So These Are the Jeans We'll All Be Wearing This Year

The S/S 20 runways were rife with exciting trends for us to look forward to next year. (Colorful leather! Bermuda shorts! Waistcoats! And '60s wallpaper prints, to name but a few.) But we particularly had our eyes on all things denim. The everyday staple had a huge presence on the runways—with every big designer from Givenchy to Gucci and Celine showcasing the much-loved fabric in a variety of refreshing ways, including cropped culottes, vintage washes, and '70s flares. (Yes, they’re back!) Scroll below as we share some of the biggest jean trends that we can expect to see all over our feeds, in our favorite retailers, and inevitably in our closets this year. Then, shop the looks before everyone else.
1. Vintage Denim
There was a major emphasis on vintage-looking denim on the S/S 20 runways. Jeans exuded an upcycled, lived-in vibe. If they look like they could have been pulled straight out of a thrift store, then you've nailed the trend.
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2. Bootcut + Flared
Boot-cut jeans are back. Thanks to designers such as Celine, Marc Jacobs, and Gucci, the leg-lengthening, flared denim silhouette is set to be huge next year. Opt for a high-waisted pair cinched at the waist with a narrow belt.
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3. Distressed
Love them or hate them, there's no denying ripped and distressed jeans will be in the limelight in 2020. Balance the casual, undone look with a sophisticated high-neck blouse or a polished blazer as seen at Givenchy.
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4. Short + Cropped
Whether they were Bermuda-style long shorts, culottes, or cropped wide-leg styles, shorter hemlines were all over the runways. Wear them with knee-high boots, mules, or strappy sandals when the weather warms up.
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5. High-Waisted Skinny Jeans
Skinny jean lovers, rejoice! The silhouette is here to stay—so say the runways. Wear yours belted with barely there sandals for a leg-lengthening effect.
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6. Front Seams
Front seams and ribbing (and pleats, for that matter) were pervasive on the S/S 20 runways, adding interest and an elongating effect. Wear them in a variety of silhouettes, from paper-bag to skinny styles.
Shop the trend:
Next: These are the best spring 2020 trends, period.
This story was published at an earlier date and has been recently updated.
Judith Jones is the associate shopping director at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.
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