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?

They're not the same

I guess theyre both a variation on parachute pants, but differ as to where they widen out and then go narrow again.

https://muthahoodgoods.com/collections/trousers/products/ella-leopard-relaxed-jeans-1

https://www.marksandspencer.com/mom-high-waisted-carrot-leg-ankle-grazer-jeans/p/clp60633911?color=BLACKMIX&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_bau_smec_counterfactual&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bS22jgucpFYRR6RNCrawIRDi&gclid=CjwKCAiAn9a9BhBtEiwAbKg6ftloT5f0SzlRfVsDmstK9F5lIerNV5qpHp2KWzPpH7MwjIWp7WGAOBoCBMMQAvD_BwE

I have both these pairs and they are so comfy and so flattering

Yes, exactly as some have said, it's an interesting silhouette. It's just the opposite of tight trousers, baggy top. I've been wearing them for at least 3 years, starting with a black pair from White Stuff. They look excellent with a fitted roll-neck jumper and trainers.

I don't know why people across multiple threads keep posting horseshoe jeans as examples - those are not the same thing.

I'm not actually bothered about "flattering" either. Not everything has to make us look smaller.

I honestly haven’t seen a single person wearing them who hasn’t looked like some sort of escaped clown.

I think they fall into the ‘quirky British mum’ aesthetic.

When skinny jeans came in did people immediately say how flattering and comfy they were? I don't remember that happening, surely there was some resistance then too, was there not?
People just get used to seeing/wearing a certain style and it becomes what they think they like and suits them.

I don’t think ‘flattering’ necessarily means smaller. It just means something makes you look as good as or better than you are. Not worse.

I love mine. They are ideal for athletic thighs.

Most of the examples on here are that they make your thighs looks massive or that you've put on 2 stone.

They’re extremely comfortable to wear and all the loose, flowing and movement of denim around upper and lower leg feels very pleasant.

Like wide billowy cotton trousers in the summer, but in nice thick warm denim which works for the winter. I think they look nice with a tight top or jumper that shows off my waist. And did I say how comfortable they are???

Agree, I like the carrot/relaxed taper shape. Ideally in a mid rise. They feel kind of relaxed and elegantly slouchy. I actually love the look of a barrel on most people but I'm super skinny of leg and so far every pair 😅 very tried so far has been a bit to oversized and flappy looking on me. Still keep trying them though.

@Branleuse do keep up!

Had to google- they look like Popeye the Sailor man’s jeans!

They look good on absolutely no-one of any age, shape or size!

And the ankle grazer ones are just comical.

I love them . At 61 & 5 ft 3.Specifically the Sienna Miller or Free People Osaka jeans. The M&S carrot jeans look awful on....

Just bought a pair from George today, love them!😍

By flattering I personally mean not look like an idiot...nothing to do with looking smaller. I could be completely wrong but not one picture of them has made me think 'gee those look great I'd love to try a pair on'. Horses for courses and all that.

My son’s best friend rocked up in a pair the other day. He’s 20 5’9” and they did him no favours. DS is 6’3” with extra long legs, he could wear sack cloth and ashes and still look like a male cat walk model but refuses to buy a pair. He also has an aversion to the latest extra flared flares because he’s seen photos of his DF wearing Oxford bags ( extra wide) in the late 70s, he was a Northern soul fan though.

The barrel leg trousers are very similar to the trousers worn by Dutchmen in the 19th century.

@PuppyMonkey I'm not a fan of the more extreme shape on me but I like the more normal shape. I don't think it's just about what your legs look like but the overall aesthetic of wider bottoms, higher waists, shorter tops, cropped lengths with ballets etc. Although having said I am getting a bit bored now and am really getting to drawn to longer tops again & slightly narrower leg shapes.

I'd never heard of these. Thank you for the much needed laugh I emitted when I searched to find out what they are!

I love everything about this photo 😁

Fabric matters too, makes a big difference on how they hang as well as warmth. Like the thick and fairly heavy denim of these Levis XL Balloon Jeans

https://www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/clothing/women/xl-balloon-jeans/p/A46760000

I was just googling these earlier. I quite like them. But, when the images came up, some of them were just the jeans, with no model inside them. And I did have to double check they weren't actually babies jeans. Nice and roomy for the nappy and chubby little thighs! 😁

I absolutely love barrel jeans, they’re my favourite!

I wouldn’t wear them with Crocs if you don’t want everyone singing “A mouse lived in a windmill “ to you.

I’ve totally re-embraced them! We used to call them baggies in the late 90s/early 00s, and every self respecting mosher had several pairs with bike chains hanging off them. God, I’ve missed them! Comfiest jeans on the bloody planet. I get mine from EMP.