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

[Anonymous]

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

You must be tall and slim and possibly young! I’m 5’4” and 43 and there is just no way. I’ll keep my straight-leg jeans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what the barrel leg haters don't get is that I just don't care about showing off my butt in jeans anymore.

For the last 40 years, wearing jeans that fit closely enough to show off your butt was the fashion, and I definitely participated in it. I have a good butt. Even now, I can put on an old pair of bootcut or skinny jeans and think "yes, my butt looks good in these."

I just don't care. My butt also looks good in leggings or joggers, which are more comfortable than tight jeans, so if I want to show off my butt, I can wear those. But when I'm wearing jeans or more formal pants, I am loving the looser, less body-hugging styles, which I think look cool and relaxed with the benefit of being so much more comfortable. I'm in my 40s. I'm married. I'm not on the dating market and most days my goal is not "sexy" it's "pulled together, smart, fashionable."

I do not care that you can no longer see my butt in these jeans. I already know what it looks like.

This isn't about your butt. It's the shape of the legs. I totally understand wanting a looser, more relaxed pair of jeans as opposed to tight jeans (skinnies are the WORST). But why the barrel cut? Why not just a relaxed leg? Make it make sense.

Because a relaxed leg looks sloppy and shapeless. I like the volume in the barrel leg.

I think to understand the style, you need to know and like Asian clothing styles. I'm half Japanese and this is how people have dressed in Japan for a while now. A barrel leg pant (more often in cotton than denim,but you see denim styles too) with a chore coat, an oxford short, and a pair of ballet flats is a common uniform. It is comfortable, practical, and when properly proportioned, stylish.

DP. I don’t mind barrel jeans, but I think the Japanese pants are different - they are lantern shaped, the curve is only on the outside, and they are softer, not as rigid. I love that kind of pants, have worn Lisa Bayne and Eileen Fisher versions for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what the barrel leg haters don't get is that I just don't care about showing off my butt in jeans anymore.

For the last 40 years, wearing jeans that fit closely enough to show off your butt was the fashion, and I definitely participated in it. I have a good butt. Even now, I can put on an old pair of bootcut or skinny jeans and think "yes, my butt looks good in these."

I just don't care. My butt also looks good in leggings or joggers, which are more comfortable than tight jeans, so if I want to show off my butt, I can wear those. But when I'm wearing jeans or more formal pants, I am loving the looser, less body-hugging styles, which I think look cool and relaxed with the benefit of being so much more comfortable. I'm in my 40s. I'm married. I'm not on the dating market and most days my goal is not "sexy" it's "pulled together, smart, fashionable."

I do not care that you can no longer see my butt in these jeans. I already know what it looks like.

This isn't about your butt. It's the shape of the legs. I totally understand wanting a looser, more relaxed pair of jeans as opposed to tight jeans (skinnies are the WORST). But why the barrel cut? Why not just a relaxed leg? Make it make sense.

Because a relaxed leg looks sloppy and shapeless. I like the volume in the barrel leg.

I think to understand the style, you need to know and like Asian clothing styles. I'm half Japanese and this is how people have dressed in Japan for a while now. A barrel leg pant (more often in cotton than denim,but you see denim styles too) with a chore coat, an oxford short, and a pair of ballet flats is a common uniform. It is comfortable, practical, and when properly proportioned, stylish.

DP. I don’t mind barrel jeans, but I think the Japanese pants are different - they are lantern shaped, the curve is only on the outside, and they are softer, not as rigid. I love that kind of pants, have worn Lisa Bayne and Eileen Fisher versions for years.

Yes, those are more traditional Japanese style pants. But the barrel leg trend is also big there and many Japanese styles have a similar shape. Agree they tend to wear the trend in softer, less rigid fabrics though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

DP those are cute and look SO comfortable!

[Anonymous]

What I want to know is - what length should barrel pants be? Right at top of shoe? Higher? Long so they pool a little?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I want to know is - what length should barrel pants be? Right at top of shoe? Higher? Long so they pool a little?

I like them best when they hit at the ankle or right above the foot. Shorter and you get a weird pantaloon effect, longer and they just look huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You must be tall and slim and possibly young! I’m 5’4” and 43 and there is just no way. I’ll keep my straight-leg jeans.

Anyone thin looks good in them. I’m petite and thin and they look amazing on me.

[Anonymous]

They are everything! You have to let them sit low. They are soooo cute.

I'm slim, but my good friend is a heavier and she looks amazing in her too.

The key is where they sit on your hips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You must be tall and slim and possibly young! I’m 5’4” and 43 and there is just no way. I’ll keep my straight-leg jeans.

I'm 56 and they look amazing on me. I am slim though. 5'4.

[Anonymous]

I love my barrel jeans! My current fave is the Pistola Lexi. Very subtle barrel. Really flattering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the naysayers don't really know what a broad variety of barrel jeans are out there. I think y'all are assuming:



When those of us who like them are wearing:

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely love them!

I’m 5’ 3” and these are the ones I have:

https://www.madewell.com/p/womens/more-sizes/petite/petite-jeans-for-women/the-petite-darted-utility-barrel-leg-jean/NY069/?ccode=DM7793

I tried the regular size in store first, but there was no way, the proportions and length were so far off that I thought, barrel jeans are not for me. But I was intrigued enough to order in a petite size and I was amazed at the difference, everything fell into place and they fit and look exactly as intended. Couldn’t be happier with them.

I have these (not in petite) in the Denver wash and I get compliments on them all the time. I love how good they look with just an Oxford shirt and a belt.

To the PP who asked about shoes, I wear mine with fitted Chelsea boots in the winter, sandals in the summer.

Agree, they make a simple outfit look more interesting, all by themselves. A simple Oxford shirt and belt with straight leg jeans looks fine, but to me needs a little something more, maybe a third piece (cardigan, vest) or an accessory that pops, to add interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the naysayers don't really know what a broad variety of barrel jeans are out there. I think y'all are assuming:



When those of us who like them are wearing:

Exactly.

The second picture looks like she is wearing pants that don’t fit and are too short to me. I am that shape and I just can’t get into them, but I can see how some people would like it because it would be comfy. I an a stretchy skinny pants person but I have really long legs and am self conscious about pants that are too short after being called High Water so much in middle school!