Denim
Nov 12, 2023

I Tried the Most Popular Jeans Trend of 2023—These Are My 10 Favorites

by Judith Jones

As a fashion editor who wears jeans pretty much every day, I'm always (excitedly) keeping up-to-date with the latest denim styles, silhouettes, cuts, details, and brands that are trending from season to season. If you read Who What Wear on the reg, you'll know that non–skinny jeans—aka loose, wide-leg, and relaxed silhouettes—have been trending hard this year. It's a style that's blowing up this season thanks to its dominant presence on the runways and the cool fashion crowd. You can't scroll Instagram these days without seeing some sort of cool iteration of trouser-like wide-leg jeans.

In seasons past, the high-rise silhouette has been a dominant force, but we're now seeing plenty of mid-rise and fashion-forward low-rise styles come into play, so there's something to suit every fashion taste. We're also seeing a deviation away from cropped styles in favor of long and loose denim with that stylish puddle effect we talk about often here at WWW.

For the past few months, I've been slowly adding a variety of wide-leg jeans to my wardrobe. Below, I'm highlighting 10 of my favorites that fit great, feel great, and are altogether on-trend this season. If you, too, are on the hunt for a fresh new pair of wide-leg jeans, keep scrolling for plenty of style tips and shopping picks, and to take a look at more styles I have my eye on below. (For reference, I am 5'7" and usually wear a size 27.)

Good American: Skate Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

I always get asked about these jeans when I wear them. The high-rise silhouette is extremely flattering, and the loose trouser-like drape feels very of the moment. The quality of these jeans is amazing—soft yet sturdy with just the right amount of stretch to move around easily. Keep in mind I do have to wear heels with these, so you may want to consider getting them hemmed if you are petite or don't want too much of a puddle effect.

Madewell: Harlow Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

I posted these Madewell jeans on my Instagram a while back and still get DMs about them! The pleated detail gives them a fresh touch, and while they're not stretch denim, the baggy jeans are made of seriously soft Tencel lyocell, which is lightweight and super comfortable. I recommend sizing down—I am wearing them in size 27 but could have easily got the 26.

Citizens of Humanity: Annina Trousers

Photo:

@joiejudejude

An editor favorite, Citizens of Humanity Annina jeans have been around for a while now, but I keep coming back to them frequently. Long and loose, this high-rise silhouette feels ultra-polished, which makes it easy to wear to work and evenings out. I tend to wear these jeans with heels because they are on the longer side.

Zara: TRF Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

If you're looking for an affordable pair to add to your arsenal, you cannot go wrong with this Zara pair. It has an easy mid-rise silhouette and is the perfect length to wear with kitten heels or flats. I love how comfortable and soft they are. The hardest part is choosing what color to get them in. I'm loving the light blue wash.

Favorite Daughter: The Ollie Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

I'm going to be honest. I'm loving the low-slung-jeans trend right now, especially when they come in a trouser-like wide-leg silhouette. I've been wanting to add a cool pair to my wardrobe, and when I saw this pair from Favorite Daughter, I had to try them. I probably could have sized down, but I quite like how low and loose they look. They're definitely long, so I do recommend getting them hemmed, especially if you want to wear them with sneakers. I have to say I feel instantly cooler when I wear these! They look like they came straight off the runways. The low-slung, long, and loose silhouette feels very of the moment.

Mango: High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

Mango is one of my favorite places to shop for affordable jeans because its styles feel so on-point. I get asked about these high-rise wide-leg jeans a lot, and while they recently sold out (there's no sleeping on Mango merch!), this style below is very similar. The brand is quick to come out with fresh styles regularly, and they're always on-trend.

Closed: Nikka Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

Every cool fashion influencer on Instagram currently owns these jeans, so naturally, I had to try them for myself! They have a cool, dramatic wide-leg opening and a mid-rise silhouette that feels trendy and comfortable.

Old Navy: Extra-High-Rise Sky-Hi Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

Oh yeah, you read correctly! Old Navy has been winning at the jeans game for the past few seasons, and its extra-high rise jeans are one of my favorites. Comfortable, affordable, and easy to wear—I'm always amazed at how well these fit and how good they look.

Amo: Frida Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

This is the first time I'm trying Amo jeans, and I'm supremely impressed. The high-rise waist-cinching silhouette of the brand's Frida jeans is sleek and wonderfully flattering. The quality of the fabric is excellent—they're one of those pairs that will last you a lifetime. I recommend sizing down if you want them to be a little more fitted around the waist. I love the color of these, but I'm also obsessed with the ivory colorway that you will see below. They're the perfect length you can style with heels and sneakers alike. (FYI: I styled these with the brand's Ballet Rib Tank, which has a '90s silhouette and is one of the best tanks I own—the Long Rib Tank, with a slightly more scooped neck, is a close second.)

Just Black Denim: Wide-Leg Jeans

Photo:

@joiedejude

A great L.A.-based brand for affordable jeans is Just Black Denim. It has a small but mighty selection of comfortable and stylish denim styles. These ivory wide-leg jeans have a relaxed, mid- to low-rise silhouette and are perfect for wearing with flats or small heels. (This exact pair has sold out, but I'm linking to one very similar.)