Denim continues to trend strongly for 2026 because the fabric is robust, practical, versatile, and has longevity. Remember, it’s not about chasing trends for the sake of it. It’s about finding silhouettes that make you feel fab, are comfortable and true to your personal style. Thankfully, there is enormous variety in denim wash, colour, fit, fabric, price, and silhouette these days. Hopefully you’ll find what you need and want.
First, some general points, and then I’ll summarize the strongest trends by style.
- LENGTHS: All lengths of jeans are on trend. There are cropped lengths that expose the ankle bone, or graze the ankle bone. Two inches above the ankle is a sweet spot for cropped lengths. There are full lengths that skim the vamp of the shoe without a break line. The point is to showcase footwear at that length. Some full lengths are longer, thereby covering more of the shoe and creating a break line. Last, there are fashion forward floor-sweeping “puddle lengths”. Tapered silhouettes at extra long lengths scrunch at the ankle creating a textured effect.
- RISES: Low rises are back, but aren’t mainstream. Mid and high rises are mainstream and here to stay. Low slung jeans are not be confused with low rise jeans. Low rise is built low. Low slung is worn low. Low slung is a styling choice and not a rise measurement.
- WASHES and FABRIC: Classic blue washes that range from super light to super dark are fashionable. There is acid wash and two-toned denim too. Fabrics range from 100% cotton, to cotton blends that incorporate a little stretch and sometimes polyester. Dark indigo denim with no distressing is having a fashion moment. Subtle distressing like soft whiskering, small rips and raw hems are there too.
- COLOURS: Blue jeans reign supreme. White in all its shades is big. There’s also grey, black, and a smattering of pink, red, olive, burgundy and earth tones. Brown jeans and patterned denim is gaining momentum.
- SILHOUETTES: I’ve never seen as much variety of jeans silhouette as there is right now. Just about every silhouette is available and looks current. The only silhouette I’m not seeing is low rise skinnies at any length. There are skinnies, but their rises are high. There are low rises, but there is volume in the silhouette.
Generally the emphasis is on a relaxed fit. There are newer shapes, silhouettes that have returned, and more wearable versions of silhouettes we’ve seen in the past. Sometimes, one pair of jeans showcases multiple trends. For example, a pair of wide leg cuffed jeans covers two trends. A pair of two-toned barrel jeans covers two trends.
Here are the top denim trends as I see them. Most are familiar at this point.
IMPORTANT: Boyfriend jeans do not have their own category because you can cuff or roll the hems of silhouettes like relaxed straights and slimmer barrels to look “boyfriend-y”. Slouchy wide legs and low slung jeans with volume are another version of boyfriend jeans.
1. Barrel
Barrel jeans are sometimes called balloon jeans, curve jeans, or tapered jeans. Horseshoe and lantern jeans are part of the barrel family, and vary only slightly in shape. These jeans are mid and high in the rise, tailored on the seat, and voluminous on the hips and legs. There are low rise options too. The side seams ‘balloon’ away from the thighs and lower leg, or resemble a “barrel” shape, which is how the style gets its name. The hems taper back to the leg. Some versions balloon out more than others so choose your level of volume. They are a more architectural version of what we wore in the early ‘80s. They have an avant-garde and dramatic integrity. The trend has gained popularity.
2. Pieced
Pieced jeans are colour blocked, combining “pieces” of two washes into one pair of jeans. The pieces are usually vertical panels down the outside side seams of the jeans, although triangular front inserts and colour blocked yoke detailing are other ways to go. The washes vary in colour, and are often a shade of blue. Sometimes they are black, white, and grey. These two-toned jeans are fringe trending.
3. Slim Straight Leg
The columned silhouette of the slim straight is a classic. These jeans are also called stovepipe, drainpipe, column or cigarette jeans. Slim straights, are always there and in style. They are a core jeans and trouser silhouette because they are versatile and easy to style. Lengths vary from cropped and full lengths, to extra long lengths with scrunch. Rises are mid and high. Sometimes slim straights are the most fashionable silhouette, and sometimes they take a classic backseat. They’re having a fringe fashion moment, so we’ll see more of the narrow leg. I expect this look to go mainstream soon.
Interestingly, slim straights are what skinnies looked like when they resurfaced nineteen years ago. Over the years, skinnies became skinnier, tighter, and stretchier so they aren’t called skinnies anymore.
4. Cuffed
Jeans with broad cuffs at the hem are fringe, especially in relaxed, flared and slouchy cuts. Jeans with narrower cuffs are mainstream. Some of the lengths are cropped, while others graze the top of the foot or the ankle bone. Some are at a puddle length. The dark washes create a high-contrast cuff, while the low-contrast cuffs on light washes are more subtle. Sometimes you can create a cuffed look with a pair of relaxed straight legs, barrels, or wide legs if the hems are long enough. The cuffs add heft and a grounding effect to a denim silhouette, as well as drama when the cuffs are wide and broad.
