Could It Really Be? Are Skinny Jeans Coming Back?
I never thought I’d say this, but it looks like skinny jeans are making a comeback. And no, not in the American Eagle VSCO girl way (no shade to them, though!). This revival aligns perfectly with the 2010s and Indie Sleaze resurgence that we’re all obsessing over.
Fashion editor Jordan Boorman from ELLE Australia notes, “I feel we’ve seen glimpses of skinny jeans over the last couple of seasons, but we were all not ready to accept it. That was until Miu Miu showed two incredible double denim skinny jean looks in its Fall ‘24 collection. This was the moment I knew we would all be pulling them out of the back of our wardrobes.”
It’s not just Miu Miu bringing back the skinny silhouette. Balenciaga’s AW24 collection paired distressed versions with skin-tight over-the-knee boots, making the look fresh and edgy when styled with oversized leather jackets, 80s aviator sunglasses, and maxi scarves, Skinnies even made an appearance in Alexander McQueen’s recent catwalks. Even Miuccia Prada embraced ankle-squeezing denim in her recent collection, styled with chunky brogues straight out of Carl Barat’s playbook.
A Brief History of the Skinny Jean
The skinny silhouette isn’t new, it spans decades.
1950s and 1960s: Cigarette pants, popularized by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot, set the stage for the future of the controversial skinny silhouettes.
2010s: Skinny jeans dominated denim, becoming a wardrobe staple for it-girls like Kate Moss, Rihanna, Alexa Chung, and Lindsay Lohan. The rise of jeggings took the trend to an extreme and not so visually appealing level, with skin-tight fits.
After a decade-long hiatus and dozens of debates on their return, it seems enough time has passed for skinny jeans to revive. Designers like Aaron Esh and Laura Andraschko are reviving the rakish silhouette and rock n’ roll-chic vibe they inspire. Alix Earle is releasing a Frame collaboration featuring skinny jeans, and she admitted in an Elle interview that she’s excited about bringing them back. I think Alix and I are on the same page about giving the pants a modern twist, like pairing them with kitten heels or moto-boots rather than Air Force One’s.
It-Girl Endorsements & Modern Styling
Given that Alexa Chung is once again a style inspiration, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a return to the 2004 vibes. Kate Moss and her daughter Lila Moss have also been spotted rocking skinny jeans recently, and Kate is always someone fashion girlies look to for advice.
Miley Cyrus, known for pairing skinny jeans with Frye Harness 12R Biker Boots in the 2010s, recently mentioned in Harper’s Bazaar her mission for the perfect motorcycle boot—a style that pairs quite well with a streamlined silhouette.
Modern fashion icon Emma Chamberlain even noted on her Anything Goes podcast that skinny jeans might be “less hideous than we imagined.” Like me, she’s predicting a comeback of “real denim that’s not so skin-tight it takes two hours to get on” and timeless washes like classic blues and blacks. “Oh my god. I’m scared. Is that going to happen?” she said. And, girl, that’s exactly how I felt before giving them the chance I am now.
How to Wear Them Now
Don’t worry—we’re not talking about the return of jeggings! We’re not wearing pants that cut off our circulation in 2025. Celebrity stylist Flick Bartlett said it best, “Think slim, not skinny, and always do the sitting-down test!” Look for jeans that are fitted from your waist to knee but fall a little bit straighter after that. And I would opt for clean, timeless washes and designs rather than ripped or acid-washed pairs.
Whether you’ve been waiting for this moment and are ready to dig your old pair out of storage or are reading this with hesitancy, one thing’s for sure: skinny jeans are coming back. And surprisingly, I’m not mad at it.