I Only Wear Straight-Leg Jeans—These Are the 5 Brands I Trust

I've shared before that I'm a picky denim shopper. Hey, what can I say? I just know what I like in my jean selection, and I tend to stick with it. If you looked at my denim stack right now, you'd see one common theme: All my pairs have a straight-leg fit.

I love good straight-leg jeans because they're stylistically universal. Dress them up; dress them down; wear them with a T-shirt or your favorite going-out top. The outfit ideas are endless. Plus, they go with pretty much all of the shoe styles I care about, from ankle boots to heels to sneakers. So luckily for me, the rest of the fashion world has been favoring straight-fit denim over super-snug styles. (Though, I have a feeling classic skinny jeans will never really go away.) Therefore, the internet and my favorite denim brands are filled with some truly amazing straight-leg-jean options, from tailored to roomier fits, in every wash.

Speaking of my favorite brands, below, I'm sharing the six best straight-leg-jean brands that have perfected the art of this classic style. Ahead, see which ones I trust, how I'm wearing my favorite fits, and shop each pair.

Agolde

All my fellow Who What Wear editors are obsessed with Agolde's famed Pinch Waist jeans for their high rise, so I had to test them out for myself. I loved the tailored fit, and even though I wore them here with a tee and ankle boots, they're exactly the kind of denim that can easily be dressed up with heels and a nice top.

Nineties vibes are strong with this aptly named pair. They fit a tad looser and lower on the hips than the above pair, giving them a cool lived-in feel. 

Levi's

Not only do these ribcage-grazing jeans feel amazing, but they have a sculpting effect that makes them look great, too. Plus, the button fly gives them a vintage-inspired appeal. I'm wearing the ankle-length here, but I want to try the full-length version next since long-hemmed jeans are trending right now.

J Brand

Fact: Black jeans are a staple for fall and winter, and this pair from J Brand checks so many boxes. I love the straight-leg, high-rise fit, and the hem falls perfectly over ankle boots, as exhibited above.

Reformation

With a slimmer fit throughout the leg, this pair from Reformation is more akin to skinny jeans. It has an ultra-high rise, so if you like to tuck your tops in, this pair will speak to you.

What I immediately liked about this pair was how light it felt on. After testing out a lot of the rigid denim featured above, this lightweight fabric felt like a breath of fresh air. As far as the fit goes, it nails that fine line of being relaxed without looking sloppy.

7 for All Mankind

For insanely comfy stretch jeans, these sure do look like they’re made of thicker, more rigid denim, which is not something I can say of other stretchy jeans I've tried. (They might have even converted me into a stretch denim–wearing person—only time will tell.)

As for the fit, I liked the longer hem, which laid nicely over a pair of heeled boots. Longer jeans are eclipsing cropped pairs right now, so that element made them feel quite on trend.

Now, more straight-leg jeans on my shopping list:

Next up: The major fall trend worth setting your jeans aside for.