5. Big and Baggy
Jeans that are slouchy all over are a fringe trend and gaining monentum. These types of oversized silhouettes are often worn low slung. They are intentionally worn lower than their designed rise thereby creating a baggy look. The crotch point hangs low, the pants slouch lower on the hips, and sometimes even lower than traditional low rises. You get the look by sizing up or choosing a relaxed cut so the jeans and pants drop on the hips and slouch. Some waists are pleated or crossover. For an extra dramatic effect, inseams are floor-sweeping and sported at “puddle length”. Puddle lengths can be tripping hazards so please be careful if you like the vibe. This look can also be thought of as a version of boyfriend jeans.
6. Wide Leg and Wide Crop
This ‘70s inspired silhouette continues to reign. They are mid or high in the rise, fitted on the seat, and wide from hips to ankle (or above the ankle when lengths are cropped). Versions with lower rises are coming through too. They are much wider than bootcuts, which are fitted from hip and thigh to knee. Lengths vary from floor-sweeping and skimming, to a version of cropped. Their widths vary greatly. Some silhouettes are slimmer than others. The wider the leg width, the more dramatic the visual effect. When the widths are not too wide, the longer lengths can be cuffed to look like boyfriend jeans.
7. Relaxed Straight Leg
This ‘90s inspired jeans silhouette is mainstream and popular. The cut is relaxed on the leg, straight down to the hem, and low, mid or high in the rise. It’s wider and more relaxed than a slim straight. Mid and high rises are more available. The fit is fluidly tailored or fluid, and NOT tight. The style is fitted on the seat and hips. Lengths vary so take your pick. Longer lengths can be rolled to look like boyfriend jeans.
8. Flares
’70s and ‘90s inspired flares (also called bootcuts), have high and mid rises, and are mainstream. The low-rise versions are fringe. The waist and seat are tailored. Leg fits are streamlined until the knee, and flare out to the hem. Hem widths can be subtle or more flared. The very flared versions are bellbottoms. Lengths can skim the surface of the ground in heels, boots, sneakers, flatforms and flats. They can also be worn at the new shorter full length where the hems skim the vamp of the shoes without a break line.
Bootcuts and flares can be tight on the knees – or “knee-sucking” – before the volume flares out to the hems. Personally, I prefer a more fluid knee fit on my flares so watch out for that if that’s your preference too.
10. Jorts and Clamdiggers
Jorts are a jeans and shorts hybrid, and a fringe trend. Some retailers call them culottes. They’re long and wide denim shorts with lengths that finish on, or just below the knee. Rises are mid and high, and the seats are tailored. There is width and volume in the legs. Some versions are wider than others.
Clamdiigers are back as a fringe trend, and quite the opposite to jorts. Retailers in the US call them pedal pushers or capris. Unlike jorts, clamdiggers are streamlined skinnies that finish just below the knee. The hems can be rolled a little, or have side slits for extra comfort. You can create clamdiggers by hacking off the length of an old pair of skinnies.
11. Unusual Denim Jackets
Traditional and classic denim jackets are always there and mainstream, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. The unusual denim jacket that is NOT basic is a fringe trend that is gaining momentum. Think of all sorts of jacket silhouettes – but in denim, or at least partially denim for a mixed media effect. Make that your new go-to denim jacket if you’re a denim jacket person.
In addition to these denim trends, there are also: cropped flares, sweatpants jeans, super slim skinnies, pleated jeans, carpenter and cargo styles, embellished and patterned jeans, coloured jeans, pintucked seams, trouser cuts, denim skirts, sailor styles, tuxedo stripes, split-hems, crossover waistbands, denim jumpsuits, denim co-ords, denim shirts, denim dresses, denim waistcoats, and denim shorts. I’ve seen a few denim jodhpur styles too.
I have a large denim collection because I LOVE blue and white denim. I have most of the trends covered. I wear all the lengths, washes, and rises. My preference is for relaxed and wide silhouettes with mid and high rises, though. I have wide legs, wide crops, barrel legs, relaxed straights, cuffed styles, pieced styles, slim straights, slouchy styles, boyfriend jeans, trouser jeans, acid wash, and a very dramatic striped pair too. I also have denim shirts, jackets, a jumpsuit, a dress, and a skirt. Most of it is blue, white, and cream. Red, toffee, and pink denim features too.
I have plenty of faded blue pairs of jeans, and will be focusing on dark blue washes and patterns when adding to my capsule. I’m undecided on the silhouettes since I have things well covered. And I’m always in the market for another pair of gorgeous white jeans since I wear them constantly for six months of the year. And if I find an unusual denim jacket that tickles my fancy, I’ll give that a go too.
Over to you. Which denim trends tickle your fancy?
