For the second summer in a row, wide-leg jeans are winning out over cutoff shorts as the warm-weather denim look of choice. And we’re not talking about the high-and-tight-waisted, sailor-inspired silhouettes of the 2010s. What feels fresh today is a lower or medium rise that’s cut baggy all the way down the leg. We’ve seen Jennifer Lawrence rocking a perfectly faded pair by The Row, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky stepping out in coordinating baggy looks, and Tracee Ellis Ross looking the picture of laid-back elegance in a stone-washed situation with a slight drop crotch.
While we love the simplicity of a classic five-pocked look, some of our favorite pairs this season turn up the volume with sparkly trouser-inspired pleating a la Dakota Johnson, unconventional fastenings or sparkly embellishments (see Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift’s recent springtime street style). Plus, the loose look is surprisingly versatile: it plays well with slim T-shirts, tucked-in tanks and tailored blouses—or for cooler summer nights, try a cropped knit a la Gigi Hadid. Below, browse all of our favorite summer denim pieces that are guaranteed to keep things easy and breezy.
Trouser-Inspired Pleats
Perfectly Faded Black
Statement Silhouette
Cool Kid Khakis
Split Seam Fabulousness
Sleek and Chic
Perfectly Baggy
Crisp Whites
Woven Details
Sophisticated Neutral
Sweet and Festive
Barrel Legged Brilliance
Raw Denim Elegance
Whiskered and Faded
Party Pants
Back in Black
Street Style Heaven
Tailored and Tidy
Cocktail o’Clock
Acid Washed Wonders
Light and Laid Back
