Here’s what’s new in the world of denims
By Laurie Mega

For the past decade, the skinny jean has dominated season after season. It started out as a tapered, fitted look, but gradually got tighter and skinnier, becoming denim’s answer to leggings. 

This year is different.

The runway is flooded with all kinds of new denim cuts. Celebs and influencers have been spotted wearing so many different trends, some experts are calling the death of the skinny jean.

So is the skinny jean really dead? What’s replacing it? And—probably the most important question—how do you wear these new trends?

Denim Trends 

Here are some of the styles you’ll see on the streets and on the runway this summer and fall. Match them with your favorite summer tops and accessories, or take a few pointers from the most style-minded celebs:

Bootcut and Flare The 70s (and the 90s) are back! Flare and bootcut elevate denim with a touch of sophistication. Get them a little longer to wear with heels and pair them with a tailored top like model Gigi Hadad. She wore high-waisted flares with sparkly stilettos and a black halter to Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty fashion show. 

Straight Leg A straight leg can also look polished with the right top and accessories. Bella Hadid has paired them with a boxy sweater and strappy heels. Throw on a cross-body purse to finish off the sophisticated look.

Slouch These jeans are comfortable and roomy. High-waisted, oversized jeans look amazing with a feminine top. Or, you could embrace the slouchy look with an oversized top, like Billie Eilish did on Jimmy Kimmel last year. 

Distressed Distressed denim never really went out of style. This year distressed means holes, and lots of them. Everyone from Katie Holmes to Kim Kardashian has stepped out in majorly ripped up jeans. Pair them with this year’s top trend: a well-cut button-down blouse.

High Waists The major pattern here? Everything is high-waisted. And while it may seem like jeans are loosening up a bit, Maria Brogna, partner and creative director at fashion boutique Lola Dré in south Florida, sees them getting higher and tighter. “Fitting snug around the hips and thighs and making the butt look as high and tight as possible is the new fad.”

The Skinny Jean Isn't Dead Yet

And because jeans are getting higher and tighter, don’t count skinny jeans out just yet. High-waisted skinny jeans are everywhere, from the runway to the hallway.

Jennifer Carcich agrees. She heads up the women’s division at Revtown Jeans, which specializes in custom-fit performance denim.

“I have a hard time saying that the skinny jean will fully go away. I do see new trends emerging that are definitely more relaxed in fit, and I think we’re going to see more and more of that.”

She’s seen everything from straight-leg silhouettes, to wider-leg culottes, to high waists with a paper bag construction, but she doesn’t see the skinny jean being pushed out just yet.

“I still think there’s going to be a place for the skinny, and I think it’s because it’s such a versatile style. When you find that pair of skinny jeans that have great structure and comfort and support, there’s nothing quite like it.”

Finding The Right Denim For You 

With all these new jean trends, it’s easy to get caught up in, and even stress about, what to wear this summer and for back-to-school.

But not every cut and fit is right for everyone. Owning these looks is all about finding the one or two that look fabulous on you.

“Try, try, and then try again,” says Brogna. That’s because no two brands are alike, even if the jeans are the same size. 

“Each brand is different and fits very differently based on size. European brands are more narrow cut, while American brands tend to have a little bit more leeway when it comes to sizing,” she says.

It's All About The Confidence 

For Brogna and Carcich finding the right pair of jeans is more about trends. It’s about confidence.

“Trends aside, find something that you feel great in and you feel confident in.”

She says that is the number one message she hears from women of all ages and walks of life: that they want to feel confident and comfortable in their jeans.

Brogna adds, “Be yourself. Be confident in who you are and what you are wearing. You wear the clothes. The clothes don’t wear you.”