Have it large: Why ultra-baggy jeans are trending in 2024
Jeans are having a wide-legged moment, thanks to stars like Rihanna and brands like Loewe. But with all the oversized denim seen on runways, celebrities, and Gen Z, will skinny jeans really go out of style forever?
Jeans have always defined fashion trends—like flares in the 70s or skater jeans in the 90s. Right now, oversized jeans are in. Skinny jeans stuck around for a long time, but it seems they may finally be fading. Social media has played a role, with Gen Z poking fun at millennials for their love of skinny jeans, and people now prefer looser clothes after the pandemic.
Baggy jeans are becoming the go-to style. Depop, a popular online vintage store, says searches for baggy jeans have gone up 66% since January. Style icons like Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, Billie Eilish, and Dakota Johnson are all embracing the “bigger is better” trend. Gap’s recent “Get Loose” campaign featuring Troye Sivan and dancers in oversized jeans also shows how popular this look has become.
If you look around, especially at young people on the street, it’s clear that baggy denim is everywhere.
Amy Leverton, a trend expert and author of Denim Dudes, says baggy jeans have been making a comeback for some time. “Someone mentioned them to me about seven years ago, but I wasn’t ready for them back then,” she says. Recently, she gave in and wore a vintage pair of Silver Tab Levi’s. According to her, these jeans are very popular among denim lovers in Los Angeles because they bring back the beloved 90s vibe. “Silver Tab was originally made for skaters,” she explains. “Its style responded to the loose skater fashion, and the ads heavily featured skaters.”
While part of the appeal of baggy jeans comes from 90s nostalgia, some designers are also driving the trend. Big names like Demna at Balenciaga, JW Anderson at Loewe, and Glenn Martens at Diesel are promoting the look. Anderson, in particular, went all out with extremely baggy designs at Loewe’s spring/summer 2024 show. Agus Panzoni, a trend expert from Depop, says their shoppers are noticing this trend too: “These brands are known for their edgy, grunge-inspired styles, with baggy jeans playing a big role. Celebrities like Rihanna and Billie Eilish also keep the style fresh and relevant.”
Along with high-end fashion and vintage clothing, smaller niche brands are also part of this trend. In January, Billie Eilish wore a double-denim outfit made by a brand called Très Rasché. This brand, based in Paris, isn’t mainstream—it even says in its Instagram bio, “Wear Whatever the F*ck You Want.”
Another brand, Haikure from Italy, embraces a bold “bigger is better” style. One of their popular designs, called the Bethany, is extremely oversized and has been a best-seller for several seasons. Recently, they released an even larger version named Big Bethany. Annalisa Dalma, the brand’s director, explains, “We started Haikure with the oversized look in mind. Our customers love it because it makes them feel confident, stylish, and comfortable.”
As wide jeans become more popular, smaller trends are also emerging. This winter, barrel-leg jeans are gaining attention. These jeans are wide at the knee and narrow at the ankle, which can look unusual. But it’s no surprise they’ve become popular in fashion circles—Elle magazine even named barrel jeans the “denim style of 2024.”
People are wearing these styles outside of fashion shows too. The LA-based denim brand Mother says its “half-pipe barrel” jeans are one of the most popular styles right now. “Interest really took off in early 2024,” says co-founder Tim Kaeding. “In the past 30 days, searches for barrel jeans went up 56% compared to the previous month and 660% compared to the same time last year.” He explains that once people get used to baggy styles, the barrel fit becomes the next logical step: “Over the years, we’ve seen a shift from straight jeans to more oversized and wide-leg fits. Moving to a barrel fit is an easy change from there.”
Even though loose and baggy jeans are popular now, fashion always evolves. Trends that seem out of style can come back, and even skinny jeans, which many had dismissed, are trying to make a comeback. Designers like Aaron Esh, Miu Miu, and Celine have included them in their collections, and fashion magazines like Dazed and Vogue have backed them. But we might not need to take the skinny-jean comeback too seriously just yet. Fashion expert Leverton says Gen Z’s love of irony plays a big role: “Gen Z fought with millennials over how awful skinny jeans were,” she explains. “Now, wearing them is like saying, ‘See? We can make fun of this.’ Fashion is about doing the unexpected, and wearing skinny jeans now grabs attention for that reason.”
Published: 16th October 2024
Also Read:
The UK might face high energy bills again because it still depends on gas
Who is coming to the UK investment summit, and what will they discuss?
The Future of British Fashion: Trends to Watch in 2024
