I'm obsessed with barrel jeans 9.26.25 - YouLookFab Forum

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I'm obsessed with barrel jeans 9.26.25

LJP

Veteran

But they aren't very flattering when paired with boxy loose tops (my go-to) and flat shoes or sneakers (also my go-to). I have several pairs in different washes, including black, and love wearing them for their modern style and comfort, but I decided today that they really need either a low vamp shoe or a boot with a bit of a heel . Low vamp for some skin around the ankle and foot; heel for (obviously ) some height to balance the proportions. I do love these new trouser-style barrels though , and wore them today with a slow-fashion brand cotton top and leopard print sneakers. I would never mix animal prints in an outfit, but because the bag and shoe have identical print/same scale , I went for it.

What footwear are you wearing with barrel jeans? I'm 5'5" for context and felt decidedly short and plodding with sneakers and barrel pants. I'm thinking a dark wash straight leg Japanese denim jean would be perfect here instead of the ON barrels. (not sure where to source such a thing.....)

All thoughts welcome !

jeans, Old Navy
100% cotton brown top - Le Bon Shoppe
cotton bag - Le Bon Shoppe
sneakers - H&M

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28 replies

Latest reply was from RobinF

Kate

Veteran

Sandals, sneakers, Birks, boots, flatforms, oxfords.

Dee

Veteran

Oh the leopard print sneakers and matching bag are a cute way to finish your outfit, makes for a nice, casual combination.

Personally, I find barrel leg jeans rather fun to wear but tricky to style. My preferred footwear with them tends to be a refined sandal mostly but a slim loafer, ballet flat or a Mary Jane style works pretty good too. My darn feet can't seem to tolerate any sort of heeled stylish boots, so that's not even an option for me, but I actually don't wear my barrels in winter anyways.

LJP

Veteran

I don’t think I had any barrels last winter - other than a pair of wool blend trousers from Massimo Dutti which I wore with patent chunky golf shoe style oxfords . Gave me a height I think I need to balance the width of the pant . I think you’re on to something , Dee, with a refined shoe of some sort .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOVE the dark colour of your hair, LJP! Rich and pretty. The wispy fringe is fun too. Did you have the back left longer like the pics you shared?

I like these barrels with the sneakers. Plenty flattering! The top works well too. And nice bag animal print complement!

I have 4 pairs of barrels. I don't wear heels! I wear them with very low heeled boots, flat loafers, oxfords, sneakers, mules, and Mary Janes - my usual footwear. See below. Actually, I wear all my shoes with everything. I don't differentiate!

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Sam Edelman LizWomen's

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Steve Madden Dessa Mule (Women)

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Paul Green Bellevue Sneaker (Women)

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Linea Paolo Venata Block Heel Bootie

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COACH Rivington Waterproof Chelsea Rain Boot

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Vionic Women's Charm Lani Lace Up Ankle Boot- Comfort Booties for Heel Pain, Plantar Fasciitis with Built-in Arch Support Orthotic Insole That Corrects Pronation and Alignment, Medium and Wide Width

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Carol

(website)

Veteran

It might still go with flats, but something more refined, like ballet flats or pointed toe flats. Any loafer would be good, sleek boots and booties.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think it’s a plenty flattering silhouette and the shoes look great. I would tuck in the shoelaces, but that’s just me. Loafers would also be good. I think heels would look wrong, but YMMV.

LJP

Veteran

When I use the word heels , I’m talking about a block heel boot - maybe 2 inches max . And yes , if I were more fastidious I would tuck in the laces - good catch ! Actually …..I should change them out for brown laces instead of the cream colour which I never questioned until now …

slim cat

Veteran

Love the look - especially since I don't own any barrel jeans . Black boots with a bit of heel sounds just about right to me ( I don't have the stylish shoes anymore - just the comfortable sneakers that look off with barrel jeans on me ).
The hair and make up - fabulous!

Star (Lise)

Veteran

Lisa I wrote a long comment and lost it. So in a nutshell; you are right, barrel jeans need a low vamp shoe or slight heel to not look masculine. This only seems to apply to rigid fabric like denim. BROOKLYN is spot on with darker laces. Never saw it either until she did. Your hair cut is really cool.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Love the pants, and the animal print is especially brilliant with your hair. Looking good!

I feel the same way when I wear these styles — my Nili Lotan Shon pants trip me up a little bit this way. For some reason I love them with sandals (bare ankle and more skin showing) OR a high-shaft, fitted ankle bootie, which helps define the ankle without skin showing.

Sneakers don’t feel right with them *for me* at the moment — maybe it’s a thing my eye would need to get used to? Or maybe it’s my own personal flattery threshold. Because of the volume in the pants, a too-delicate or very low profile shoe feels a bit wrong for me too — that may be because of my own personal bias because I’m all too aware that my wide hips can really send me into ice cream cone silhouette territory. A shoe with some balance of presence and refinement seems to be the mark for me. Hard to define, but I know it when I see it in the mirror.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I just got a pair of barrel jeans and have not played with them much, but plan on boxy tops cuz thats my go to. I hope they will be "just flattering enough".
I will pair them with my fav Birkies/Doc Martens.
I have an ancient Earth shoe that is kind of a "wallabee" look that I want to try too.
It has been fun trying such a different silhouette.
This is a image from Pinterest that I have saved for inspiration.
They boxy top really appeals to me.

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LJP

Veteran

This has been a really interesting exercise and I appreciate all of your thoughts! While out and about in this outfit yesterday, I did wish that I had animal print Maryjanes or loafers to make the outfit more polished....which is my usual vibe. This maybe was too casual and basic.

