This winter’s key denim trend is extra wide-leg: it's time to invest in a pair

Wide-leg jeans are the pick-me-up your wardrobe has been calling out for
Raey
Karen Dacre5 November 2019

Clothing falls into two categories: there’s the stuff you wear because it fulfils a basic and essential function and then there’s the jazz-hands stuff, chosen to help you stand out from the crowd.

This season’s biggest trouser trend spans both factions. We’re talking jeans — see dependable, functional — recast in high-fashion form — “event jeans”, if you will.

So what’s the deal? Neither straight-legged nor skinny, this winter’s key denim trend is extra wide. Picture a width that goes beyond the size of your waist and you’ll have a good idea of scale.

The style is undoubtedly a knock-on effect of a renewed appreciation for wide-leg trousers, which have been excelling in the popularity stakes for some time — particularly when it comes to tailoring and an all-singing, all-dancing evening trouser. This time it’s all about daywear. Wide-leg jeans are the pick-me-up your wardrobe has been calling out for.

Jacquemus
Jacquemus

There are plenty around this season with brands from Zara to Madewell going long (and wide) on the style. On the catwalk everyone from Stella McCartney to Loewe got on board with the look. And we’re not just talking basic washes of black and indigo: candy colours are among the vast array of options. Jacquemus has them in a host of shades.

If you have worn — and loved — a pair of extra-wide-leg trousers you will know that the joy of this silhouette is its ability to generate instant elegance. There’s something glamorous about a trouser that swishes as you walk. Advocates may also note that the wide-leg is a disaster on rainy days, particularly in lighter shades, but let’s not dwell on the negatives.

Unless you’re Karlie Kloss, these jeans require heels — notably because this look isn’t to be confused with the one you clung to as a student — making them the most party-ready pair of jeans in your collection. In their latest incarnation wide-leg jeans should be so long they caress the pavement. Wear them with your favourite pair of ankle boots — anything with a bit of a point will work.

Zara

When December hits you can expect to wear yours — I’m all about Raey’s appropriately titled Stride jeans — with oversized silk blouses, or, if you’re really going for it, an “event” top that’s equally as exciting as your choice of denim. It’s at this point that a statement sandal, high enough to prevent you tripping over your hems, comes into its own.

But, for now, as autumn lingers, sweaters are your friend. Wear knits tucked in to accentuate the waistline and balance the silhouette. And if you are feeling an oversized knit, a style with shape will make a fine companion.

This trend is as broad as it is long.

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