If you know us, you know we love denim. Whether it’s wide-leg jeans, a Canadian tuxedo, or a pair of jorts, we’re never more than one outfit away from our beloved jeans. And in particular: the barrel leg style.
A fave shape among celebrities, models, and influencers alike, barrel jeans first caught our eye at the Alaïa A/W 2023 runway show and we’ve been obsessed ever since. And, we’re not the only ones. We’ve spotted everyone from Blake Lively and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
to Gigi Hadid and sister Bella Hadid embracing the baggy, relaxed jeans—perfect for styling up or down.
But if you’re struggling to know which shoes to choose to wear with a barrel leg, allow us to share some style advice. The key is balancing out the volume of the denim with your shoe choice—whether a slimline trainer, or an eye-catching heel. But don’t just take our word for it, allow these stylish women to take the lead…
Smarten them up with black loafers
While denim can sometimes feel like a chill option, we all know ‘jeans and a nice top’ ticks the smart casual dress code. Take things one step further with a pair of black or patent loafers, perfect for making your barrel leg feel office or bar appropriate.
Keep things casual with flip flops
On the flip side (see what we did there?), pair your denim with a sandal or flip flop to really jean into the model-off-duty look. Showing a bit of skin really balances out the volume of the trouser.
Or how about a heeled flip flop?
For somewhere more on the smart casual scale, opt for a heeled flip flop, which have been spotted on the feet of the most stylish of fashion girlies as of late. Whether you’re catching up with friends over brunch or heading for date night, trust us when we say these shoes are versatile.
Throw on a pair of trusty Mary Janes
City break? Tick. Pub on a Saturday? Yep. An outfit you can wear on repeat? Absolutely! Barrel leg jeans and Mary Jeans are a fool-proof combination you can always reach for, whatever the occasion.
Add a kitten heel
For anyone that loves the extreme barrel leg shape, add a touch of height to your look with some kitten heels. Great for balancing out proportions and letting the jeans do the talking!
Lean into the animal print trend
Why does leopard print and khaki just look so good together? Adding a pointed toe also adds a touch of femininity to the oversized barrel shape, while also meaning you can keep things even more casual on top.
Go casual with slimline trainers
If you really want to rock that ‘Princess-Diana-off-duty’ look, what could be more appropriate than a pair of Nike sneakers and blue denim jeans? Add a tomato red accessory if you really want to hit this season’s trends.
Consider your next denim look, nailed!
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
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