Jeans and denim in particular continue to trend strongly for 2025 because the fabric is robust, practical, versatile, and has longevity. Thankfully, there is enormous variety in denim wash, fit, price point and silhouette, so 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 yet. Mid and high rises are mainstream and here to stay. Low rises can also be achieved by wearing the waistbands of big and baggy bottoms with higher rises lower on the hips. This causes the crotch point to drop too.
DISTRESSING: Shredded denim with lots of holes and extensive sandblasting is there, but takes a backseat. Denim can be light and faded, and raw-edged hems are an option. They are easy to hem shorter since you simply hack them to the desired length with scissors, or sew in a hem if you prefer the look and finish.
PLEATS: Jeans with front pleats are a throwback to the ‘80s, and a fringe trend.
WASHES and FABRIC: Classic blue washes that range from super light to super dark are fashionable. Fabrics range from 100% cotton, to cotton blends that incorporate a little stretch and sometimes polyester. Acid wash is a fringe look.
COLOURS: Blue jeans reign supreme. White in all its shades is big. There’s also grey, black, and a smattering of pink, red, olive, and earth tones.
Here are the top denim trends as I see them. Some trends are mainstream, some are fringe, and most are familiar at this point. Sometimes, one pair of jeans showcases multiple trends. For example, an embellished pair of wide legs with cuffs covers three trends.
1. Barrel
Barrel jeans are a fringe trend, and also known as horseshoe, lantern and balloon silhouettes. These jeans are mid and high in the rise, tailored on the seat, and voluminous on the hips and legs. 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. They are a more architectural version of what we wore in the early ‘80s.
2. Wide Legs and Wide Crops
This ‘70s inspired mainstream silhouette is mid or high in the rise, fitted on the seat, and wide from hips to ankle (or above the ankle when lengths are cropped). 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.
3. Flares and Bootcuts
‘70s and ‘90s inspired bootcuts and flares 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. 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.
4. 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. 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. They are similar to boyfriend jeans that are fitted on the seat. Lengths vary so take your pick. Longer lengths can be cuffed.
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5. Slim Straight Leg
Cigarette silhouette jeans, or slim straights, are always there and in 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.
Interestingly, slim straights are what skinnies looked like when they resurfaced eighteen years ago. Over the years, skinnies became skinnier, tighter, and stretchier so they aren’t called skinnies anymore.
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6. Embellished
Jeans in any silhouette, length, colour, and wash with embellishment are fringe trending. Think jeans with embroidery, beading, sequins, rhinestones, eyelets, and the like. The embellishments can be subtle or bold, and on different areas of the jeans. Beading and sequins tend to be shinier and dressier than embroidery. Wear embellished jeans during the day for a little festive sparkle and maximal pizazz, or keep them for occasions. A handy item to pull out and wear over the holidays.
7. Big and Baggy Oversized
Jeans that are slouchy all over are a fringe trend and acquired taste. The waist can be big to slide down to the hips, which lowers the crotch point. The big waist can be reined in with a belt to create structure. Or the waist can fit in a tailored way, with the rest of the slouchy volume of the jeans below the waist. Some waists are pleated. 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.
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8. Cuffed
Jeans with broad cuffs at the hem are fringe, especially in relaxed, flared and slouchy cuts. Jeans with narrow 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 or wide legs if the hems are long enough.
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9. Cargo
Jeans with cargo pockets and utility detailing are a fringe trend. Some cargo pockets are huge and three dimensional, while others are flat and more subtle. The cargo pockets can be placed anywhere along the leg. Hems are wide or taper back to ankles.
10. Sweatpants
Jeans made of fleece or French terry are fringe trending. These “jeans” are sweatpants with a denim pattern so they look like jeans, until you get up close and feel them. They’re knitted joggers with a full elastic waist, or half-elastic back. Silhouettes tend to be wide to ensure maximum sweatpants comfort.
11. Jorts
Jorts are a jeans and shorts hybrid, and a fringe trend. They’re long and wide denim shorts with lengths that finish just above, 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.
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12. Denim Dresses
Think of ANY dress silhouette in denim fabric, and it’s a denim dress. Washes, styles, lengths and the weight of the denim differs. You can combine a denim skirt with a denim top to create a two-piece dress too. Some styles are mainstream, whereas others are more fringe.
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13. 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. 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.
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 mid and high rises, though. I have wide legs, wide crops, barrel legs, relaxed straights, cuffed styles, slim straights, slouchy boyfriend jeans, pintucked silhouettes, trouser jeans, tuxedo styles, acid wash, and an old fun floral pair. I also have denim shirts, jackets, jumpsuits, a denim dress, and a denim skirt. Most of it is blue, white, and cream. Red and pink denim features too.
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I have plenty of faded blue pairs of jeans, and will be focusing on dark blue washes when adding to my capsule. I’m undecided on the silhouette since I have things covered. That said, dark blue slim straights with scrunch are an option, as are long dark blue wide legs with pleats. Embellished jeans are fun for the holidays. Since I haven’t had a pair of sparkly jeans for a while, I’m drawn to them. 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 a new-to-me denim jacket that tickles my fancy, I’ll give that a go too.
Over to you. Which denim trends tickle your fancy?
