Want to branch out from your tried and true skinny jeans? I want to share good alternatives to help you expand your jeans wardrobe. Today, we’re talking all about straight leg jeans!Â
Let me be clear, YOU CAN STILL WEAR SKINNY JEANS! If they are the jeans you’re most comfortable in, you can absolutely still wear them.
But, I’ve been getting lots of questions about new styles of jeans and how to wear them, so over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some other jean options, along with shopping ideas, styling them on two body types, and tips for wearing them.
Today we’re starting with straight leg jeans!
Why should you try straight leg jeans?
Straight leg jeans are a good next step from skinny jeans. When wider leg jeans started becoming popular a few years ago, and it was more boyfriend jeans or super high waisted light wash mom jeans that looked straight from the 80s.
But now there are more options! You can get mid rise, high rise, (even low rise, but I wouldn’t recommend that), and you can get all washes — dark, light, and mid.
If you can get a pair that fits you well through the waist and hips, you’ll probably be surprised at how much you like a slightly looser leg.
Which straight leg jeans should you choose?
I’d recommend choosing a mid or medium-high rise. You can do any wash you’d like, but a mid-rinse or a black or gray is a really good and versatile option.
They MUST fit you through the waist and hips and crotch. No baggy or pointed crotches, and no gappy waistbands.
The length should hit you around your ankle bone, or slightly above.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Mid rise mid-rinse jeans (use code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off through August 31)
- wearing size 25
- These are soft and have enough stretch in them to help you transition from stretchy skinny jeans
- size down one full size — they run big!
Gray Madewell Jeans (use code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off through August 31)
- wearing size 25 – size down! They run big
- These are a great straight leg jeans option for fall and winter.
- These are soft and have a bit of stretch
Levi’s light wash skinny jeans
- wearing size 26 – get your normal size, or even size up for a less tight fit
- These fit much closer to a skinny jean
- They don’t have stretch
4 different ways to wear skinny jeans on two body types
Yes, you can wear straight leg jeans whether you’re hippy or curvy or have a flat bum, or a straight waist, or anything. I promise you can make them work! It might just take a bit of time to find a pair that’s right for your body. Check out how Kristy and I styled them.
1. PRE-FALL OUTFITS WITH STRAIGHT LEG JEANS
Try them for pre-fall with a short sleeve sweater or sweatshirt. You can tuck or untuck, depending on the length of your top, and then pair with sandals or flats.
SIMILAR GREEN SHORT SLEEVE SWEATER | SIMILAR STRAIGHT LEG JEANS | BRAIDED SANDALS | PEACH BODEN SHORT SLEEVE SWEATER | MADEWELL JEANS  (code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off – size down one size) \ROTHY’S LEOPARD FLATS
CASUAL T-SHIRT OUTFITS WITH STRAIGHT LEG JEANS
Try straight leg jeans with your tee and jeans looks. It’s an easy swap from skinny jeans, and a comfy everyday mom look. We paired them with sneakers, but you could do sandals!
YELLOW T-SHIRT | SIMILAR STRAIGHT LEG JEANS | SIMILAR SNEAKERS | CUTS ALMOST FRIDAY TEE (code MERRICKSART for 15% off) | MADEWELL JEANS (code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off – size down one size) | GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS
STRAIGHT LEG JEANS WITH FLOWY TOPS
If you don’t want to half tuck or tuck your shirt, and you carry some weight in your middle, a flowy top might be the way to go! Just keep the length of the flowy top short enough to show most of your leg line.
SIMILAR GEOMETRIC PRINT FLOWY TOP | SIMILAR STRAIGHT LEG JEANS | BRAIDED SANDALS | WHITE SMOCKED TOP | MADEWELL JEANS (code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off – size down one size) | SIMILAR LEATHER SANDALS
STRAIGHT LEG JEANS IN THE FALL
As the weather cools down, you can absolutely still wear your straight leg jeans, and they look great with boots. I have a whole post RIGHT HERE about how to wear straight leg jeans with boots. Try these jeans with a cardigan or a jacket, and try a variety of boots with them to see what you like best.
STRIPED TEE | TARGET CARDIGAN | SIMILAR STRAIGHT LEG JEANS |ANKLE BOOTS | SIMILAR GREEN JACKET |SIMILAR SHORT SLEEVE SWEATERÂ | MADEWELL JEANS (code MERRICKSART20 for 20% off – size down one size) | SIMILAR TAN ANKLE BOOTS
I hope this is helpful if you’re trying to branch out from skinny jeans! Stay tuned for part 2 next Monday.
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Great looks! Could you talk about how to find a great fitting blazer? I have a small waist and larger hips. Many blazers hit me across the hips and emphasize my hips. Should I go shorter or longer? I THINK I’M SUPPOSED TO BE WEARING SHORTER BLAZERS AS Longer would look frumpy? I find that many are right at hip lenghth.
OMG! Like how you match pieces. I am a primary school teacher, and I find it difficult to create colorful capsule wardrobe, wearing mostly blac. No idea how to manage…(