So Long, Skinnies: Here Are The Best Straight Leg Jeans You’ll Want To Wear

You’re starting to tire of skinnies, but flares seem a little ‘out there’. What you need are a pair of straight-leg jeans. The style sits high-ish on the waist, can be cropped or cut just below the ankle and, as it suggests on the tin, has straight legs that neither taper in nor flare out.

They’re quite Nineties - think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who wore hers with silk headscarves, oval sunglasses and black blazers - and because they don’t tend to have stretch can be slightly more difficult to fit perfectly. I’d suggest buying a style that fits your bum, and then getting the waist tailored at your local dry cleaner’s (when they reopen, of course).

My favourite pair of straight-leg jeans comes from & Other Stories, which has the high street’s best selection of styles, and my second favourite is Frame, a denim brand which makes great straight-leg jeans for pear-shaped figures.

Because of their shape - straight down from the hip - you have to be careful about styling. I would largely recommend tucking in shirts/blouses. If you let them hit your upper thigh, hiding your waist, then your body immediately looks more square than it really is. Trust me. If you’d rather hide your bum, however, try tucking in a crisp white tee and wearing an oversized blazer on top.

Also, this sounds odd, but flat shoes that cover the entire foot (e.g. trainers) don’t always work well with straight-leg jeans, especially if they're not slightly cropped. Ballet pumps or loafers, where you see a sliver of skin, or block-heeled ankle boots are much more flattering. They’ll also add to the slightly preppy/bookish vibe that goes so well with straight-leg jeans. Keep scrolling for the best pairs.