If Barrel Jeans are Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

Not at all. I’m GenX and love a good loose/baggy/boyfriend jean as long as it’s fairly fitted in the right places. Barrel jeans distort the shape of the legs and make the wearer look bow-legged.

Do you think the woman in the second photo above looks bowlegged? I don't. That's how most barrel legged jeans are cut -- it's a subtle difference in shape from other loose/baggy jeans.

I think the reason some like and others don't is that barrel jeans are designed for women with narrow hips and small butts and thighs. That's why the style is so popular in Japan and other Asian countries. If you have a curvier shape, which many American women do, it won't work for you. But if you are slim with a very straight up and down shape, barrel leg jeans offer you a loose, baggy style that won't gape at the waist or slip off your hips, or look saggy in the butt. And the slight taper at the ankle helps if you are petite -- it's much more flattering on a petite body than wide leg jeans, especially in a cropped length.

I think if you don't have this body type, you just don't get why the other baggy styles don't work for everyone or specifically what is appealing about the barrel leg style. Also if you have a more substantial butt and thighs, likely barrel leg jeans just dont' work at all for your body type and if you try them on, you'd be like "ugh, who are these for???" Well, they are for those of us with a different body shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

We never thought this. We know tight fitting clothes make one look try-hard and actually bigger, as if your clothes are too small.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

Not at all. I’m GenX and love a good loose/baggy/boyfriend jean as long as it’s fairly fitted in the right places. Barrel jeans distort the shape of the legs and make the wearer look bow-legged.

Do you think the woman in the second photo above looks bowlegged? I don't. That's how most barrel legged jeans are cut -- it's a subtle difference in shape from other loose/baggy jeans.

I think the reason some like and others don't is that barrel jeans are designed for women with narrow hips and small butts and thighs. That's why the style is so popular in Japan and other Asian countries. If you have a curvier shape, which many American women do, it won't work for you. But if you are slim with a very straight up and down shape, barrel leg jeans offer you a loose, baggy style that won't gape at the waist or slip off your hips, or look saggy in the butt. And the slight taper at the ankle helps if you are petite -- it's much more flattering on a petite body than wide leg jeans, especially in a cropped length.

I think if you don't have this body type, you just don't get why the other baggy styles don't work for everyone or specifically what is appealing about the barrel leg style. Also if you have a more substantial butt and thighs, likely barrel leg jeans just dont' work at all for your body type and if you try them on, you'd be like "ugh, who are these for???" Well, they are for those of us with a different body shape.

Yes, the second picture makes the model look bow-legged. Maybe less than the first, but it’s still very noticeable.

I actually have the body type you describe - thin, straight, no real curves. Barrel jeans simply make me look like I have rickets. Skinny jeans are bad too, even though I technically have the “correct” body type for them.

I mean, wear whatever you want but it’s ok for others to state their opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

Not at all. I’m GenX and love a good loose/baggy/boyfriend jean as long as it’s fairly fitted in the right places. Barrel jeans distort the shape of the legs and make the wearer look bow-legged.

Do you think the woman in the second photo above looks bowlegged? I don't. That's how most barrel legged jeans are cut -- it's a subtle difference in shape from other loose/baggy jeans.

I think the reason some like and others don't is that barrel jeans are designed for women with narrow hips and small butts and thighs. That's why the style is so popular in Japan and other Asian countries. If you have a curvier shape, which many American women do, it won't work for you. But if you are slim with a very straight up and down shape, barrel leg jeans offer you a loose, baggy style that won't gape at the waist or slip off your hips, or look saggy in the butt. And the slight taper at the ankle helps if you are petite -- it's much more flattering on a petite body than wide leg jeans, especially in a cropped length.

I think if you don't have this body type, you just don't get why the other baggy styles don't work for everyone or specifically what is appealing about the barrel leg style. Also if you have a more substantial butt and thighs, likely barrel leg jeans just dont' work at all for your body type and if you try them on, you'd be like "ugh, who are these for???" Well, they are for those of us with a different body shape.

Yes, the second picture makes the model look bow-legged. Maybe less than the first, but it’s still very noticeable.

I actually have the body type you describe - thin, straight, no real curves. Barrel jeans simply make me look like I have rickets. Skinny jeans are bad too, even though I technically have the “correct” body type for them.

I mean, wear whatever you want but it’s ok for others to state their opinions.

I have that same shape but I look really good in skinny jeans because it accentuates my very long legs. The barrel jeans hide my best attribute which is why I don’t like them. I have no waist to speak of because I’m straight shaped. I guess they look OK from the side because I’m thin front to back, but from the front I just look like a giant female Aladdin in them.

