The best pairs of jeans are the ones you want to live in and wear again and again – and they get better every time you slip them on. However finding the “perfect style” can be hard, given there are so many different silhouettes, cuts and washes available, plus sizing can vary depending on the brand.
The options are endless, and so to help you with your search, I spent a day changing-room hopping to give you insights on the best jeans you can buy right now. Yes, the options seem endless, but after trying on countless pairs of varying shapes, sizes, and cotton compositions, I’ve realised that the pool of exceptional, stand-out styles is much smaller than you’d think. The age old technique of trial and error has turned me to the classics such as Levi’s, Citizens Of Humanity and Agolde, as well as more contemporary iterations from the likes of Arket, Uniqlo and Ganni. Vintage stores are worth visiting too: Unlike off-the-rack styles, vintage denim offers worn-in appeal, as well as unique details like rivets, stitching and patches that give jeans a beautiful lived-in quality.
My top tip is to always take a change of shoes to the changing room. Before heading off on my quest to the fitting rooms, I grabbed a few different types of shoes that I would want to wear with my every-day denim – a kitten heel, a trainer, a boot, and of course a loafer, squeezed into my largest tote-bag. It might sound like a painstaking process, but it paid off tenfold when I saw how different jeans transformed with a simple shoe change.
Also note that there’s not one particular style for each body shape. This is a common misconception that should be thrown out. It’s about finding the brand that has the right fit for you. Fits vary and so do fabrics. Every body is different, so what might be a wide-leg for one, could be a straight-leg for another. I definitely found that some styles were more form-fitting than their labels suggested, while others were deceptively loose. Wear what feels comfortable, not what you think should fit – that’s how to find perfectly-fitting jeans.
To find out which styles have our hearts, see British Vogue’s breakdown of the best jeans to try now. Each pair makes up an all-star cast of jeans you’ll want to wear day in, day out.
Vogue’s edit of the best jeans for women:
Wide-leg jeans
Ignoring my inner monologue telling me that the criss-cross fastening on these wouldn’t work, I pulled my legs into the fabric and before even looking in the mirror, I could tell they were a winner. The cotton is soft and so moves easily with your body, but it is still thick enough to hold its shape. While the irregular fastening might not be everyone’s taste, I felt it added a cool and playful edge to an otherwise classic style. For reference, I’m 5ft 4in so can sometimes struggle with the length of jeans, finding that the cuffs often pool on the floor around my ankles. However, with a low silver kitten heel, these were the perfect length for my height, skimming just above the floor. Top tip: don’t be afraid to size up if, like me, you’re partial to a lower rise.
Baggy jeans
I actually already own a pair of these Uniqlo jeans and receive compliments every time I wear them, (which is very often). Unlike some baggy jeans that can be very exaggerated, Uniqlo’s wide, straight-leg denim has a flattering, tailored cut that doesn’t trail on the floor. They are loose throughout the entire leg with a mid to high-rise waistline depending on which size you go for. I opted for a size up which meant that I had a little extra leg room and the waistband sat just above my hips. The best things about these is they still offer some shape around the hips even though they’re loose everywhere else.
High-rise straight-leg jeans
Arket denim deserves all the acclaim it gets. I tried on a few pairs of straight-leg jeans, which were all strong contenders, however it was the Poplar style that won me over. The tinted wash gives them an edgy, aged look and the medium-soft fabric magically hugs you in at all of the right places without ever feeling too restricted. Arket describes The Poplar as having a loose fit, however, I’d say they are better described as having a slim upper-leg with a relaxed calf. I wore my usual size which worked well for both the waist and the length, giving the desired straight-leg look. Remember, if you’d prefer them to fit with more room around the legs, go up a couple of sizes and wear them with a belt.
Cropped flare jeans
This simple, ankle-baring style pairs well with all of your favourite basics, making it a welcome addition to any spring capsule wardrobe. Le Crop Mini Boot (above) has a mid-to-high waistband and a form-fitting silhouette up to the knee, where they have a slight flare that finishes at exactly ankle height. Frame’s jeans tend to be on the softer side, making it hard to fault them on comfort. Plus, I found the softer cottons were much more flattering in this cut as they hug and move with your body. Although I tried these in a size up, there was still plenty of wiggle room, so they should fit true to size.
Turn-up jeans
I have owned the same pair of Citizens Of Humanity jeans for six years and can attest to their longevity. The fabric ages beautifully, moulding to your body over the first few wears, but retaining its shape for years to come. The Ayla wide-leg silhouette is softer than some other styles from the brand, but is still thick enough to maintain its structure. I love how these are cut with the perfect amount of extra leg room, allowing legs to breath without entirely drowning your figure. The fit around the hips is on the looser side (which I’m a big fan of) and the turn-up cuffs give it a relaxed, vintage feel. These were the most comfortable and versatile of the lot and I’ll be adding them to my shopping basket imminently. Note: I sized up for a more relaxed look, sitting lower on the hips.
Bootcut jeans
Close to giving up on finding a bootcut style with the right proportions, I tentatively approached Rag And Bone’s iteration, the Peyton. Here was a style I could get on board with. Although these are made from 99 per cent cotton, they still have a bit of stretch, which comfortably moulds around the hips and thighs. In my usual size, the mid-rise waist fit like a glove, while the elongated bootcut flare helped to give the illusion of longer legs – this was a surprising bonus from the bootcut jean. The rest of Rag And Bone’s denim offering includes an array of classic cuts, as well as a jewel-emblazoned style and a perfectly on-trend long denim skirt, each as high quality as the next.
Slim-fit jeans
A slim-fit jean isn’t something I thought I’d be wearing in 2024, but with the likes of Miu Miu and Balenciaga backing the close-cut silhouette, there is no denying the return of this divisive style. Admittedly, this is the style I struggled the most with, trying on countless iterations in rigid cotton, soft cotton, with a crop and without a crop. But it was this pair from 7 For All Mankind that worked best, even though off the body they looked worryingly like leggings (please, nobody bring back jeggings). With the help of a heeled boot, this soft, jet-black pair made me feel sleek and sculpted. I tried a size up which fit well, but I’d advise going with your usual size as these are likely to stretch with wear.
Cargo jeans
Leave it to Ganni to revive my cargo obsession – these Noughties inspired skater jeans were definitely one of my favourites. The two-toned pattern gives them an upcycled feel, while the high waistline and rigid denim cuts a flattering, longline silhouette. I wore my usual size but they were slightly on the tight side, so a size up would also have also worked. An important thing to note is that the ends of these did trail on the floor slightly. One option would be to take them up, however, I loved the look of them rolled up as it gave them more of a skater-inspired edge.