Uh, oh, skinny jeans are back. From barrel-leg to carrot, flare to nineties low-rise, here are the shapes you need to know in denim now.
Regardless of your tried-and-true fit, 2025 could be the year you expand your denim horizons. This year’s front-running denim looks will be all about reinvention — specifically, classic silhouettes with unexpected twists.
While some trends nod to the past with vintage-inspired washes and silhouettes, others embrace modern, statement-making details that feel entirely fresh. Whether you’re rolling your cuffs or doubling up on denim, these buzz worthy trends are set to dominate this season. Let’s break it down…
THE BARREL LEG JEAN
Barrel jeans might look difficult to pull off, but when they hit, they hit. The curved, wide-leg silhouette lends an editorial edge to any outfit, making even the simplest pieces in your wardrobe – white Tees, bomber jackets, light cardigans – pop. To offset their extreme volume, keep everything above the waist more fitted, and don’t feel the need to go overboard on layers or accessories.
THE BLEACHED JEAN
This year, bleached denim was seen at Balenciaga, Coperni, Diesel, and Gucci, to name a few. The lightest of the blue jean family, this wash can be found in almost all silhouettes. Probably one of the easiest jeans to style, this shade pairs beautifully with pretty much anything. Wax jackets, cropped knits, ankle boots, blazers, you name it – they’ll look great.
THE DARK WASH JEAN
There’s something about a deeper denim shade that feels a smidge more polished than, say, an ultra-light wash. The darker rinses read as more formal, and a structured finish lends a more tailored look. These are the perfect office jeans, pairing nicely with a fitted cardigan and a ballet flat. But they also look great for a night out, worn with a sculptural top.
THE WIDE LEG JEAN
Wide leg jeans are still running the show because they’re versatile, comfy, and pair well with everything from tiny tanks to half tucked knits or polo shirts. They’re polished enough to elevate a casual look and can transition seamlessly from day to night with the right shoes (pointed kitten heels) and a great oversized blazer.
THE STRAIGHT LEG JEAN
If you feel bombarded by choice when it comes to denim, remember this: no razzle-dazzle denim will ever look as cool as a timeless pair of no-nonsense straight-leg, indigo-wash jeans. With their more understated aesthetic, they’re adored by minimalist dressers and continue to rival more oversized silhouettes. Not only is the fit straightforward (literally), these classics also prevail in a range of washes.
THE SKINNY JEAN
The divisive silhouette is becoming a newfound runway and street style staple alongside other noughties staple pieces. There’s a crispness, a fundamental sharpness to the shape that feels slick. In an era of baggy trends, the leg-hugging, second-skin, nowhere-to-hide skinny look suddenly feels rebellious – which in turn, makes it feel cooler than it used to.
THE MOM JEAN
High-waisted, often distressed and cut with a refreshingly easy fit, it can be easy to confuse mom jeans with their relation, the boyfriend jean. The difference, though, is in the waistline (which tends to sit just below the navel) and the slightly tapered (ergo, more flattering) legs, often rolled up to hit just above the ankle.
DOUBLE DENIM
Double denim still has a reputation for being on the wrong side of the 1980’s but this year, the ‘Canadian Tuxedo’, as it’s otherwise known, is smarter, sexier, and surprisingly chic. We love a form fitting denim jacket and wide-leg jeans pairing, but as long as the tones of the washes go together (warm with warm and cool with cool), the sky’s the limit.
STATEMENT DETAILS
Decorative denim is nothing new, but this year it’ll have a more elaborative twist than ever before. Think jeans that serve as your outfit’s headline act. This season, expect to see boucle details, silver-studded seams, baggy hems dripping in diamanté, poster print designs, all over rhinestone embellishment, and straight-leg jeans adorned with pearls.
HIGH WAISTED
Despite passing fashions, high-waisted jeans have retained a place of choice in our wardrobes because they’re both versatile and flattering. Structured but comfy fits are everything, making high-rise denim the perfect partner for fitted tees, a cropped blouse, a ribbed polo neck and a tucked in button-down shirt.
How to shop sustainably for jeans
When it comes to denim, sustainability is a complex picture, but everyone agrees on the most important rule: don’t buy more than you need, and consider preloved or upcycled options. In London, ELV Denim designs and makes new jeans in the most-wanted silhouettes out of old ones destined for landfill, making a feature of the upcycle by splicing two colours together.
If you’re buying new jeans, look for regeneratively farmed cotton: Citzens of Humanity’s relaxed fit, cropped-leg Dahlia jeans are a beauty. For a cheaper alternative, Reformation’s Alyssa High Rise Wide Leg jeans are made from a blend of cotton and Tencel which is made from rapidly renewable eucalyptus trees and uses 20% less water than cotton. Danish brand MUD Jeans is pioneering circular jeans, made from 40% post-consumer (destined for landfill) denim.
Closer to home, Native Denims, based in the Chocolate Factory in Dublin, produce the only Irish made authentic premium jean in the market. “We put in what Fast Fashion takes out,” is the company mantra and though €160 (to start) may be a lot for a pair of jeans, they guarantee them for five years and reckon they will last for twenty.
Writer, stylist and and denim obsessive Kara O’Sullivan knows her stuff when it comes to finding the ultimate sustainable addition to your wardrobe.
“I think the shift towards a more considered ‘buy once, wear forever’ culture chimes well with the inherent endurance of denim. For me the most sustainable pieces will always be vintage. My favourite brands that have the best vintage denim eras are Miss Sixty, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana and of course Levi’s. In true 90s/00s fashion, you can never go wrong with a pair of Levi 501s!
Vinted is my holy grail for all things vintage and pre-loved, but there is nothing quite like having the chance to try on a pair of jeans IRL. In Dublin I love Loot, Tola Vintage and Nine Crows. And if you’re in Paris, don’t miss Bobby’s, Nuovo and Bimbo Vintage Club.
Right now, I’m obsessed with these vintage Miss Sixty jeans – they’re cheekily low cut at the front but so fun! And you wouldn’t believe how comfortable they are. I love the fit and flare shape on them and they’re definitely a fun (and cuter) alternative to a skinny jean if you want something a little more fitted…”
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of IMAGE.
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