Irina

Veteran

I wear any shoes basically but I need jeans to be slightly cropped to have some skin showing between shoes and pants. I can’t wear full length barrel leg jeans without a small heel.

kellygirl

Veteran

I'm glad you're obsessed because they look great on you. I really like them with the sneakers and the white laces. The outfits is perfect! I wear mine with Dansko MJ or Blundstones--mostly for work.

Olive Green

Veteran

Your hair is a VERY cute pixie, suits you to the ground. The colour, wow, so brave, I’d worry about colour on all this grey. And it works, on you.
I wear flat laced ankle boots with barrels or wide pants, or loafers and Birks, which look ok because even at 5 feet, my legs are not short.
If you wear a voluminous top, it looks very like folkloric workwear, which is a vibe I like.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am late to respond here but I love the animal print pairing here and I think the barrel jeans look great! I suspect for your preferences this was a bit too casual/ boyish and not polished enough and a shoe that feels dressier would work better.

I love the barrel silhouette and have three pair of barrel jeans. Mine are all ankle length (I got the short length in the Gap tye-dye effect ones, so they are shorter on me than on the model). And partly because they bare the ankle, partly because they are wide, so let a breeze in, I don't wear them in full winter -- meaning I don't wear them with boots or booties -- or at least not often.

I prefer footwear that showcases the ankle and has a bit of refinement. But I *do* wear them with sneakers, too. Below are my most worn shoes with these jeans. I don't wear heels, but I do have flatforms and use them at times. And sandals.

The Way-High Curve Jean

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Barrel Leg Cropped Mid Waist Jeans Zw Collection

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LJP

Veteran

Thanks again for the hair comments! I do love the colour now, but will be letting a bit of length come in before I cut it again. And yes, Angie, I'm letting the hair at my neck grow a bit too - will be interesting to see how it progresses!

And thank you all for the shoe /barrel jean thoughts here - lots to consider.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It has been so long since I have worn full length jeans that I can hardly remember how I wear them! Anyway, I really like your look here. Low profile sneakers/shoes are coming on strong from what I have seen online. My barrel shaped jeans are cropped and I usually wore them with ankle boots, which often have a slight heel. Hair looks fab and elevates everything from basic imho.

Ket

Veteran

You look darling!!! I love leopard, so I’m already digging this outfit! You wear the HTT volume well to my eye. Love your hair!

Not sure I have great advice. I don’t have any barrel jeans (yet?), but I have worn more voluminous pants like harem pants. I tend to prefer pairing volume with something sleek or fitted. So, if I had barrel jeans, I would probably pair with a drapey or fitted top, and ballet flats or pointy toe flats. Then I might throw on a kimono or little moto jacket, depending on the top and weather.

Kyle

Veteran

Have you tried semi-tucking the top just in the very front of the pants? That’s what I almost always do with tops like this when paired with a more voluminous barrel and I prefer the effect.

lyn67

Veteran

I think your outfit is great head to toe-including matching animals and sneaks-cause a low controst animal sneak is more elevated than a normal uni colored(usually white) one!!! I don't yet have any true barrels, but I suspect it can be a simmilar feel to when I wear my wide leg jeans-and then avoid like plague wearing them with my sneaks(which are basic). For feeling fab I wear them with loafers and the newer daintier flat ballerina (have a pair of burgundy red T-slings and another in black but open crochetted look Mary Jane).

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pirouette

Veteran

I have two pairs of barrel jeans. I am 5 ft tall so I need to roll my jeans to show some ankle. I wear loafers with them as I find boots make me look too chunky. I also wear short toppers and a belt to balance the wider jeans I think the top your wearing is very on trend and if I was a bit taller I definitely would wear boxy tops but I think too much volume is not a good look on someone as short as me.

Bonnie

Veteran

I love them, too, and I have three pair. I agree that finding the right shoes is important. The navy barrel pants are new and haven't been worn yet but I tried them with my Converse high tops. Not sure if that works, still a work in progress. I love the way you put outfits together.

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The Arc Canvas Pant

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Converse Chuck Taylor Low Top Sneaker

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FLY London Emme Platform Fisherman Sandal (Women)

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ECCO Sport ECCO Sport

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LJP

Veteran

Bonnie - I think your Converse work well here - the platform sole grounds the look. Your pants look good ! - they are longer than mine I think .

Lisa

Veteran

I like barrels with any flat footwear (sandals, sneakers, loafers), to my eye it really helps draw the eye to the barrel shape when footwear it flat or a low heel.

And my matchy matchy gene adores your leopard print bag and sneakers!

Bonnie

Veteran

Thanks, I think you're right that the white platforms do seem grounding. All of my barrels are longer and I know I should think about shortening them.

Kate

Veteran

You wrote: I'm 5'5" for context and felt decidedly short and plodding with sneakers and barrel pants.

You might try wearing a cropped top. While the top you're wearing is not particularly long, a slightly shorter one that rests right at the top of the waistband will give you the appearance of a longer leg line, regardless of the shoes you are wearing. That might make you feel your outfit is more polished without doing anything extra. As Kyle suggests, you could also do a simple semi-tuck at the front to achieve the same end, although that is a slightly more RATE effect than a top that is perfectly cropped for you.

That said, I love your outfit and wear that kind of basic all the time.

RobinF

Veteran

I think this looks great and I like it with the sneakers. I agree that some ankle showing helps keep this style from being overwhelming. I have loved the barrel trend for a while but still don't have any myself yet. I am shorter than you and have yet to find some that I like and hit at the right place - and they would be hard to hem because it could lose the shape.