flattering? I don't know but I don't believe in only wearing clothes that flatter so that doesn't really bother me.

As regards fabric, in my opinion they keep their shape better if the denim is of a certain weight, but I don't think it has to be a stiff, rigid denim. I've got some M&S ones - I think they call them 'balloon leg' - and the denim's quite soft.

I think they work better with long legs. I tried some of Uniqlo's a few years ago (pre-pandemic) and I just looked like a clown.

I always thought this meant kind of cigar shaped so they balloon out in the middle but taper to the ankle / lower leg? <goes to Google>

I have these boden ones. I wear with tucked in t shirt and trainers. Not sure how they’d work with boots.

I think they can be very flattering on the waist as with all that fabric on the bottom, the waist looks smaller. I think they have to be worn with a tight top tucked in, or a crop top or definitely something short. The types of tops you would wear loose with s

Skinnies won't work.

I feel like I'm being eaten alive in them, with the thickness of the denim and the height of the rise.

The high rise is key though as otherwise they can really make your legs look very short. Anyone with short legs already is going to find this trend harder. But all you need is some kind of looser, tapered fit to channel the essence.

This is really helpful! I'll try some on but as a short type I'll keep my expectations realistic.

I have some I bought in the M&S sale and they’re the most flattering jeans I’ve ever worn. Really comfortable and just make me feel that bit cooler (even though it’s a bit naff to say so!)

I love the shape, and they are so comfortable to wear. I agree the term is losing its meaning; i think "barrel" implies a tapered leg. As opposed to "wide leg" which i wouldn't expect to be tapered.

Agree about the meaning changing. Those Boden ones don't look anything like Uniqlo's first versions.

I have M&S barrel leg and the legs are definitely cut as a barrel shape and not straight leg.

Another fan here. I have Levi’s ones, Whistles, and most recently some from White Stuff which I actually saw linked on here. I’m a pear-shaped 10/12 and always looked awful in skinny jeans, but this shape works well on me. I always either tuck in or wear things that sit on the waistband, and think if you are used to skinny legs/flowy top it’s a bit of an adjustment in shape.

I’m 5ft 1 and I love my pair from M&S! I bought the short length and they’re perfect. This is the pair. They feel more current than skinny jeans but I did have to adapt the way I wear my tops, tucking them in, as leaving them loose doesn’t work.

I couldn't get on with the barrel leg jeans but I have some drawstring khaki type barrel trousers from M&S and I have worn them all summer.

The Raey cropped carrot jeans look ace on Instagram, 140 quid mind.

What’s the difference between a mom Jean and a barrel leg? As a mom Jean is tapered too?

Barrel leg usually a much wider leg down to the point of being tapered.

Am wearing my M&S barrel leg bargains right now! I agree they're comfy and (I think) flattering! I wear with a shirt or T shirt tucked in as this suits the high waist. Also with trainers - eg Air Force 1s but at the moment I've got on converse hi tops and I think they're working fine with them too

Only thing is they need a shorter jacket/top I think, am finding blazers or long shirts look a bit wrong proportionally (on me anyway!)

I’m wears Whit Stuff barrel legs from last summer sale right now. Extra room in the butt makes them comfy. I have some mom jeans I got from Matalan at the weekend and they are a neater fit and the taper not so pronounced. Cigar fit for me tend to be even less pronounced again. Barrel often have a sewn in dart on the front hem to take care of the extra width.

I’ve no idea why autocorrect is correcting perfectly good words and make a sentence not make sense anymore!

I’m wearing White Stuff

I first saw them in Joseph - sold out very quickly and I was delighted when Uniqlo produced a few pairs a year later - I tend to wear them with fitted tops and cropped jackets - I'm a tall hourglass - I love how they exaggerate my silhouette - are they flattering? Well, I think they look good - but they don't make me look 2 sizes slimmer or perform any other kind of wizardry.

I have a pair and the width is wide but the hem isn’t as wide. I loved wearing them until I went on holidays and saw lots of photographs of how I actually looked (as opposed to how I thought I looked). They made me look very wide and very short and frumpy. As I had brought a limited number of clothes on hols, I ended up rolling up the ends to try to balance them out which didn’t particularly work.

If you are looking for a flattering shape, I’d rethink this style.