The flare jeans of my millennial youth are back and better than ever thanks to a couple crucial differences. Today's take on the trend features a higher rise and a far less exaggerated break at the knee than the whiskered Hollister flares I wore to my middle school dances. In September, Bella Hadid tucked her vintage Susamusa button-up into a pair of buckle bunny dark wash flares from Frame to ride a horse through the streets of New York City. Days later, amid her divorce proceedings, Jennifer Lopez paired a black turtleneck revenge crop top with super high-waisted indigo blue flares from Veronica Beard. Last but not least, Katie Holmes wore a relaxed flare from Banana Republic with black ballet flats and a beige coat earlier this month.
Jennifer Lopez, Bella Hadid, and Katie Holmes wearing flare jeans. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Wide-leg jeans are basically a straight-leg style minus the taper, in my mind. They differ from baggy and barrel styles in that they fit more tightly at the hip before flowing into a relaxed shape. Canadian tuxedo fanatic Katie Holmes wore trouser-style pleated jeans from Alice and Olivia with pink socks and strappy black heels, while Jennifer Lopez took a Victoria Beckham pair with front patch pockets for a spin in Paris. For an Emilia Pérez press appearance in New York, Selena Gomez paired Banana Republic light wash wide-legs with a slim belt and a plunging black blouse.
Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, and Katie Holmes wearing wide-leg jeans. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Banana Republic Icon Classic Wide-Leg Jean
Victoria Beckham Alina High Waisted Jean
Alice and Olivia Jojo Cotton Wide Leg Jeans
Low-Rise Jeans
Low-rise jeans can be controversial, especially for those who lived through their heyday in the early aughts. Thankfully, fall 2024's low-rise denim trend favors a longer, looser silhouette that won't leave you feeling so exposed. Dakota Johnson topped her Agolde low-rise jeans with a classic black cardigan. Gigi Hadid left her long white shirt unbuttoned to expose a sliver of midriff above her Reformation jeans. And in horse girl fashion, Bella Hadid wore a black leather pair with a cowboy hat and a brown corset top for a rodeo showcase in the middle of New York City.
Baggy and barrel-leg jeans are celebrity must-haves at the moment. Hailey Bieber has been spotless in Agolde's curved wide-leg jeans multiple times before and after giving birth. In my humble opinion, though, EB Denim has cornered the barrel jean market with styles that range from super exaggerated to subtly curved. Rihanna 's distressed baggy denim reminds me a lot of their covetable Enzo mid-rise barrel jean, while Zoë Kravitz 's slightly slimmer pair recalls their Alida loose bowed jean.
Zoë Kravitz, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber wearing baggy and barrel-leg jeans. (Image credit: Splash by Shutterstock; Backgrid; Getty Images)
Agolde Low Curve Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
EB Denim Enzo Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans
EB Denim Alida Loose Bowed Jeans
Dark Wash Jeans
Dark wash is making a major comeback, with good reason: They're just as easy to style, but have a more modern, trouser-like look. Katie Holmes included a pair of zero-stretch dark wash wide-leg jeans in her capsule collection with A.P.C . Kaia Gerber has worn the Romi mid-rise wide-leg from Ètica several times before, along with The Walker Jean from Still Here. And Meghan Markle tends to exclusively wear dark wash denim in skinny and straight-leg silhouettes.
Katie Holmes, Kaia Gerber, and Meghan Markle wearing dark wash denim. (Image credit: Getty Images)
A.P.C. x Katie Holmes Elisabeth Jeans
Ètica Romi Mid Rise Wide Leg
Still Here The Walker Jean
Straight-Leg Jeans
Straight-leg jeans never go out of style, so it feels a bit blasphemous to call them trendy. Still, they're getting extra love in celebrities' wardrobes for fall 2024. Kendall Jenner has worn Khaite's coveted Danielle jean several times before. Dua Lipa seems to prefer Celine Margaret jeans more than any other style. Of course, Katie Holmes would likely agree that you can't go wrong with a classic pair of Levi's 501s—ideally bought vintage, then tailored at a shop like The Consistency Project .
Kendall Jenner, Katie Holmes, and Dua Lipa wearing straight-leg jeans. (Image credit: Getty Images)
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