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This surprising silhouette is shaping up to be the denim style of the season
The barrel leg is a unique yet flattering proposition
Every season, a fresh set of microtrends arrives to make our well-curated edit of everyday staples feel fresh and new once again. Necklines shift, hemlines and heels rise and fall, and accessories arrive in an unexpected new hue (this season: get ready for butter yellow) to shake up those long-loved capsule classics.
But while dress, skirt and trouser silhouettes shift in sync with the seasons, our denim doesn’t tend to change quite as much. Once you’ve found that perfect pair of flattering straight-leg jeans, there’s little reason to go in search of something else. But now, there’s a new silhouette stuck in our mind: the barrel, or horseshoe. High-waisted and bow-legged, this unusual silhouette is reinvigorating our denim roster.
It seems we’re in weighty company too: at Net a Porter, searches for barrel-leg styles have increased a remarkable 385 per cent in the last three months, with styles from Agolde, Alaïa, and Frame proving especially hard to keep in stock.
As Libby Page, market director at Net-A-Porter explains, the barrel leg is an evolution of the wide-leg styles that we saw everywhere last year. “We’ve been seeing a shift towards more oversized and wide-leg denim silhouettes. Street style has embraced baggy, low-slung styles and added a more androgynous touch to our wardrobes,” she says. “The architectural shape of a barrel leg, such as Citizens of Humanity’s Horseshoe jeans, elevates any smart-casual dress code.”
While it may not sound it, the barrel-leg jean is instantly flattering, whatever your size or style inclinations. The wide, curved legs combine a kind of louche, nonchalant ease with fashion-forward credentials. If you're after visual proof, see Sienna Miller out in London earlier this month in a pair of loose barrel-leg jeans, juxtaposed against a classic blazer and pointed boot.
Really, the barrel-leg boom can be chalked up to two factors: the fashion-forward credentials, and the actual wearability. Seasonal trends rarely tick both boxes – last season’s ultra-low-rise styles didn’t exactly jump straight into our wardrobes – which is exactly why the barrel jean is an investment with legs. Here, see the pairs that promise a perfect fit.
The barrel leg jeans to invest in this season
DL1961 makes some of the best denim on the market, turning its hand to seasonal trends with a firm eye on fit. The Taylor is the brand's take on the barrel silhouette, with a high-rise waist and loose, just-tapered-enough legs and clever fading that flatters your silhouette. They're sturdy yet soft, holding their shape without feeling restrictive.
The style that started the boom, Citizens of Humanity's Horseshoe jean is the most flared of the bunch. They're remarkably wearable, with a high waist and legs that end in softly frayed hems. Contrast the dressed-down vibes with a pair of open-toe heels.
Khaite's considered take on the trend features neat darts at the waistband, creating a flattering flare that tapers seamlessly to the ankle with just a hint of 1980s energy. Be sure to tuck your top into the high waistband to keep the shape in focus, and keep things chic with a slender pointed heel.
One of our go-to denim brands (and one of the most popular on Net-A-Porter) Frame approaches the seasonal trends with one eye on longevity. The Long Barrel style is a subdued take on the silhouette, meaning you can be sure you’ll get maximum mileage from your investment. We love the pale-blue denim paired with a crisp white tee and sharp black blazer.
As sharp and as sexy as a pair of jeans can be, Alaïa's take on the trend is precision cut for maximum impact. Don't save this dense indigo denim pair for daytime: they'll look striking with a collared shirt and vertiginous stilettos after dark.
Zimmerman's louche brand of bohemia plays our perfectly in the proportions of these slouchy barrel jeans. They're cut to be worn swung low on the hips and rolled at the ankles for maximum nonclahant energy. Wear them as they appeared on the runway, with layers of lace and a boyish blazer shrugged over your shoulders.
Another restrained take on the look, Toteme’s cream denim jeans flare from beneath the knee, before hitting neatly on the ankle. They’re a great pair for wearing with loafers and flats.
If you're reluctant to relinquish the safety net of a high waistline, consider Agolde's Luna style, which fits close on the waist and loose through the legs. The pieced legs flare dramatically, and end in raw hems for a distressed edge.
A new Cos signature, the Arch jean is the brand's take on the barrel-leg silhouette. They're made from non-stretch denim (the sign of a high-street hit, as they won't sag after washing) and end on the ankle, meaning they'l work well with flats (mesh ballerinas if you're really doing things right) and slender heels.
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