Restaurants are open again; hurrah! If you’ve managed to get a much coveted booking indoors, now comes the harder part; figuring out what to wear.
Our go-to-look for a casual spring dinner date is a pair of jeans and a simple, elegant top. However, if, like us, the denim jeans you loved wearing pre-lockdown are feeling a little tight right now, and you know that eating a several course meal in them is going to be awkward, then you might be thinking about investing in a new pair.
Today, we’re taking a look at the top jeans trends of 2021, what the terms actually mean and what they look best with, ensuring you can rock a pair with confidence and class. With that in mind, here’s how to wear different styles of jeans.
MOM JEANS
Mom jeans are defined by their 90s’ chic style with a cinched-in waist and a baggy leg. Most people like to roll up the bottoms for a loose and care-free style when wearing a pair, but if you really want to go for the ‘mom’ look, there’s nothing stopping you tucking these bad boys into a pair of boots.
As for a cooler style, a graphic tee always works nicely with canvas pumps. Alternatively, a baggy, buttoned-up cardigan tucked into your mom jeans is perfect for that ~Instagirl~ style.
There’s been a trend towards casual, looser fitting clothes recently, including jeans, and the ubiquity of mom jeans emphasises that. That said, the CEO of Levi’s recently declared that skinny jeans are never going away, which brings us to our next point…
HIGH-RISE SKINNY CROP
Back in the day, there were high-rise, skinny and cropped jeans. Now? You can have all three in one, if you so wish. This particular type of denim is super figure-hugging and the high-rise waistline makes for a slimmer look. This style is usually cropped just above the ankle, making your legs look tall and slender. Style them out with a pair of statement heels because….well, why not? On top, bodysuits or half-tucked-in shirts go down a treat for a casual Friday style.
BOYFRIEND JEANS
Designed (we assume) to look like you’ve borrowed your partner’s jeans and nonchalantly thrown them on, boyfriend jeans are perfect for a low-effort outfit and give a laid-back vibe to any look. Featuring a slightly dropped crotch with a low waist and tapered legs, these jeans are ideal if you like a comfortable, straight legged look.
When it comes to styling them, the world is pretty much your oyster with a pair of straight-cut jeans. We love to casually team them with a pair of Converse and a graphic or slogan tee. Cheugy, be damned; the guys over at 8ball.co.uk suggest creating your own slogan t-shirt to convey exactly what you feel like saying. Doing so is the perfect way to match your t-shirt succinctly with a pair of boyfriend jeans.
Alternatively, to bring that feminine touch, pair, instead, with an off-the shoulder ruffle top and pointed heels.
HIGH RISE FLARED JEANS
Though a couple of years ago we never saw flares making a comeback, they have, and in a big way. As part of the bohemian trend that’s popular just about everywhere, flared jeans have made their way back into our high street stores.
Chunky block heels or wedges are the perfect shoe for flared jeans, helping you to really lean into that retro vibe. As for what to wear on top, bralettes or bandana tops make for a chic summer festival outfit.
CIGARETTE JEANS
Cigarette jeans are the perfect middle ground between skinny and straight leg, offering a formal and slimming style without the discomfort of getting them stuck on your ankle in the changing rooms…we’ve all been there.
These jeans can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. When going casual, cigarette jeans look fantastic with a hoodie and stark white trainers. In more formal settings, a long sleeved, button up shirt in monochrome colours is a confident statement.
Now you’ve settled on a style, check out these 5 IDEAL tips on taking care of your designer jeans.