Bootcut jeans are back – and this is the grown-up way to wear the trend
It was only a matter of time before bootcut jeans made their comeback. We sat back and watched as the most unexpected Noughties trends reared their heads – from peplums and UGG boots, to bubble hemlines and Fendi baguettes – wondering which would secure their foothold in mainstream fashion and which would only be embraced by the Gen Z Depop crowd.
The bootcut jean, it seems, is no flash in the pan, even if its resurgence came courtesy of Kendrick Lamar at the Superbowl Half Time show (in Celine denim, we might add). In the month since, searches for bootcut jeans have increased by 700 per cent on Net-a-Porter.
This might not have all been down to Mr. Lamar, though. Just a few days prior, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex wore a Veronica Beard pair (linked below) at the Invictus Games. A long-standing champion of the bootcut trouser, the royal always pairs hers with elongating stiletto heels – no matter how casual her outfit is up-top.
Both Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss have pulled out a bootcut jean on occasion over the past decade, erring again on the smarter side with a heel and a high waistband. It's a failsafe and flattering, as the extra inches combined with the sweeping hem creates the illusion of longer legs. But it has kept this denim cut firmly in the more 'formal' or 'workwear' genre for the past two decades.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is Bella Hadid who has bravely experimented with this style more than anyone. A quick scroll through her Instagram grid and you'll see that the model wears nothing but bootcut these days; and she's has taken it from elegant to relevant, in turn translating a trend for 20-somethings who probably never owned a pair the first time round.
The model has been spotted wearing a low-rise pair with a 'nice top' (a Noughties throwback that instantly brings to mind Keira Knightley and Britney Spears on the red carpet), and a dark high-waisted pair with cowboy boots and a Stetson hat. Hadid has also embraced the divisive bootcut-and-flats combo, styling her jeans with oversized shearling jackets and biker boots, as well as tank tops and trainers.
The latter combo is one Hadid has worn before in a 2017 Nike Cortez campaign – an ode to Farrah Fawcett in that famous 1974 Charlie's Angels skateboard scene. Because, of course, while we talk so much about the bootcut in a Noughties context, it has its roots in 1970s style.
If you've done the barrel leg to death, or you're not ready to dip your toe back into the skinny trend (yes, there are whispers of this cut coming back), it might be time to try your hand at bootcut. Do it right with Bazaar's pick of the best denim styles to browse right now:
Veronica Beard
Chloé
£910.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Agolde
£310.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Celine
Saint Laurent
Whistles
Frame
£270.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Chloé
£910.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant
L'Agence
What are bootcut jeans?
Those who feel they need confirmation of exactly what constitutes the bootcut jean, you are not alone. Not to be confused with wide-leg or flared jeans, which sit looser around the thigh, the bootcut is slim on the leg and kicks out below the knee. Cropped styles might be referred to as 'kick flares', the traditional bootcut jeans usually have a longer hemline.
How to style bootcut jeans:
If you're reluctant to tap into Y2K trends, or you simply want an elegant way to style bootcut jeans, follow one of these three formulas for easy styling:
For smarter looks, it always makes sense to go for a dark wash and team it with heels and something tailored – whether that be a double-breasted blazer or a trench coat.
The 'grown-up' version of Y2K? It's the boho look made so 2025 by Chloé's Chemena Kamali. Team your high-rise bootcuts with a wedge sandal, clogs or a chunky boot, and top with an ethereal, ruffled blouse.
Finally, even if you're a flats girl through-and-through, we still don't recommend wearing the beloved ballet shoe with bootcut jeans – it feels a bit too Millennial teenager. Take inspiration from Farrah Fawcett and plump for trainers (preferably something retro like Adidas Sambas or a Nike Cortez) instead.
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