The Anti-Trend Jeans Everyone With Good Taste Is Exclusively Shopping For

Welcome to The Great Try-On—our digest of everything you'll need for your most stylish season yet. We identified the ultimate spring capsule wardrobe, which consists of seven practical hero items. A few of our editors tried on each of these wardrobe builders, with head-to-toe looks styled by our editorial director, Lauren Eggertsen, so you can see how they look IRL. From the trousers everyone's talking about to the skirt that goes with absolutely everything, we hope that these photos and the candid reviews of each item will help you shop for a seasonal wardrobe filled with essentials and trend-forward pieces you'll wear for spring and beyond.

The weather during spring may be fully unpredictable, but one thing that's a constant is that you're probably going to be wearing jeans a lot. They're the most logical thing to put on for those days when it's in the 40s in the morning but the high 70s by the afternoon. We all know that jeans are a wardrobe staple, but the variable is what type of jeans to buy during a given season. For this one, it's stovepipe jeans—hands down. We define stovepipe jeans as being a bit more tailored and sleeker than your average straight-leg jeans, which have a tendency to veer toward baggy in recent times. They're also more loose-fitting than skinny jeans thanks to the wider "stovepipe" leg. Our editors tried on three different standout pairs by Khaite, Frame, and J.Crew. Scroll on to see how they look on, get first-person feedback, and shop the exact jeans (along with everything else they're wearing).

First up are Khaite's wildly popular Danielle Jeans in a timeless black wash, tried on by senior fashion editor Eliza Huber. Read on to see how they look on and get her thoughts on the jeans if you're considering splurging on the investment-worthy style.

Eliza's take on the jeans: "Khaite's Danielle Jeans are all-powerful. I completely see why they're one of the most beloved silhouettes not only by Khaite standards but also in all of denim. There's just one very important thing to note before buying a pair: Size up. Not all Khaite jeans run small, but the Danielle Jeans definitely do, so I highly recommend trying on a few sizes to find your perfect one. Once you do, you'll wear these jeans forever."

Styling tips: Khaite's Danielle Jeans are inherently elegant, but if you pair them with a classic leather belt and a long trench coat—like this jaw-dropping one by The Row—you can take them to the next level. Stovepipe jeans work with pretty much any type of shoes, but wearing something with a heel is wise since the Danielle Jeans are on the long side. In this case, the metallic-gold heels are a fun complement to the somewhat classic styling.

Shop the jeans: Khaite Danielle Jeans ($520)

The words "Khaite Danielle Jeans" have long been music to a fashion person's ears. The iconic style is a splurge, but the enduring popularity of the jeans has proven that they're a worthwhile investment. The high-waisted, 100% cotton jeans feature a 32-inch inseam, which is something to keep in mind of you're on the petite side, but it's nothing a good tailor can't fix.

The stovepipe jeans fashion editor Sierra Mayhew tried are the perfect casual-yet-polished style for spring. Read on to see the tailored fit of the jeans in action and the chicest way to style them.

Sierra's take on the jeans: "I've lived in baggy jeans for the past few years, but when I'm wearing a more fitted style, I love when denim has just the right amount of stretch. That's what made these jeans from Frame so memorable to me the first time I put them on. The fit is super flattering, and while people shift back toward a slim denim silhouette, this would definitely be my pick, as it's not too fitted and has just the right amount of flare on the end. Straight-leg jeans are going to take over in 2025 after a year or two of anticipation that came from the runway shows that flaunted them, and I'm finally on board."

Styling tips: Stovepipe jeans and a leather bomber jacket are a no-brainer combination, and zipping the jacket up adds to the polished look. The Polo Ralph Lauren baseball cap and loafers with socks completed the most effortless of model-off-duty outfits. Pro tip: When wearing slightly cropped slim-leg jeans, flats or kitten heels are the most foolproof pairing.

Shop the jeans: Frame The Borrowed Jeans ($264)

If you prefer your stovepipe jeans to be on the slim side, you'll want to try this pair. Although the wash is casual, the tailored fit dresses them up a bit. The Borrowed Jeans are made of 1% elastane, so you have a hint of stretch but the look of a 100% cotton pair. With a 29-inch inseam, they're the perfect length for just about anyone.

J.Crew's denim collection has a cult following for a reason. It's affordable, and the brand makes the most classic version of every current jeans trend you could ask for. Not only that, but each style comes in tons of sizes and classic, petite, and tall lengths. We're here to focus on the brand's incredibly sophisticated Slim Straight Jeans.

Ana's take on the jeans: "When I first tried on these pants, I was a bit nervous. Skinny jeans? On someone who's not a model? I've only seen ultra-slim pants come back into fashion on influencers who don't look anything like me. Shockingly, though, after wearing them for a few minutes, I warmed up to them. While my standard jeans silhouette is often an ultra-wide leg or a roomier straight leg, I'm not not on board with these stovepipe jeans from J.Crew. The wash definitely made them feel much more current than the pair of skinny jeans I still have in my closet from 2015."

Styling tips: When it comes to styling a pair of slim dark-wash stovepipe jeans, you can't go wrong with a simple fitted tee or sweater. The beauty of this combination is that you can dress it up or down. These particular jeans are quite elegant, but you can go more casual with a pair of sneakers or dressier like Lauren did with Ana's look by adding a statement studded belt and red kitten-heel flip-flops.

Shop the jeans: J.Crew Slim Straight Jeans ($148)

If elegance and sophistication are what you're after, you have it with J.Crew's dark-wash Slim Straight Jeans. The no-frills style features a zip fly, high (but not too high) rise, and versatile 29-inch inseam. Rinse-wash jeans can be quite stiff, but because this pair has 1% elastane, it's far more comfortable than the alternatives.