Of all the jeans trends we predicted for this year, this isn't one I included on my 2024 bingo card. Stepping out in New York over the weekend, Jennifer Lopez brought new meaning to high/low dressing. Kitted out in a smart turtleneck and tailored coat, the singer and actor veered away from her typically polished style, reaching for a pair of faux-muddy jeans to complete her look.
Whilst J.Lo is known to be a fan of wide, baggy jeans, her preference normally ranges between light and dark-wash denim styles, occasionally choosing pairs embellished with large rips. This time, however, she dabbled with a seemingly growing trend proving divisive across the board.
Whilst utility-inspired designs have been trending for the past few years, this on-the-nose take has been slower to catch on. Although they're a far cry from the raw denim and chore jackets that—to my surprise—have been rising in popularity, perhaps J.Lo's adoption will push the muddied jeans trend into the mainstream. Championed by designer brands including Acne Studios and Diesel, the newest take on the distressed-denim trend has already been spotted in high-street retailers including Mango and Arket. Whilst I appreciate that this look might appeal to some—J.Lo is clearly into it, after all—for me, this isn't a denim trend I'll be trying anytime soon. However, I'm happy to play devil's advocate, so below I've assembled an edit of the chicest muddied jeans I could find, balanced out with a selection of more classic wide-leg jeans, of which Lopez is also a fan.
SHOP THE MUDDIED JEANS TREND:
Style with kitten heels or wear with a sporty trainer.
These have a mid-rise waist and feature a loose-leg cut.
Diesel has a large selection of distressed denim.
Shop a subtler take on the sand-wash jeans trend.
Do it like J.Lo and wear with a turtleneck and longline coat.
The patched panels and large pockets give these jeans a utilitarian edge.
These are naturally rigid and will take some time to break in.
These tap into the growing horseshoe jeans trend.
SHOP OUR FAVOURITE WIDE-LEG JEANS:
Wear with black ballet flats or retro trainers.
These come in six different colours.
In my opinion, dark-wash jeans are easier to style with smarter shoes like heels.
Whoever thought jeans weren't comfortable obviously hadn't settled into a relaxed wide-leg pair.
These feature a cropped hem and wear well with ballet flats and Mary Janes.
Every great wardrobe starts with a classic pair of wide-leg jeans.
I always come back to Mother Denim for its wide range of styles.
This light denim shade styles well with whites and creams.
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