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New season collections are here, but there’s really only one thing my wardrobe needs this autumn: a great pair of ‘now’ jeans. The kind of denim that makes getting dressed in the morning a pleasure.
Find the right cut, and it opens up possibilities for the rest of your wardrobe. Without buying anything else you can feel fresh, sharp, and on trend.
My relationship with jeans has evolved over the years. These days, I don’t need a whole rail of styles – I’m after that one perfect pair. The unicorn. The jeans that flatter in all the right places, feel good from the first wear, and will see me through this season and many more.
I’ve owned a couple of pairs of these in my life and I’ve worn them until they split across the backside – once in public.
Where to begin? That’s the overwhelming part.
I wanted something with a wider leg, but not too wide. A classic blue – but not too light, and definitely not too dark (you may think this is a ‘safe’, possibly even slimming choice, but that’s not the case).
High-rise, but not strangulating. Straight, tapered, flared? The options can make you want to pull on your old skinnies and admit defeat.
So I did what anyone with a deep love of denim, and an excuse to call it ‘work’, would do. I hit the High Street and tried on everything.
Every style that looked remotely promising. Every cut I thought might work. Every brand from budget to premium.
I tried until the shop assistants started to think there might be something wrong with me. In total I tried on 67 pairs of jeans. Yes. really.
Here’s what I found: Price doesn’t always equal quality. You can spend a fortune on a designer label and end up with jeans that sag, pinch, or never quite sit right. And you can just as easily find the right pair for under £50.
So, whether you’re hunting down your new season staple or just want to feel a bit more stylish doing the supermarket shop, here are seven of the best jeans on the high street right now – tried, tested, and yes, squatted in.
Trust me, The One does exist.
Timeless high rise
Jeans, £110, levi.com; shirt, £29, albaray.com; vest, £89, whistles.com; shoes, £45, marksandspencer.com
Super high-rise and cut to flatter, these sit neatly at the waist, smooth the tummy with a button-front and hug the hips without digging in. The slight stretch makes them easy to move in, and the clean wash is timeless.
Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle
£110 ShopSuper-stud straight
Jeans, £210, essentiel-antwerp.com; cardigan, £99.90, uniqlo.com; shoes, £149, lkbennett.com
A touch of embellishment isn’t just for your daughter’s wardrobe – grown-up denim can be playful too – without being over the top, the pearl and stud detailing lifts these jeans in the most flattering way. They cinch at the waist, skim the hips and fall into a wide leg that’s long enough for heels – fun, elegant, youthful!
Straight Leg Jeans with Pearl and Stud Embellishments
£120 ShopSlimming vintage effect
Jeans, £29.99, stradivarius.com; jumper, £97, stories.com; shoes, £79, dunelondon.com
Distressed just enough – and only where it looks natural – these offer a grown-up take on worn-in denim. The subtle shading gives the illusion of longer, slimmer legs, while the slim, straight cut is the perfect step up from a skinny. This is the pair for you if you’re not brave enough to do ‘directional’ but want to look up to date.
Straight-leg Vintage Effect Jeans
£29.99 ShopOff-duty Palazzo
Jeans, £22, primark.com; shirt, £29, albaray.com; vest, £49, baukjen.com; trainers, £49.99, zara.com
By far the most comfortable of them all. Lightweight and incredibly comfortable, these are an easy win for off-duty days. The soft fabric moves well, giving them a relaxed drape that feels far more expensive. Ideal with trainers or loafers – effortless and unfussy.
Palazzo Jeans
£22 ShopBody-sculpting bestseller
Jeans, £295, Frame at trilogystores.co.uk; top, £29, albaray.com; cardigan, £185, Jumper 1234 at trilogystores.co.uk
A bestseller for good reason – these offer stretch and comfort without losing their polished shape. The high-rise, wide-leg cut is both timeless and ageless, sculpting in all the right places. They’re expensive, yes, but the effect is instant: smoothing, elongating and quietly luxurious. Think of them as the Botox of jeans – subtly transformative!
Frame Le Slim Palazzo
£295 ShopCropped wonder
Jeans, £99, whistles.com; top, £29, albaray.com; jumper, £205, riseandfall.co
Lightweight and easy to wear, these now work with flats and later with knee-high boots underneath. The wide-leg cut feels modern yet effortless – a great transitional piece.
Wide Leg Cropped Jeans £99 ShopBrave a barrel
Jeans, £29.50, marksandspencer.com; jumper, £59, baukjen.com; shoes, £79, dunelondon.com
A great way to try the barrel-leg trend – which has been ‘the’ shape for a couple of seasons now, but can be tricky to get right. M&S gets the proportions spot-on: roomy through the thigh, gently tapering at the ankle. The cut is surprisingly versatile, and the quality holds its own next to premium pairs.
Mid-rise Barrel Jeans
£29.50 Shop
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