Who would have thought the day would come? In the past ten years, it’s become a widely-accepted belief that, unless you’re a grandma, a mom dropping the kids off at soccer practice, or a CEO sworn to a lifetime of suit-wearing, your closet has to be stocked with American Eagle Jeggings or Old Navy Super-Skinny Rockstars if you want any street cred.
Well, skinny jeans, I’m sorry to say there are some new kids in town. Sadly, they want nothing to do with you.
Though, here’s what’s weird. It’s not like a new style of jeans has come onto the scene leading everyone to abandon their skinny slacks for the new, trendier option. It appears a variety of jean types are making a fresh appearance or a long-awaited comeback, and skinny jeans just…aren’t invited to the party. Who do we have to thank? Gen Z.
Those who spent their young-adult years in the early 2000s lived in a world far different from the one our teens and twenty-somethings are living in today. Saturated with sugar-buster diets, SlimFast, and four-inch heels, early 2000s fashion can be summed up with one phrase: “beauty is pain.” That’s probably why skinny jeans were deemed to be as essential as sliced bread. Obviously, the slimming, lengthening closet-staple looked far better than the baggy, low-rise pants that were all the rage in the 90s, right? So, why would we want to revert back to a time when we didn’t have to suck in, jump and wiggle to get our pants on in the morning?
Well, the answer may actually lie in that question. Thanks to the much-needed body positivity movement becoming widely embraced by today’s young people, Gen Z doesn’t feel the paralyzing pressure to place how they look over how they feel. That means feeling comfortable in your own skin (and, therefore, your own jeans). So, sorry skinny jeans, unless your comfy you’re being thrown in the giveaway pile.
So, if skinny jeans are no longer the #1 pants choice, what are trendsetters doing? Well, these celebs and influencers I’m about to show you seem to have a pretty good idea of how to balance looking absolutely adorable while also rocking pants that don’t cut off your circulation.
Who else to kick off our list than TikTok queen and ultimate trendsetter Charli D’Amelio? At this point, D’Amelio could throw on a trash bag dress and everyone would follow suit (probably because she’d find a way to pull it off, but that’s beside the point). With 109.1 million followers on TikTok and 38.2 million on Instagram, D’Amelio has quite literally taken the world by storm (I’m serious, they even made her Dunkin’ Donuts order a menu item). That’s why it’s no wonder that, after showing off her love for distressed, straight-leg jeans such as these, young people everywhere are following D’Amelio and buying themselves a pair (or three).
Can you blame them? These jeans provide the perfect balance of edgy, cutesy, and comfy. They’re also super easy to dress up or dress down while still making a bold statement either way. Though D’Amelio is choosing to sport a laid-back look by pairing them with some white sneakers and a cropped tank top, she could easily throw on a pair of heels, some jewelry, and a satin blouse, and bam: she’s red carpet ready in an instant.
Corduroy has been around for what seems like forever. From corduroy suits that exuded class in the 70s, to corduroy jackets embraced by rebels in the 90s, there’s no denying the fabric’s versatile, transformative, and timeless nature. That’s why I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see model and fashion icon Aisha Farida rocking these brown corduroy pants as if she walked straight out of Vogue. She was already far cooler than I was, but in this knockout fit where she pairs corduroy slacks with an elegant fur coat, heeled black boots, and her moss green tote, I literally don’t stand of chance of being on her level.
Maybe they’re not necessarily jeans, but these slacks act as a perfect example of how today’s trendsetters are being far more creative with pants than they have been in a long time. Just imagine how less cool this look would be with plain skinny jeans? Don’t get me wrong, it would still be cool…but would it make nearly as much of a statement? Not a chance.
Corduroy isn’t the only fashion trend making a comeback. Flare jeans were one of the most treasured trends of the 90s, and it’s safe to say they’re becoming just as beloved in 2021. Because, like Australian influencer Emily Venz is splendidly showing off in this Instagram post, we’re mixing modern designs with the classic style to take flare jeans to never-before-seen heights. Two-tone jeans have become quite common in the last five years, but this is the first time I’ve seen the popular design paired with a flared cut like this one. Seeing that she looks as though she walked straight out of a modern-day version of Mamma Mia!, it’s safe to say it gets five stars in my book (Amanda Seyfried would be proud).
Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Venz’s delicate, white spaghetti strap top and classy, beige purse and shoes couldn’t paint a more poised picture of elegance. Maybe I’m over-exaggerating, but if this outfit doesn’t scream, “she is beauty, she is grace,” I don’t know what does.
One of the top benefits of saying goodbye to skinny jeans? Getting ample opportunity to play with fun patterns like the one beauty influencer and blogger Olivia Messina is sporting. I mean come on, why stick to a simple pair of jeans when you can invest in pants that pop and call it a day?
Come on, look at this lifehack. Her black boots, white sweater, and beige purse are all completely laid back and neutral pieces. Yet, because her checkered, tethered pants catch our eyes and make us “ooh” and “aah”, her outfit is automatically one we’re sure to remember. The best part? She probably feels just as good as she looks.
Last, but certainly not least, tell me why fashion blogger Barbara Kristoffersen looks like an adorable, real-life version of ‘Bubbles’ from PowerPuff Girls (don’t even try to tell me you don’t see it)? Because her oversized leather jacket and baggy, black boyfriend jeans give Kristoffersen a grungy-edge that skinny jeans never could, she’s allowed to sport all of the cotton-candy blue she wants while still managing to look too cool for school (seriously, Regina George could never).
Similar to the straight-leg jeans D’Amelio was sporting at the top of our list, Kristoffersen is modeling a similar style that every girl between the age of 15-25 likely has in her closet right now. They look so effortlessly cool no matter what you pair them with, and you feel like you’re wearing PJs while looking your best. What’s not to love?
The Beat @APU 
Yeah, I am never going to be told which jeans to wear! Skinny jeans look decent on my under 5ft small frame. I never understand why women are meant to follow fashion even if it means drowning in material and wearing things they don’t like. It all seems silly.
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