[Anonymous]

I have these from Free People:

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans

and I do find them extremely comfortable. and I get compliments every time I wear them, but it's entirely possible that it's because they look so strange than people stare, and then feel like they need to say something complimentary.

I'm a tallish size 2 and hate wearing skinny jeans now. These are kind of 'rickets chic.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have these from Free People:

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans

and I do find them extremely comfortable. and I get compliments every time I wear them, but it's entirely possible that it's because they look so strange than people stare, and then feel like they need to say something complimentary.

I'm a tallish size 2 and hate wearing skinny jeans now. These are kind of 'rickets chic.'

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how comfortable and cute these jeans are! Where have they been all of my life?

Where they belonged - not around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have these from Free People:

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans

and I do find them extremely comfortable. and I get compliments every time I wear them, but it's entirely possible that it's because they look so strange than people stare, and then feel like they need to say something complimentary.

I'm a tallish size 2 and hate wearing skinny jeans now. These are kind of 'rickets chic.'

I would compliment you on those and ask where you got them. I don't think it's "rickets chic" so much as kind of hobo chic. I had a friend years and years ago when I worked in retail who essentially created this look by buying oversized mens jeans and taking in the waists and then doing a peg leg on the hems and tacking them in place. She had amazing style and was teeny tiny -- like 5 feet tall and a size double zero. She also had long, curly, honey blonde hair and big eyes. She'd wear her baggy jeans with Docs, or wear painters overalls layered over striped tees, and she had amazing coat and jewelry collections. Her outfits were always layers and interesting and sort of intentionally mismatched -- a real life Carrie Bradshaw before that show was a thing.

I think it's just a different aesthetic that doesn't appeal to everyone but I really enjoy.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE barrel leg jeans and the “jersey barrel pants” from Uniqlo are my work uniform now. Have all the colors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

Not at all. I’m GenX and love a good loose/baggy/boyfriend jean as long as it’s fairly fitted in the right places. Barrel jeans distort the shape of the legs and make the wearer look bow-legged.

Do you think the woman in the second photo above looks bowlegged? I don't. That's how most barrel legged jeans are cut -- it's a subtle difference in shape from other loose/baggy jeans.

I think the reason some like and others don't is that barrel jeans are designed for women with narrow hips and small butts and thighs. That's why the style is so popular in Japan and other Asian countries. If you have a curvier shape, which many American women do, it won't work for you. But if you are slim with a very straight up and down shape, barrel leg jeans offer you a loose, baggy style that won't gape at the waist or slip off your hips, or look saggy in the butt. And the slight taper at the ankle helps if you are petite -- it's much more flattering on a petite body than wide leg jeans, especially in a cropped length.

I think if you don't have this body type, you just don't get why the other baggy styles don't work for everyone or specifically what is appealing about the barrel leg style. Also if you have a more substantial butt and thighs, likely barrel leg jeans just dont' work at all for your body type and if you try them on, you'd be like "ugh, who are these for???" Well, they are for those of us with a different body shape.

Yeah this is it. I have a very straight shape and the snatched waist high rise jeans are a struggle. The barrel jeans (in mild form) feel custom made and effortless.

[Anonymous]

I think a slight bow leg is extremely attractive and since I’m a little knock kneed, I LOVE this trend. (Second photo)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have these from Free People:

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/we-the-free-good-luck-mid-rise-barrel-jeans

and I do find them extremely comfortable. and I get compliments every time I wear them, but it's entirely possible that it's because they look so strange than people stare, and then feel like they need to say something complimentary.

I'm a tallish size 2 and hate wearing skinny jeans now. These are kind of 'rickets chic.'

Aw I love these! They remind me of a pair of oversized thrifted vintage jeans I cuffed and rolled and pinned to high heaven to make this funky shape when I was in college…except without all the work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE barrel leg jeans and the “jersey barrel pants” from Uniqlo are my work uniform now. Have all the colors.

Love those. I also love barrel leg sweatpants. Everyone has a version that is awesome and feels dressier than a regular sweatpants because of the shape (not work dressy but if I wear them with a cropped cashmere sweater and cute flats, I feel so much more pulled together than I do in regular sweats). I saw Old Navy now has barrel legged sweatpants and I might try those out because the price is so nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think barrel jeans and other styles with more volume are hard for a lot of older millennial/young Gen X women to accept because they were very indoctrinated into the idea that the way to look slim was to wear very fitted clothes. It turns out that is not right, but it's a hard habit to break.

100% this. It was assumed if you wore anything baggy you had something to hide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE barrel leg jeans and the “jersey barrel pants” from Uniqlo are my work uniform now. Have all the colors.

You mean... these?
https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E475344-000/00?msockid=2932ca7c507d66ae3b59c5a751806746&colorDisplayCode=57&sizeDisplayCode=003