Denim obsessed here if you haven’t noticed. I mean, the word indigo is in my brand name because it is in fact a nod to the indigo dye both for its color that I love and the fact that it used to give denim its signature blue color. And well, I love denim!
Denim fabric anything is my favorite, I don’t discriminate. Denim trench, denim shoes, denim jacket. I’m here for it. So it’s no surprise that jeans are my favorite to choose when putting an outfit together. I’m a firm believer you can dress up a pair of jeans for nearly any occasion. To me, I feel my best when I put on a pair of good fitting jeans, it feels like a blank canvas I can do anything with.
But there are so many different types of jeans. From the varying silhouettes like straight leg to flared, and even horseshoe (a new one I’m still on the fence about), and so many washes from black jeans to white denim and every shade of blue in-between. And if you looked at my closet in 2015, nearly every color of the rainbow too. Glad those days are behind me to be honest.
I’m breaking it all down and sharing the different types of jeans, their fit, and how I like to style them. This can come in handy when shopping for jeans for your body type, or trying to decipher fits and styles that you may want to try and may not 100% know what the difference is between slim straight, relaxed straight or wide leg. Let’s dive in!
What Are The Different Types Of Jeans
1. Skinny Jeans
FIT: Skinny jeans are going to be tight and fitted from waist to ankle. They are painted on and tight.
Skinny jeans were a staple in our 2010’s closets and while we have retired them for the time being, you can definitely still wear these with the right items. Pair them with an oversized blazer or jacket to balance out the skin tight jeans. Here are some ways to style your skinny jeans for today.
A skinny jean is still a good option if you want to tuck your jeans into your knee high boots. However, you can still do that with a slim straight leg and not have to keep jeans in your rotation just for one pair of boots.
TIP: If you need an update to your skinny jeans, try a slim straight-leg jean. It’s a really simple update that doesn’t feel too different but will instantly make your closet feel more updated.
2. Straight Leg Jeans
FIT: A straight leg jean will fit straight from the hips down to the ankles. They will have a slight leg opening around the ankle and come in varying leg opening widths. A slim straight leg will feel more like an updated skinny jean, versus a wider straight leg jean that can sometimes feel like a wide leg. Choose a length that goes with most of your shoes which will likely be a slight crop around the ankle.
A straight leg jean is going to be one of the more classic and timeless silhouettes. And is the best update to the staple Millennial skinny jeans without feeling like a total shift. This is hands down my most favorite style of jean at the moment. I try to have a few options of these in my closet to go with the various shoes I wear the most. I have a range of slim straight to wide straight (which can feel more like a wide leg jean, honestly). It’s just a varying leg opening width and it can make a huge difference in the outfit.
For my loafers, flats and sneakers, I like my straight leg jeans to hit around my ankle so that the shoe can be shown off. And for boots, I like a slightly longer straight leg so that the jean falls over the boot. This is one of the trickiest parts of the Millennial closet updates as we were so used to showing off our ankle booties (usually a low cut boot) with a skinny jean. Instead, we want a higher cut ankle boot that hugs your ankle so that the jean can fall over it.
When shopping for a straight leg jean, try on varying lengths and leg opening widths to find styles you feel your best in. There are so many options when it comes to straight leg jeans that there is something for everyone, and every shoe in your closet.
3. Wide Leg Jeans
FIT: Wide leg jeans are fitted at the waist and hip and then are wide from the hip down through the ankle. The wide leg jean can vary in style based on what’s trending. A cropped fit is a popular style in this silhouette.
I love a wide leg jean, but these are not to be mistaken for a flared or bell bottom jeans. They are more wide from the hip down and are a looser and relaxed fit. Balance the wider silhouette and extra fabric with something fitted on top to define your waist and add a cropped jacket for a third piece.
If you don’t have a cropped jacket, it can be helpful to at least wear something structured like a blazer on top. Baggy and loose from top to bottom can feel overwhelming so having some structure can help to balance everything. These are also perfect to pair with heels to elongate your legs. But at the moment, pairing them with a sneaker like an Adidas Samba or Gazelle with a little puddling is very popular.
4. Mom Jeans
FIT: Typically a high-waisted, slightly relaxed jean that tapers at the bottom. Pleats are a bonus, but not required. These can be slim or on the baggier side.
