It’s possible your denim identity might have been formed years ago. Once a skinny jeans devotee, always a skinny jeans devotee. You might dabble in a different shade of blue, but otherwise, it’s easy to get stuck in a bit of a denim rut.
But with directional denim flooding the market – ie, styles that redefine the fabric beyond a regular pair of jeans, whether with a different leg shape or a funky waistband – it’s well-worth considering how a new item could inject some joie de vivre into your midlife wardrobe.
Just ask 53-year-old Queen Rania of Jordan, who, having just become a grandmother, was spotted wearing a pair of very fashion-forward wide-leg jeans from cult Italian denim brand, Closed. With a studded waistband and draped panels, the edgy style had a youthful feel in an otherwise classic ensemble: a white blouse from Dior and grey pumps from Manolo Blahnik. The words “mutton” and “lamb” were out of sight.
Anna Berkeley, stylist and founder of the Think Shape app, similarly advises to “keep the rest of the outfit quiet – as in – if you’re doing the horseshoe jeans style then wear a fitted plain vest or tee with a flip-flop or clean-line sandals. Let the interesting denim do the talking.”
Personal shopper Annabel Hodin agrees. “Effortless polish and simplicity makes new styles chic,” she says. “Create new classics by accessorising with simple, good quality basics in cashmere, mohair sweaters, shirts – white or stripes or top-to-toe navy.”
Other midlife style stars adding directional denim to their wardrobes include Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett (both 55), and 52-year-old Sofía Vergara. The former has been spotted multiple times in her baggy, Y2K-style jeans from Gucci, teaming them variously with tucked-in polo necks, crop long-sleeve tees and oversize jumpers. Blanchett opted for a denim co-ord by Brandon Maxwell while Vergara is a fan of Agolde’s Criss-Cross boyfriend jeans, which feature an asymmetrical waistband that sits slightly off-centre and below the waist. Sounds crazy? For whatever reason, they just work – and look incredibly cool.
“The Criss-Cross is a good-looking, tailored update of a high waist,” says Hodin. “I suggest it to my clients who fancy a stylish change that is easy to wear. It is elongating as it lengthens and narrows you at the waist. It looks great with a blazer and a fitted top or vest.”
The barrel, horseshoe-shaped jean has proved controversial and not to everyone’s taste this year, but it could be another option if you’re on the taller side. “The horseshoe cut needs a chunky top sweater so you balance out the bulk and create an oversize shape, but it’s a bit too trendy so not for everyone,” says Hodin. “If you’re on the shorter side, the boyfriend cut or baggy styles are up to date without being too much.”
The high street is also getting in on the trend for more experimental jean shapes, including brands like Arket, Me+Em and Nobody’s Child. “We are seeing a growing appetite for denim from the Nobody’s Child customer and more specifically wide-leg jeans,” says Jody Plows, the brand’s CEO. “These more exaggerated pieces are some of this season’s top sellers, both across a number of fabrications and an array of washes.
“This is reflected in the design inspiration for our upcoming autumn/winter 24 collection. Not only will we be introducing a whole new range of responsible denim styles, but we’ll also offer a variety of leg lengths.”
When it comes to jeans, though, it really is a case of trying on as many styles as possible to find out what suits you best.
With this in mind, Berkeley suggests that you “set aside way more time than you think you need, take water, a snack and wear easy-to-remove clothes so you can nip in and out of the changing room quickly. A dress you can slip on over your head for example, or shorts and a roomy top with slip-on shoes. You could take a heel to help see the leg shape at its best.”
But remember, you can also do all of this experimenting from the comfort of your own home.
Our picks
Criss cross jeans, £300, Agolde at Net-a-Porter; Cargo denim trousers, £97, Me + Em
Barrel leg jeans, £265, Paper London; Le Crop jeans, £225, Frame at Selfridges
High-rise wide-leg jeans, £65, Nobody’s Child
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