Barrel style jeans - wtf?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

I've been seeing these all over the place and I just don't understand who would look good in them? Maybe it's because I'm short and on the dumpier side so can't imagine anything less flattering to me, but I don't think they look good on any of the advertising I've seen either? Am I officially old now?

Yeah nah I ain’t wearing those. I’m bottom heavy and I’d look insane. They do look very comfortable though.

the second pair are horseshoe jeans. Not barrel

Er they are the same

"But now, there’s a new silhouette stuck in our mind: the barrel, or horseshoe."

"As Libby Page, market director at Net-A-Porter explains, the barrel leg is an evolution of the wide-leg styles that we saw everywhere last year. “We’ve been seeing a shift towards more oversized and wide-leg denim silhouettes. Street style has embraced baggy, low-slung styles and added a more androgynous touch to our wardrobes,” she says. “The architectural shape of a barrel leg, such as Citizens of Humanity’s Horseshoe jeanss_, elevates any smart-casual dress code.”"

The horseshoe is just the more exaggerated fashioney version.

I love them! I’m 6ft tall with broad shoulders and a 25 inch waist, so IMO they balance me out quite well! Wide leg are just too much fabric and skinnies can be OK but also can make me look like I might topple over.

Maybe I’m deluded though and I look insane! 😂 I’m a big fan of Cos type clothes though and am not hugely bothered about stuff being super flattering.

Inspired by that thread too , went out and bought a pair, Love them! They fit like they were custom made & so comfortable. Worn them nearly everyday since.

www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/best-barrel-leg-jeans

I guess Glamour doesn't know what they are talking about...

versions from Next, Tu, M&S etc are always going to be safer than the original inspo.

I agree! I tried on the whistles ones snd they looked good on me (short and skinny). I didn’t buy them as I didn’t love them enough.

Tried on the m&s sienna ones and they looked ridiculous!

I absolutely love mine. They are so comfy! I can't believe now that I put up with skinnies for so long.

I have some that my daughter gave me and they are great. Super comfy. I always get compliments when I wear them.

I’ve just ordered some from Zara. Very dark indigo with matching shirt. They should arrive tomorrow. Shall report back.
BTW I’m 60

I much prefer it to all the rolls squished into skinny jeans!

Well first of all - never too old to take an interest in clothes! Barrel legs can be worn by anyone, not just "those young things"!

Also as @Floisme said, we have such a wide range of jeans shaped available, everyone can find a shape they like. And they can wear them, ideally without slagging off what someone else chooses to wear 🙄

Honestly reading about things being "flattering" is just so boring. You can dress in an interesting way without just trying to make yourself look as small as possible.

You’re not wrong OP. They look horrific. I’m 40 and must definitely be middled aged to not understand today’s fashion! I wear flared jeans - although if I’m honest I feel a bit like a teenager again. Other than cord trousers I have no idea what to wear. When skinny jeans were in I was probably at my thinnest so got away with wearing them. I have no idea what suits me now. I hate straight or cropped trousers.

I honestly don’t get why anyone wants to look bow legged? 🤔

Love them. Have multiple pairs in different colours. But I’m also 6ft 😂

I think we are finally past what’s “flattering” a la Trinny and Susannah and all the female celebs who got slated for being “fat” for having a tiny bit of skin hanging over their jeans.

Personally I like the new jeans styles, they feel more interesting and I’ve never once thought someone looked bad in them. Because I don’t generally look at people and think “god you are fat/dumpy/look horrible” and would much prefer to see them wear what they are comfortable in and makes them feel excited.

The Times today said straight jeans are the ones but don’t stop buying a barrel leg just yet. MN is a bit behind the times. Bypass barrel and buy straight.

No idea who these ridiculous jeans are made of. Could be for people like me? I used to be a model, 5'11'' still size 6, hourglass figure, long lean legs. But... With my figure I can wear anything, so why would I choose these ludicrous clown trousers?

Why would someone short and fat wear these - that's an even greater mystery.

So true

I tried the Sainsbury's ones that people are going mad for. They put a good two stone on me. They're very unflattering.

I’m an average height size 12-14 pear shape and think mine look okay. Bought the TU ones on a whim after the recent sainsburys thread and surprised how much I like them.

Haven't had any compliments so I could be totally deluded 🤣

@trainermush both versions look very silly. Why would you want your legs to look like that.

But who's compelling you?

I understand, for example, why people complain about the oversize silhouette, even though I quite like it myself, because there's virtually no alternative on the high street at the moment.

A lot of people got fed up with skinny jeans because every other style was squeezed out.

But right now you could almost wear a different style of jeans every day if you wanted. I think that variety is one of the best things about fashion at the moment. It probably won't last forever and I have little patience with moaning because there are one or two you don't like.

I would describe my shape as “short and sturdy” .. they suit me much more than wide leg or flare jeans which just swamp me, without being skinny or straight leg.