Once upon a time, skinny jeans were all the fashion set wore. Now, between the reemergence (and reinvention) of vintage denim and the advent of luxe athleisure, cigarette cuts are rapidly disappearing. The general attitude seems to be thus: Why wear predictably shaped, constrictive denim when you could wow in a fresher, more freeing bottom? Over the past few months, our Insta feeds have been rife with images of kick flares, wide-leg trousers and tearaway track pants (to name just a few) with hardly any skinny jeans in sight. And thus we began to question: Are skinny jeans over?
Meet the opposition; Images: Imaxtree
Of course, calling it on a trend — especially one as enduring as skinny jeans — is not an act we take lightly. In search of evidence to support our hunch, we parsed through hundreds upon hundreds of street style snaps taken outside the latest menswear, womenswear and haute couture shows. Our findings? Yes, skinny jeans did make a handful of appearances. Certain members of the fashion elite — Instagram guru Eva Chen and supermodel Joan Smalls among them — continue to rock the constrictive cut. But the skinny jean sightings made up an infinitesimal fraction of the crowd.
According to street style stars, the denim fits to wear now are the high-rise straight jean, the bell-bottom, the kick flare and reworked vintage Levi’s (frayed hems and colorblocking FTW). Today’s fashion girls want a generously enhanced derrière and liberal legroom. They want a piece that’s sexy, but utilitarian.
The new order; Images: Imaxtree
Apart from the aforementioned denim trends, modern fashion gals are gravitating toward tailored and/or flowy trousers, statement pants (of the patent and patterned variety), high-end athleisure (thank Maison Margiela) and feminine skirts and dresses (thank Maria Grazia Chiuri).
Still, those of you who can’t bear the thought of pairing your over-the-knee and motorcycle boots with anything else can take comfort in the fact that skinny jeans, though no longer ubiquitous, aren’t totally extinct. Plus, the less popular your choice of bottom, the more you stand out from the masses. So, in a way, skinnies are winning fashion’s race for individuality. Joke’s on everyone else.
Femininity is in; Images: Imaxtree
Those of you still on team skinny jean — or now considering giving skinnies another shot — click through the slideshow below for some of-the-moment styling tips and proof that skinny jeans are still in style. (Hint: bare knees and statement outerwear are a must.)
Images: Imaxtree
Skinny Jeans Street Style
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #1
Destroyed skinny jeans dressed up with menswear-inspired platforms and a slouchy knit during Paris Men's Fashion Week Fall 2017.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #2
Cheerfully embroidered and layered at Paris Men's Fashion Week Fall 2017.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #3
Paired with fire statement socks and equally eye-grabbing neoprene shoes.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #4
The laced-up look wouldn't quite work with any other denim style.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #5
Leather skinnies still count as skinnies, right? Anyhow, nothing's more of-the-moment than a Gucci-infused fit.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #6
So long as thigh-high boots are in, cigarette jeans will have somewhere to be tucked.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #7
A rare skinny jeans sighting at the latest New York Fashion Week: Men's. This fearless fashion girl chose to wear them with high-rise boots and outsize outerwear.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #8
Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Spring 2017 saw skinnies paired with glam platforms and gleaming puffers because trends.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #9
Cigarette denim with cut-out knees was one of the best surviving skinny species. (Especially at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.)
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #10
One outfit, two bold choices (skinny denim and wedge sneakers).
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #11
Clean, nondescript bottoms pair well with bright red fur.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #12
Rounding out the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week sightings, a meeting of two punk-appropriated pieces (skintight denim and fishnets).
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #13
Spotted: Destroyed skinnies at New York's Fall 2017 collections.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #14
They still have that elusive Eva Chen cosign.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #15
Frayed hem cigarettes paired with Fenty Puma by Rihanna.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #16
Tucked and styled to perfection. (In a loud printed coat, the rest of your outfit is pretty much superfluous.)
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #17
True blue cigarette denim, Champion by Vetements and a fuzzy fur vest? We'll take it.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #18
Leather and Dr. Martens — skintight denim's oldest and truest friends.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #19
A casual, not exactly blizzard-ready look.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #20
The cut-out knees trend strikes again.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #21
A chic all-black look enhanced by the leg-hugging silhouette.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #22
Here, subtle, skin-skimming bottoms bring out the best in a texture-heavy look.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #23
The consensus seems to be that skinnies work best with (over-the-knee) leather boots and (faux) fur jackets.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #24
Joan Smalls isn't giving up her OG model-off-duty bottoms.
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Skinny Jeans Street Style #25
Strategically ripped skinnies add edge to this chic all-white ensemble.
