5 Chic Trends to Wear Instead of Classic Skinny Jeans

Before we jump in, let me just mention that I’m an avid skinny-jean wearer. That said, I get that there are some of you out there that prefer other styles or are simply up for trying something new rather than those tried-and-true skinnies. Well, if that’s the case, what’s coming at you below will be of utmost interest. (P.S., If you still want skinny-jean outfit ideas, may I also direct you to this piece?)

Even though many of us aren’t wearing jeans right now (rather joggers and the like), I thought I’d round up some denim silhouettes that have the same sleek vibe as skinnies but aren’t standard blue or black skinny jeans.

To see more, keep scrolling to check out some previous fashion-girl imagery featuring the cool denim trends worth noting. And if something catches your eye, you’ll also find product recommendations if you are shopping at the moment.

1. Skinny-Straight Jeans

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(Image credit: @basicstouch)

Think of slim-straight jeans as the cousin to skinny jeans. This particular style has similar qualities to skinnies but are just a bit roomier. We’re all about a slightly cropped pick to show off spring and summer shoes.

2. Coated Skinny Jeans

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(Image credit: @fakerstrom)

If you still want to lean into the skinny-jean look (hey, I don’t blame you), try an alternative to the classic black and blue pairs with a coated style for something different.

3. Flared Jeans

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

If you haven’t tried flared jeans yet, it may be time to give them a shot. While there are extra-wide silhouettes, the more tailored cuts are more in line with a cool skinny-jean vibe.

4. White Straight-Leg Jeans

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(Image credit: @ali_tate_cutler)

The fashion crowd continues to embrace white denim—particularly in straight-leg cuts—to bring a fresh and modern twist to their 2020 ensembles.

5. Colorful Jeans

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(Image credit: @greceghanem)

Similar to the idea of white jeans above, a pair of straight-leg jeans in a colorful hue is quite the departure from blue skinny jeans but are just as chic this season.

Next, check out the fashionable items women over 40 wear with jeans.

This post was previously published and has since been updated. 

Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.