I was in my late teens when I discovered my first pair of boyfriend jeans – they were a softly-tapered, low-slung style that I found on a Topshop sale rail around 2008. After trying them on, I quickly fell in love with the idea of denim feeling loose and low-key, rather than the skin-tight skinny jeans that were so popular at the time (which I’d never felt comfortable in with my body type).
Fast-forward nearly 20 years, and I’m still firmly on Team Boyfriend Jeans – despite slimmer styles also returning to favour. Don’t get me wrong, I love a stovepipe or a straight-leg jean too – but these baggy, laidback styles are what I’ll always lean on if I want to feel comfy (and cool). These days, there’s a style of denim for everyone – but in my opinion, boyfriend jeans are one of the most versatile out there. To summarise: I’ve been happily wearing boyfriend jeans for nearly two decades, so I feel overly qualified on all the best ways to style them.
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What are boyfriend jeans?
First, it’s important to distinguish the difference between ‘mom jeans’ and boyfriend jeans. Mom jeans resemble those 80s-style high-waisted, classic Levi’s jeans that are neither too slim nor too baggy. They taper in at the hem yet are a little roomier than a straight-leg jean. Boyfriend jeans, on the other hand, are baggy jeans that typically hang off the hips – much like you would find on men’s jeans – though more modern iterations offer high-waisted versions as well.
Think of them as the jeans you borrowed from your boyfriend’s closet that are the perfect level of baggy and lived-in (boyfriend jeans often have a distressed finish, too). They sometimes feature wide-leg silhouettes, but they can be a little tapered or cuffed at the hem, too. Crucially, they tend to be mega comfy and give that relaxed, low-key vibe that works with endless outfit formulas – whether you want to dress them up or down.