A good pair of jeans is part of the blueprint for every solid outfit. Light wash to indigo. Baggy to barrel. We’re picking apart denim thread by thread.
A timeless style and better with every wear, a pair of denim jeans is essential. These classic blue pants transcend generations. The first pair was patented in 1873 and spotted in almost every wardrobe ever since.
Nothing fits better than your favourite pair of jeans. But there’s loads to choose from to find the ones for you. So when you’re putting your next fit together, make sure you know what’s what.
We’re gonna go through cut, fit, style, wash. Everything you need to know before looking for a new pair of jeans. Let’s get into it.
Big on baggy
Baggy jeans? Back in a big way. Look out for loose-fitting legs, non-stretch denim and longer lengths.
We love the way these look sat on top of a low-pro trainer like the adidas Originals Handball Spezial or the New Balance 204L.
Keep the vibes going with a relaxed-fit tee or hoodie. Or contrast that silhouette with a sleek, slim-fitting long sleeve. Like a cotton top, plain or patterned, or a soft knit zip-through. Cute.
Backing barrel legs
Another fit that brings big energy, the barrel leg. These ones are a newer staple, with horsehoe or barrel leg jeans spotted more and more in denim line-ups in the last couple of years.
Exaggerated design lines and extra volume gives you a shape you can switch up with styling. Something like a baby tee offsets their silhouette, or keep it lowkey with something baggy.
Pair them with classic creps like the Nike Air Force 1 or adidas Originals Superstar for an easy go-to look.
Which wash?
There’s a few different types of denim washes. Dark, medium, and light wash jeans make up a massive part of our wardrobes. And these three are probs the ones you reach for most.
Washing denim helps to soften that stiff fabric, and the longer the wash, the lighter the finish.
Dark wash denim keeps the process minimal, delivering a pair of jeans with that iconic, natural indigo tone.
Medium wash? The ideal middle ground with a little longer rinsing. Easiest to dress up or down, and this shade works with almost any denim silhouette. Straight to slim to baggy. And back again.
Looking for even lighter? The longest rinse results in light wash jeans. These ones give a casual vibe with that summery sun-bleached look, and we love seeing this look pair with a baggy cut.
Higher or lower
Your jeans’ rise means where the waistband sits. It’s the measurement from the crotch up to the waist, and you can choose high, low, or mid rise.
High rise jeans rest above your natural waist, with a retro feel that was the go-to in the ’70s and ’80s. The rise is usually longer than 10 inches.
A mid rise waist is about 9-11 inches, and they sit around your natural waist. They keep it clean and classic.
On a low rise pair, they’ll hit your hips and rest below your waist. The rise measures between 7 and 10 inches, and these bring big Y2K energy.
Fresh takes
They say you can’t beat the classics. But we’ll try.
From flared legs to animal prints and embellishments, there’s a few ways to switch up your OG denim jeans.
Think Juicy Couture’s diamante branding. Distressed detailing like rips and raw hems, or embroidery and monogramming are all different design elements that can elevate an everyday pair.
When you wanna add even more edge to your denim, these are the kinds of things to look out for.
Doing up double
Twice as nice. Wanna rep double denim? We think these adidas Originals sets are the way to do it.
Something a little different than a classic denim jacket, these sports-inspired denim track tops and wide leg pants pair up perfectly.
Bringing a little extra edge, it doesn’t feel like wearing double denim. But the fit looks just as good.
Add on the extras
Choosing joggers over jeans today? You can still add a dose of denim.
We’re big fans of a denim dad cap, like these ones from New Era and Von Dutch. Accessories can add a denim hit when you’re not wearing jeans, or double up your denim without going all in.
How to wash denim
When it comes to care, denim can be pretty low maintenence. In fact, best practice is to wash your denim jeans as little as possible. It’s best to check the care label on each pair of jeans before you clean them, but we’ve got a few pointers for you.
Denim’s tough. You can usually wash it around once every 10 wears. And when you do need to wash your denim, make sure you keep the temperature cool. This’ll make sure you keep the colour, and avoid any fading or shrinking.
Try and dry them naturally outside on the line too. Tumble dryers can be harsh on your denim.
And another top tip? Turn them inside out before washing so you don’t get soggy pockets.
It’s always denim season
On trend. Always. Shop our complete collection of women’s denim at JD right now.