Mom jeans are going to always have a tapered leg to make them feel like a true mom jean. This can easily be confused with a wide leg jean or a looser wider straight leg. But it’s the tapered ankle at the bottom that’s key. Style similarly to a wide leg or straight leg with a more fitted top to create a waist and really any third piece like a blazer or lady jacket.
Boyfriend jeans, mom jeans and even slight barrel jeans all feel a bit the same to me. I think they all come in and out of popularity and have little tweaks to them that make them feel ever so slightly different. And no these aren’t your acid wash mom jeans from the 80s anymore!
5. Flared Jeans
FIT: A true flared or bell bottom jean is slim through the thighs and then dramatically flares out at the knee.
For those amazing 70’s boho vibes, the flared jean is the way to go. I love a big bell bottom and they can be a great option for a dressed up look. These can easily be confused with a wide leg, and there is definitely some crossover. But to me, it’s the more fitted hip and thigh that sets these apart.
I always pair these with a heel to lengthen the leg. These are the best shoes to wear with a flared jean, and a few ways to style bell bottoms. Since a bell bottom is super wide on the bottom, I like to usually wear fitted pieces on top along with a cropped jacket for a third piece.
6.Bootcut Jeans
FIT: Slim through the thighs with a slight flare from the knee down.
The bootcut jean was a staple in the 2000’s and 2010’s but not so much in the 2020’s. They are pretty versatile though and can be worn with boots, sneakers, flats and heels. If you’re not sold on a really wide leg flared jean, this is a good alternative. They’re easy to style since you can go wider and looser on top since the flare isn’t exaggerated. These also can elongate your legs thanks to the slight flare effect.
7. Cropped Jeans
FIT: While all of these jean styles come in various lengths, the cropped jean is cut above the ankle, but not quite a capri. They also come in just about every style too from straight cropped to wide leg cropped.
A cropped pair of jeans allows you to really show off your shoes. My favorite style of cropped jeans are my wide leg crop Madewell jeans. They are easy to style with a lot of different shoes from heels, to sneakers and loafers, and you can wear so many different tops with them, blazers, leather jackets and so on.
These to me are super flattering for my body type, and the things in my closet. Great with cropped sweaters and jackets and can be worn with so many of my shoes. I often cut most of my jeans to this length too because who can be bothered to bring jeans in for a proper hemming.
8. Barrel Jeans
FIT: Barrel jeans or horseshoe jeans, have an exaggerated bowed leg shape that tapers at the ankle. There are varying extremes so some look exaggerated like a horseshoe, while others look more like a mom jean.
You are either team horseshoe jeans or not, I don’t know if there’s any convincing of this one. It’s such a unique look that is super trendy. However, I find the barrel jeans tend to not be as bad as a horseshoe jean. These Everlane barrel jeans truly just feel like a straight leg jean that’s a little tapered at the ankle, almost like a mom jean meets straight leg jean.
When it comes to what shoes to pair with them, style them with everything you would for a straight leg jean. These should really hit at or around the ankle so show off the shoe. More tips on what shoes to wear with straight leg jeans here which would be a good guide to know what to pair with your barrel jeans.
9. Kick Crop Jeans
FIT: These are slim through the hip and thick and are cropped in length. They have a slight flare at the leg opening.
A bit of a fun variation for a straight leg cropped jean. These have an ever so slight flare at the bottom, they “kick” out, if you will. I personally am not reaching for mine much lately, but they can be fun to show off a cute shoe and be a good substitute for a skinny jean.
10. Boyfriend Jeans
FIT: Boyfriend jeans have a relaxed a slightly looser fit, sort of like a straight leg jean but baggier through the knee. They are often cuffed at the bottom to give the effect that you’re wearing your boyfriend jeans and they are too big and too long.
I would put the boyfriend jean in the skinny jean category that we aren’t seeing these as much as we used to. A good update to these would be to go for a looser straight leg jean and skip the tiny cuff. The trend at the moment is the large cuffed jean as seen here.
Things To Know When Shopping For Jeans
High Waisted, Mid-Rise and Low Rise
Depending on whatever silhouette you choose, all jeans come in varying rises. This is the length between the top of the waistband, to the middle of the seam in the crotch area. Higher rises will elongate your legs and hit at or above your belly button, and if you have a long torso these are usually great options. If you have a short torso, aim for low or mid-rise so your torso isn’t being swallowed up by denim.
