Jeans....when did they become so complicated!

[Justkoko]

Jeans, I'm lost. After moving on from skinnies, have been wearing girlfriend fit, but even they don't seem as easy to find. I'm unsure about barrel leg. I'm short and in drapey trousers fabric the fit is great, but in stiff denim? I'm not so sure it'll be a good look. Think I need something reasonably fitted around the hips or it'll just look big all over. Has anyone come across an up to date fit that doesn't completely overwhelm the frame if you're a bit shorter? I really need new jeans as mine are wearing out. Best would be from m and s, next or new look as they'll be easiest to get hold of and not too expensive. Tis.

I'm a bit taller (5'6"), so these might not work for you, but I tried on these the other day and they are gorgeous! I was very tempted, but went for a jumpsuit instead as I have about 6 pairs of jeans already.

These would be my first choice if looking now though:

www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/clothing/women/jeans/loose/cinch-baggy-lightweight-jeans/p/001UP0000?camp=SHB_DR_GGL_UK_ECE_EVGP_FY26_AO_ALL_PMAX_ROAS_EN_Bestsellers&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23155600490&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8Ie49rbOlgMVAJFQBh3CpDi5EAQYASABEgKmw_D_BwE

I think they look hideous. How does this emphasize a figure?

Maybe it’s not everyone’s goal to emphasise their figure? Some people are interested in interesting shaped clothing or the drape. I certainly prioritise these things over flattering these days.

Next, mid rise bootcut are very versatile, comfortable and reasonably priced.

Barrel leg jeans have been around for over three years, wide leg since at least 9. How come this is still novelty/controversial on a fashion-oriented board?

I know right? They're incredibly mainstream and generally much more stylish than "prise them out of my cold dead heads" skinny jeans, but some posters on here still find them hilarious (insert John Wayne,clown reference here).

There’s more than one way to emphasize a figure, it doesn’t have to be with skin-tight clothes.

There is so much more choice of jeans styles nowadays that are considered trendy or stylish than 10 or 15 years ago. I really enjoy this versatility.

Try a big Sainsburys
I have bought jeans costing 3/4 times the amount of my Sainsbos jeans but i keep coming back to them

I walk my grandaughters to school sometimes. and it’s usually raining in the A/W terms, so I need practical jeans that tuck in to wellies or that can be rolled up over ankle boots - M & S Lily or Levis 314 are good for this, I buy a shorter leg and wear them cropped.

I imagine there must be a lot of posters who grew up knowing no other jeans but skinny and for whom any other silhouette still looks weird. I sympathise with anyone trying to figure it out and asking for help. My sympathy runs out when the snarky comments start, especially when there are still skinnies on sale to anyone who wants them.

They remind me of Eric Morecambe and Lord Flashheart on Blackadder 😂

I’m 5’4” and a size 18. I recently got some carrot jeans from M and S and love them. Really high waisted, very comfy and surprisingly to me, flattering. I can’t wear wide leg trousers as I look ridiculous. I’m going back to look for more as I bought the off white ones and would like others for winter.

I'm so old that I can remember just about every style - rockers in their skinnies being replaced by hippies in their flares in the 1960s . We made our flares even wider by adding in extra panels in the 1970s. Then again in the 1970s a return to narrow ones. Said I would never wear them 😂 . All the stonewashed horrors of the 1980s and 1990s! 😬 Low waist down to your pubes. Then back to skinnies again . Said I'd never stop wearing them 😂 now we have all manner of shapes ! I'm a dedicated fan now of wide legs and a cropped kick flare . I have one pair of skinnies in the wardrobe for winter wellies . I feel they look so old fashioned now however I do think the rag trade keep introducing new styles to part us from our pounds.

I love the fact that any shape can be worn these days.
Skinnies really don't suit the vast majority of people.
With the exception of some slight fine-boned petite individuals.
The issue I have is with the weather. It was too wet to wear full length wide leg denim last winter and then it was too hot. So I lived in rolled up straight leg, cropped barrel and some cropped wide leg cords all winter. I dog walk every day and hate changing my clothes so anything that can be rolled up or is short enough is fine. I guess if you live in a city rather than a rural area you would be fine.

I'm also old and remember all the jeans shapes changing over and over again over decades! I'd just like high rise to bugger off, or at least be less ubiquitous, as I have a short body and no desire to tuck my bra band into my jeans. Even mid rise is more like a tiny bit less high rise. An inch under the navel at least, to suit me.

I don't mind wide legs, barrel looked odd on me, but I did see that slim leg jeans were back on the catwalks.

I went into our local H&M tonight about an hour before it closed. All the clothes were lovely and tidy and all the jeans arranged in size order. Picked up about 10 - different washes and sizes - only to find the changing room was closed - when I queried this I was told they close the changing room an hour before the store! Couldn’t believe it. The place will be rammed with teens tomorrow and massive queues for the changing rooms so shan’t be going back.

I spent some time thinking about this and I think the baggy barrel styles really suit the inverted triangle body shape.
My body is not keen anymore on storing fat on my bum and thighs so these trousers give me volume where it’s lost and balance everything out.

About 12 years ago I bought a pair of straight Gap jeans from a charity shop for 50p. I should get another winter out of them.

Just popping back to add, I took a punt on a pair of Red Herring jeans on eBay for a fiver. My size and I have another pair, different style from them from ten yrs ago. They're in excellent condition.
They only bloody fit 😲
A fiver.
I'm definitely looking again on eBay. Possibly hinted too.

Vinted!

...I think the baggy barrel styles really suit the inverted triangle body shape.
Not this one. I look fine in skinny, straight or bootleg but mom jeans make me look fat. The barrel ones don't IMO look good on many.
Some look great in 'mom' jeans.

Went to a different town today (affluent home counties) and there were a few different styles on the young women. No barrel jeans but mostly wide ones.

I love all styles of jeans.
Zara, Free people, H&M and Tu fit me best.
These are my latest pair, I really recommend them. They have very little stretch (like the originals) and are a classic style.