Skinny jeans are back – here’s how to wear them in 2025
If there’s one factor that can take an outfit from on-point to passé, it’s your cut of denim. So, as we begin a new fashion season, the pressing question is: which jeans should we be wearing now?
Rather ironically, a throwback look will give you all the updated style kudos you need. Believe it or not, skinnies are back.
On the spring-summer 2025 catwalks, Prada, Marni and Loewe were among the several fashion houses championing a skinny-leg silhouette. At Isabel Marant, tight trousers were hip-hugging and worn with slouchy suede boots and fringed bags – a look that was last seen on Sienna Miller in the early Noughties.
Speaking of celebrities, Claudia Winkleman’s a fan. In fact, her coveted glam-goth look for The Traitors was as much about the tight trousers as the statement knitwear layered over them. While Spanx leggings made a regular appearance throughout the series, when it came to denim the presenter wore Holland Cooper’s khaki Jodhpur Jeans (£99) and washed black Biker Jeans (£145).
Skinny jeans have even reached the White House. During a recent visit to North Carolina, Melania Trump teamed her combat boots and puffer jacket with a black pair from Levi’s.
“Despite the resurgence of looser [denim] fits, the demand for skinny jeans is making a noticeable comeback… proving that customers are still reaching for this sleek and fitted staple,” says Lisa Ferrie, the head of womenswear design at John Lewis.
Over the past year, sales of the retailer’s Abbot Kinney Skinny jeans (£69, John Lewis) have risen by 13 per cent. Online searches for “women’s skinny jeans” have increased 470 per cent in the past week as customers start thinking about their spring wardrobes.
The swing back to skinnies perhaps isn’t all that surprising; after seasons of baggy and wide-leg jeans dominating the scene, a slimmer style is somewhat of a palate cleanser. They also tap into the current mood for all things Noughties nostalgia – see also the return of Alexander McQueen’s skull-print scarf.
But it’s not just those of us who were wedded to our skinnies two decades ago pushing their revival – the youth are on board, too. Popular Gen-Z influencer Alix Earle has teamed up with denim brand Frame (known for its cult Le Skinny De Jeanne jeans, of which the Princess of Wales is a fan) to release a capsule collection of two skinny-leg styles (from £130, Frame-store.com). Expect to see spray-on denim all over TikTok imminently.
There are certainly advantages to the skinny jeans comeback, especially when it comes to shoes. No more fretting over which boots work with huge hems; skinnies go with every footwear style going.
However, it’s worth dodging white tennis-style trainers, especially worn with low-cut trainer socks – a look Gen-Z declared chronically uncool last year. Chunky dad trainers and loafers will give skinnies a more current appeal (just don’t forget to wear ankle socks). Or tuck your jeans into long leather boots. When the weather switches, try a slip-on clog or leather boat shoe – both of which are fine with bare ankles.
As for what to wear on the top half? “When it comes to balancing the proportions of a skinny jeans outfit, the old adage of wearing volume on top and slim on the bottom still stands. A loose white shirt, slouchy jumper or super-relaxed T-shirt always look good,” says Anna Berkeley, a stylist and the founder of body shape app Think Shape.
If you’re worried about looking top heavy, Berkeley recommends tops and jackets with a drop-shoulder seam, which will soften a broader torso.
Like any other style of jeans, finding the right pair of skinnies is an art. “It’s all in the details: [look for] ankle-grazing length and high-set pockets to flatter your shape,” says Sacha Gomez de Zamora Ford, the global president of 7 For All Mankind. The brand’s mid-rise Roxanne jeans (£240) are a current best-seller.
To avoid the dreaded sausage-skin look, Berkeley says it’s crucial to find a cut of skinny jeans that don’t stick at the calf or knee. She recommends Paige’s four-way stretch style, as well as Good American for curvy figures.
But if the thought of squeezing yourself into skinnies is a style flashback too far, a slim straight-leg will still give the desired streamline effect. Sézane’s high-waisted Brut Sexy jeans (£95, Sézane) taper at the ankle and have perky back-pocket placement – which I say from experience.
When it comes to which colour to buy, Gomez de Zamora Ford tips classic mid-blue as the denim wash of the season, tapping into the popular Western trend – just add a brown suede jacket. For a smarter look, indigo will pair well with your grey and navy blazers. Boyfriend style, of course, and worn with ballet pumps. 2004, is that you?
