I'll Only Wear Skinny Jeans in These Exact Outfit Formulas

From 2005 up until last year, skinny jeans were the bread and butter of every girl's wardrobe. Taking over from the low-slung boot-cut denim that ruled the '90s, the skintight style offered a more streamlined silhouette that harked back to the '80s drainpipe but wasn't quite as restrictive.

Kate Moss was one of the first champions of the trend in the early noughties, and her signature look of skinny jeans, ballet pumps, a slouchy tee, and a military jacket was replicated countless times over the decade. Unlike most fashion trends, skinnies caught the imagination of women of all ages and quickly went from seasonal trend to established wardrobe staple within a matter of months. Perhaps therein lies their longevity.

Despite skinnies holding the top spot for over a decade, straight-leg fits have recently seen a resurgence among the fashion crowd, and I have wholeheartedly welcomed the change—I could never quite get on board with the super-tight silhouette. However, over the last few months, I've noticed influencers embracing an altogether more mature and modern approach to skinny jeans, making me reconsider my dismissal of the noughties style.

From Camille Charrière's belted blazer to Lisa Folawiyo's leopard-print interpretation, these are all the outfit formulas that have convinced me that skinny jeans can look modern. Scroll down to see and shop all the looks.

Belted Blazer + Heeled Boots + T-Shirt

Style Notes: I'm obsessed with this outfit. I think its success lies in the angular silhouette of the belted blazer balanced by the length-lengthening powers of pairing black skinnies with pointed ankle boots. It's so simple yet so effective.

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Going-Out Top + Heeled Mules + Mini Bag

Style Notes: As much as I love straight-leg jeans, they're not the best style when you want to look polished. Hannah Lewis created this cocktail-ready ensemble with a statement blouse, black skinny jeans, and heeled mules.

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Leopard-Print Skinny Jeans + Checked Blazer + Sneakers

Style Notes: Leopard-print skinny jeans are one of the newer entries in the denim category this season, and although uncertain at first, I have grown to love them. Lisa Folawiyo showed us how it's done with a quirky pairing of leopard-print jeans, a band tee, a checked blazer, and sneakers.

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Related: Summer 2019 Fashion Trends: Looks You Need to Know

Tonal Basics + Western Boots

Style Notes: The recurring theme in many of my skinny-jean outfits is the addition of a more oversize or boxy style to counteract the skinnies' silhouette. Case in point? Pernille Teisbaek kept it simple with a chunky teddy coat and color-match Ganni knit. I also love the addition of Calvin Klein's Western-style boots—the perfect weekend ensemble.

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Sculptural Jacket + Pumps + Leather Shopper

Style Notes: What's great about 2019 skinny jeans is that they're nothing like the unflattering jegging styles that were popular a few years ago; instead we're going back to the more forgiving fits loved by Mossy. TyLynn Nguyen showed that the classic noughties skinny jeans + ballet pumps formula can still feel relevant now—all it needs are some pared-back accessories and a sculptural jacket.

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This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

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