I've tried the best barrel jeans on the high street – my favorite looks expensive and is a bargain
HORSESHOE, banana or barrel – whatever you call them, they are the jeans of the year.
Loved by Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and rising actress Tina Kunakey, this wide, curved-leg denim hugs the hips, dips around the thighs, becomes voluminous around the knees and then tapers to the ankles. Looks like you borrowed a clown's straw hat.
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But barrel legs are the coolest silhouette of spring 2024.
Although they're all over the A-list, the form doesn't seem to be something we mere mortals can achieve.
But as a personal stylist, an avid follower of fashion, and a jeans obsessive, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
Can a middle-aged woman size 12 wear them? Or are they best left to celebrities and Gen Z?
Whether I'm going out for dinner with my partner Nick, 54, or going to the supermarket, I wear one of my thirty pairs of jeans.
They are usually of the bootcut variety.
Either that, or my trusty pair of Levi 501s that I first wore in the late 1990s—the high waist pinches me in while the straight legs accentuate my pins.
But as with the skinny jean trend of the 1990s, so far I'm glad the baggy wide-leg pants of the late 1980s remained firmly in the past.
I loved them the first time, but I just don't see the appeal today.
I can't imagine how a pair of what the stores call “barrel, carrot” or “balloon jeans” can be fashionable for a woman in her 50s.
Relaxed, boho style
But that puts me behind the times, because according to New Look, demand for a looser nineties silhouette has increased by 96 percent this year.
The barrel shape sounds like it checks all the boxes for my size 12 figure.
I'm a bit pear shaped and am conscious of my butt and thighs, so I will often size up in jeans.
At 6'1″ I'm not nearly as tall as supermodel Rosie, so I wonder what overly baggy, ankle-length jeans will look like.
But after seeing a gorgeous pair from Free People all over my Instagram, styled in a relaxed, boho way — and noticing how the shape creates a gap in the thighs on other people — I'm all for it to give it a twist.
The first ones I tried from Asos blew me away.
They reminded me of Sam Smith's latex balloon leg look from last year's Brit Awards – a vibe that's cool for the red carpet, but not for Sainsbury's.
And they were so long. Even with heels they scraped the floor – and I'm of average height.
I have friends who are a few inches shorter than me and they would trip over them.
I tried several other pairs and with all of them, even the Asos pairs, I was surprised at how flattering they were.
A high rise really hugs you at the waist and even though I was worried the round leg would make my thighs look bigger, it created a lovely, soft hourglass silhouette.
The barrel shape made my legs look slimmer than any regular straight leg or mom jeans.
But I definitely preferred the subtler pairs – they were more wearable.
My favorite was the River Island Barrel.
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The darts – the detail around the knee that gives the pants the barrel shape – provided a more sculpted, horseshoe fit that wasn't as extreme as others.
This pair was the right side of that dramatic shape, meaning I can look cool and current without attracting stares.
But here's the dealbreaker: is this trend sophisticated enough for a grown woman?
It works for twenty-somethings who don't mind showing off their midriff in a crop top or hanging out in an oversized sweatshirt, but how should us midlife women style them?
Pointy stilettos
As a stylist, I know that for everyday wear, it's important to balance things out a bit by tucking in your top so that your outfit doesn't look too bulky on your lower body.
A fitted, long-sleeved T-shirt like what I paired it with was perfect.
When it comes to shoes, it's best to go minimal with classic sneakers. However, if you have an invite to a fancy occasion, a pair of pointed-toe, barely-there stilettos will give you that sophisticated touch.
And contrary to the myth that oversized wide-leg jeans are man-repelling, my partner really liked me in this look.
But he was afraid I would look clownish, so part of that might have been relief.
Of all the pairs I tried, he preferred the Marks & Spencer style, which had a lighter wash color.
So, should I add a pair of barrel-cut jeans to my already overcrowded wardrobe?
Certainly.
It's a great way to update your look, especially since there are so many variations to suit most body shapes.
I recommend trying on a few pairs the next time you go shopping.
What I love about this trend is that it encourages you to have fun with clothing, while still being comfortable and practical.
And you can take it as far as you want. Just maybe not as far as Sam Smith.
CARROT FIT – Marks & Spencer, £39.50
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Tapered fit with high waist – H&M, £24.99
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Barrel fit, new look, £32.99
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Balloon Fit, Pepe, £45
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Barrel fit, River Island, £45
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