Inseams And Lengths
Your jeans will also likely be available in varying inseams, or lengths. This is the measurement from the crotch seam to the end of the jeans at the leg opening. If you’re petite, you’ll want to probably shop the petite section since the knee is usually in a different place to accommodate your body type.
But you can typically find quite a few brands that offer inseams and lengths to accommodate shorter frames to taller frames. This is an important thing to look at when shopping to make sure things aren’t TOO short. You can always hem your jeans, but you can never add fabric to the length.
Fabric Composition
Reading the fabric label on your clothes is so important. I feel like that’s all I ever do when I’m shopping. I want to know what things are made of so I can better understand the fit and how it will wear over time. For denim, you will probably see two options.
100% cotton which will be more rigid and stiff but will mold to your body. Or a blend of cotton (usually high 90%) and some spandex. This can make jeans more comfortable and softer, and helps to keep their shape a bit better as you wear them. I like to have a mix of these in my closet and every brand just looks and feels and wears differently.
How To Choose Jeans For Your Body Type
I was torn on even including this section in today’s post. I think with the help of Gen Z, and the wider looser styles as of late, we are learning that it is not about dressing for your body type anymore. We are not here to choose flattering styles, but instead styles we like and make us feel good. To you, that may mean choosing a “flattering” fit. And to others, it may be what feels good based on comfort.
I think you can actually do both. I have been finding myself leaning into the wider looser styles for comfort. And balancing it out with something a bit fitted so that the look feels more flattering and not like I’m wearing a giant amount of fabric covering up my entire body. I want you to take these suggestions below with a major grain of salt. These are more old-school thoughts of what to enhance, accentuate and balance. There’s nothing wrong with these, but I think we don’t have to live and die by them anymore.
Choose whatever the hell you want to wear that makes you feel good. But also, I encourage you to try new styles of jeans that we talked about above even if they feel “off”, or “not flattering” at first. Wear what feels good, but also try styles that may be new to you. It may take some time to get used to a new style and may take some playing around with creating outfits.
I know it took me a while to dive into skinny jeans, then I wore them for a decade thinking it was the best thing ever. And the same happened with straight leg jeans. I hope you can find the styles of jeans that make you feel good no matter how you may “look” in them based on a stereotype we may have held onto from our 20s.
For Hourglass Bodies
To accentuate your waist, try a mid or high rise jean that hugs your curves. A slimmer style is great and so is a flare or bootcut to accentuate your hourglass figure.
For Pear Shaped Bodies
Pear shaped bodies may want to try to elongate their legs a bit and that you can do with a flared and wider leg jean that sits higher on the waist.
For Apple Shaped Bodies
Aim for jeans that highlight your waist and elongate your legs. Try wider leg jeans, straight leg jeans and high waisted styles.
For Petite Bodies
Petite bodies may want to try create the illusion of longer legs. A slight flare to a wider leg will help do that along with a mid or high rise. Mom jeans or straight leg jeans are also a great option, it’s usually all about where the jean hits you when you’re petite so aim for around the ankle. Wide and loose jeans may make you feel like you’re being swallowed up by fabric if you have a petite frame.
Also, one of the best places to shop for petite jeans is Abercrombie. Abercrombie jeans come in varying lengths from extra short to extra long.
For Tall Bodies
I feel like tall bodies can really get away with just about everything when it comes to jeans. You may feel a bit off proportionally if you go for super cropped jeans.
For Athletic or Straight Bodies
Create curves and definition with mom jeans or straight leg jeans. High rise jeans also help to create more of a waist and elongate your legs.
For Curvy Bodies
To create some balance with your curves you may want to try a bootcut, flared or wider leg. And high rise can help accentuate those amazing curves. If you find that jeans gape in the back, you can shop for curvy fits. Abercrombie jeans and Madewell jeans offer these styles.
So there you have it, the comprehensive guide to the different types of jean styles to shop for. A few tips on dressing for your body type, even though I do think we can throw out most of those tips and just wear what we love. Denim is a favorite fabric of mine, and jeans are my most favorite garment to wear. I hope this guide helps you better understand all the styles and fits that are available to you to help you make some new choices for your wardrobe.
