Yep, This Non-Skinny Jeans Trend Is Defining 2025—Take Note

Despite the conversation about skinny jeans over the past years, non-skinny jeans styles are still becoming the go-to for fashion people. (It's just a pattern I noticed—I promise I'm not purposefully hating on skinnies. If you love them, do you!)

If you're a fashion-minded person and haven't been reaching for skinny jeans this year, what have you been wearing? Chances are, it's barrel-leg jeans. Maybe you started out thinking, There's no way these voluminous jeans will become my go-to style, but sure enough, these non-skinny jeans proved to be so much more wearable than we all expected. The wide, tapered fit actually has a shape and structure to them, so they don't forfeit looking polished like so many baggy styles. I'm predicting that they'll not only be on-trend for 2025 but also define denim this year.

I went ahead and sourced the best barrel-leg jeans on the internet right now—complete with editor and customer reviews—just in case you're after some fresh denim. Keep scrolling to shop all my favorites and get inspiration on how to style them.

Now, shop the best barrel-leg jeans at every price point.

The Top 4 Barrel-Leg Jeans

• Best Overall Barrel-Leg Jeans: Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe Jeans ($278)
• Best Affordable Barrel-Leg Jeans: We the Free Lucky You Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans ($98)
• Best High-Rise Barrel-Leg Jeans: Agolde Balloon Jeans ($248)
• Best Celebrity-Adored Barrel-Leg Jeans: EB Denim Frederic Bowed Jeans ($375)

Best Overall: Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe Jeans

Aptly named Horseshoe Jeans, this pair is fashioned with curved, wide legs that fall slightly tapered and have cropped, frayed hems. The strategic darts at the knees and calves here are key to creating that cool barrel shape. One Saks Fifth Avenue reviewer sang their praises. They shared, "[They're] very flattering on the body and so much fun! I am usually size 28 in Levi's and bought my size. I feel like I could have even sized down one size in these."

Pros: Dramatic barrel-leg shape, high-rise fit, many color options

Con: High price point

Material: 100% cotton

Size range: 23–34

Color range: Seven color washes that range from light to dark blue, and white and colored washes

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Best Luxury: Tibi Sid Jeans

Tibi's perpetually sold-out Sid Jeans have editors and celebs alike in a tizzy trying to get their hands on the roomy, languid shape. As soon as editor Eliza Huber laid eyes on them in Tibi's showroom, she ran home to preorder the jeans, calling them unbelievably cool. "I had to have them," she declared. TikTok creators are big fans of the jeans too, with one user insisting they're very complementary to her body.

Pros: Slouchier shape, cool seaming detail

Con: Frequently sold out

Material: 100% cotton

Size range: 24–32

Color range: Four color options, including acid wash, mid-blue, black, and cream

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Best Affordable: We the Free Lucky You Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans

Our entire fashion team is salivating over these Free People jeans for their forward shape and shockingly affordable price. At just $98, they're an excellent deal on one of the hottest denim trends of the moment, and there's no shortage of color or wash options to choose from, either.

Last summer, I purchased the mid-blue wash and loved them so much that I placed an order for the cream-toned pair next. These feature a mid-rise waistline, so they sit a bit lower than the two pairs featured above, but I think it gives the jeans a more relaxed look and feel. According to reviewers (and me), the jeans run big, so size down for a more fitted look.

One Free People reviewer shared, "These jeans hit all the marks! They fit beautifully, are perfectly slouchy but not falling off my hips, and they still give a flattering shape despite how roomy they are."

Pros: Affordable price point, heavy cotton feel, button fly, wide color range

Con: Runs large

Material: 57% cotton, 43% lyocell

Size range: 24–33

Color range: Nine colors ranging from blue washes to white, black, and colored options

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Best High-Rise: Agolde Balloon Jeans

I was shocked by how much I liked these balloon jeans. I usually shy away from anything that will exaggerate the volume of my lower half, but the shape of this pair blew me away. It's roomy and tapered in all the right places. I ended up going down a size from what I'm wearing in the other fits you're about to see, and it ended up being the perfect snug-waisted, barrel-leg fit.

"I wasn't sure this style was for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it looks on," one YouTube reviewer said. "I love everything about these jeans. It looks great with flats and sneakers. Definitely a keeper."

Pros: High-rise fit, subtle balloon shape, organic cotton that will soften over time

Cons: Runs large, limited color options

Material: 100% organic cotton

Size range: 23–34

Color range: Three blue washes, one white option, and one black option

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Best Celebrity-Adored: EB Denim Frederic Bowed Jeans

Celebrities beeline for the cool jeans from EB Denim, so it was only a matter of time until the brand's latest launch—a curved, bowed-leg pair called the Frederic—ended up in their closets too.

Pros: Seamed detailing, full-length hem, high-rise fit

Con: Investment price point

Material: 100% cotton

Size range: 24–32

Color range: Three blue washes, one metallic silver option, and one zipper-detailed option

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Shop More Barrel-Leg Jeans

What to Look For in the Best Barrel-Leg Jeans

To find the shape you're looking for, plug in keywords like "balloon jeans" and "barrel jeans" to your favorite retailer's search bar. They can also sometimes be called "wide-leg tapered jeans." You'll want to look out for a shape that's fitted in the waist, flares out around the mid-leg, and then tapers in at the ankle. Take a look at the material. You'll want to make sure the denim has a high cotton count. About 95% cotton or higher is going to ensure the jeans maintain their structure.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognizable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality, and real-world wearability.

We regularly try pieces ourselves, including everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes, speak to external experts and fashion insiders, and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.