As someone who adores all things denim, it’s no surprise that printed and embellished jeans are on my radar. And as a Millennial who lived for a pop of color in her painted-on skinny jeans in the early 2000s, yeah, it’s safe to say a statement jean easily influences me. And we’re going to chat all about how to style printed jeans.
The Y2K trend is not what we once wore. Just like the statement necklace is having a comeback, everything returns with a twist. Thankfully, that’s always the case because I don’t think I can get on board with these burgundy skinny jeans again.
It all started with these paisley Veronica Beard jeans that entered my wardrobe. This faint print, and wide leg silhouette quickly became a favorite in my closet. And after a quick browse at new arrivals at my favorite denim brands, it’s safe to say printed jeans, statement jeans and embellished jeans, are having a moment. So let’s chat about the printed jean trend, how to style them and help you find your perfect pair.
How To Style Printed Jeans In 2025
Lately, we’ve been seeing a move away from classic denim trends. The straight leg jean is a closet staple, but denim trends are seeing a bit of a playful shakeup. From bolder silhouettes like barrel leg jeans and looser fits in wide leg relaxed denim.
But we’re also seeing more colors and prints. Again, not painted on peach or cobalt blue skinnies, but instead leopard prints, embellishments like grommets, pearls and rhinestones and even printed designs on classic blue jeans. And let me tell you something, it’s the easiest way to make your jeans and a tee feel so much more interesting.
Printed Jeans to Try This Season
There are a few variations of printed and embellished jeans to try. From lightwash and soft prints for spring and summer, to leopard and grommet dark-washed jeans for fall and winter. Here are a few trends to try based on your personal style.
Printed Jeans
Printed jeans are going to have a design that’s directly applied to the jeans, usually as a screen print technique. It’s flat and soft to the touch, usually. Some of these include leopard prints, to floral prints and simple stripes and designs.
Embellished Jeans
Embellished jeans are all about the texture and dimension. It really adds a whole new dimension to your outfit. There are so many options to choose from that are either more relaxed and cool like a grommet or stud, or something more elevated and fancy for a night out, from rhinestones to sparkles.
Ways To Style Printed And Embellished Jeans
Keep The Rest Of The Outfit Simple And Minimal
This is definitely a personal preference, but if prints and designs intimidate you, let your jeans do all the work. Keep the rest of your outfit simple. Try a simple cotton tee, or vest to let the jeans do the talking.
Stick To The Color Palette
If you’re going with a printed jean that has a colorful palette to it, pull some of those colors out in your top, third pieces and accessories. This helps the outfit feel more cohesive. If you’re doing a floral print and there are reds and blues, you can do a mix of each in your tops and accessories to finish off the look.
Be Aware Of Print Mixing
Some printed and statement jeans can be quite bold in their print. And you’ll want to keep this in mind when pairing it with even more prints. Print mixing can be really fun, but can quickly feel messy. For more muted designs like my faded paisley print, you can really mix things up if you want to and add in prints carefully.
For studded and embellished jeans, I wouldn’t overthink prints. Grommets, or sequins or studs add texture and interest and can let a print like a stripe or plaid work on top without overpowering the jeans.
Go Maximalist
I am not here to tell you if you love color and prints to tone the rest of your outfit down if you choose printed jeans. If you’re a maximalist, go for it. Add a bold color and create contrast. Or throw on a sequinned bag to go with the sequinned jeans. I think this is all so personal and it works whether you want to go maximalist or minimal.
Sequinned Versus Printed, When To Wear Them
There’s almost a hierarchy of printed jeans and when you should wear them. Take the paisley printed ones I’m wearing in this post. They’re pretty minimal and not bold and in your face. These can really be worn with a simple tank and sandal, or sneakers for a simple look.
But if you’re wearing sequinned jeans, we’ll want to wear them out at night or to nicer events. They should be treated like a more dressy piece versus your everyday denim. But also, you do you. If you’re someone who loves to wear sequins all day every day, by all means, go all in!
If you’re looking for something new and interesting to add to your closet, look no further than printed or embellished jeans. They add a fun twist to your classic denim silhouettes and there’s an option for every style. From dressed up, to casual, try statement jeans as a fun new trend to incorporate easily into your closet.
