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Not long ago, I was at lunch with my most stylish friend (sorry other friends, you know it's true). After listening to me lament about my personal denim struggles, she suggested I try a pair of barrel-leg jeans. Now, Jessica works as a costume designer on some of your favorite TV shows and films (like "Mr. Robot," "New Amsterdam," and the upcoming Tina Fey and Steve Carrell series, "Four Seasons") so while her personal style is always on point, she also dresses people for a living so I trust her implicitly. I left lunch on a mission to hunt for the best barrel jeans, and you, lucky reader, get to reap the benefits. Scroll on to explore my findings (one pair is literally on my body as I type this), and get ready to find your new favorite pair of jeans.
Best barrel-leg jeans, at a glance
- Best high-waisted: Everlane Way-High Curve Jean, $128
- Best full-length: Madewell Darted Barrel Leg Jean, $148
- Best cropped: Everlane Utility Barrel Jean, $118
- Best color variety: Greaidea Mid Rise Barrel Jean, $49
- Most fun: Gap High Rise Patchwork Barrel Jeans, $90
- Best mid-rise: Abercrombie & Fitch Mid Rise Barrel Jean, $90
- Best patterned: We The Free Good Luck Printed Barrel Jeans, $128
- Best budget-friendly: Dokotoo Barrel Leg Jeans, $37
- Best splurge-worthy: Pistola Wes High Rise Barrel Jean, $178
What defines a barrel jean?
Picture a barrel: its shape is round-ish, but the top and bottom are more narrow than the center. The same is true with barrel-leg jeans, which are defined by having legs that are wide along the thighs, but taper at the bottom. In other words, your waist is the top of the barrel and your ankles are the bottom.
If you read that description and thought that sounds truly heinous, think again. For starters, they're everywhere right now because they're cute as heck and seem to look great on just about everyone (especially those of us with bigger booties and thighs—myself included). And if you're worried about the balloony aspect, there are plenty of less-wide styles that still capture the silhouette of a barrel jean without being too bold.
"Something I love about barrel jeans is that almost every brand has its own adaptation," adds Jessica. "They're available in all different rises, come in different variations of just 100% cotton or with some stretch, and are available at all price points, all of which makes them the perfect jean for any shape or size. Also, because they aren’t fitted and can be either worn relaxed or higher at the waist, they truly can work for anyone."
Ready to find a pair of your own? Read on for 9 of the best barrel jeans on the market today.
Shop 9 of the best barrel jeans
Sizes: 23-33 | Inseam: 27" or 29" | Colors: 7
I know this is going to sound dramatic, but as someone who typically loathes trying on a pair of jeans, when I slid these on I could have cried. They're... perfect? At least for me! The Everlane Way-High Curve Jean is so comfortable and hits in just the right places. I'm 5'3" so I got the 27" inseam, but taller folks will want to opt for the 29" inseam (there's no tall option, so that's as long as they get). I've been wearing them with sneakers and Chelsea boots, as they're super easy to dress up or down. Basically, these are the jeans that made me say, "barrel jeans are for me."
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable
- Two inseam lengths to choose from
- Good variety of washes and colors
Cons:
- No tall options
- "Way High" waist may not be for everyone
Sizes: 23-33 | Inseam: 24.5"-29.5" (available in petite, standard, and tall) | Colors: 4
If you're ready to dabble in the barrel-leg style but don't want to go too wide, check out this pair from Madewell. As the name suggests, the Darted Barrel Leg jean has a cute dart detail at the knee to accentuate the barrel silhouette without being very baggy. They're full-length, too, while I feel like most barrel styles are cropped. Best of all, they come in three fits (petite, standard, and tall) so you can find the inseam that works best for you.
Pros:
- Available in petite, standard, and tall lengths
- Not super wide, so a good starter barrel-leg style
- Fun dart detail at the knee
Cons:
- Zero stretch might not work for everyone
- Runs large
Sizes: 23-33 | Inseam: 26.5" | Colors: 3 (but more in the canvas material)
Another pick from Everlane because, after the Way-High pair above, this is now my second favorite pair of pants. I actually don't own the denim style above, I have the canvas version, but the cropped silhouette is the same and is perfect for short (5'3") gals like myself. The Utility Barrel Jean is high-rise, has a touch of stretch, and cool seam details at the shin. And, while they're still barrel-legged, they're less baggy than the aforementioned Way-High pair, which might make them a better gateway style for those unsure about wide jeans.
Pros:
- Cute cropped length with utility stitch details
- High-rise with a little stretch
- Safe intro to barrel-leg jeans
Cons:
- Cropped length may not work for everyone (no tall inseams available in denim—but there are in canvas!)
Sizes: 2XS-3XL | Inseam: 25.25" | Colors: 16
This Amazon pair came recommended by another friend who is on the barrel-leg bandwagon. They're available in 16 color varieties (whoa!) and are a good option for those who prefer a mid-rise fit. The shorter inseam makes them closer to a crop, especially if you're taller, so that's something to consider. But they cost less than $50, which is hard to do for denim, so I'll be giving this cute light green color a try come spring.
Pros:
- Lots of colors to choose from
- Budget-friendly price
- Mid-rise fit (if that's your jam)
Cons:
- Not much stretch
- No length options
Sizes: 24-30 | Inseam: 27"-33.5" | Colors: 9 other options beyond patchwork
This is the pair I really want. This high-rise barrel-leg jean from Gap is patch-worked with different washes and has a cute fringe detail at the bottom. It's available in three fits—petite, standard, and tall—and, if you like the silhouette but not the patchwork, there are plenty of other washes to choose from. They have zero stretch though, so you'll have to break them in over time.
Pros:
- Three fit options (tall inseam is truly tall)
- Flattering high-rise fit
- Fun details make them easy to dress up or down
Cons:
- Less size options than other pairs on this list
- No stretch
Sizes: 24-34 | Inseam: 26"-30" | Colors: 8
Personally, I love high-waisted jeans. If you're more of a mid-rise maven, though, check out this pair from A&F (which seems to be fully relevant again). They have a unique seam detail down the front that makes the barrel-leg silhouette really pop, and come in a solid variety of washes, as well as a fun leopard print. Short and tall folks will appreciate that this style comes in three different lengths to further customize your fit.
Pros:
- Sizes go up to 34
- Available in short, regular, and long inseams
- Good color variety
- Cool seam detail
Cons:
- More rigid denim than other pairs on this list
Sizes: 24-33 | Inseam: 26" (for size 28) | Colors: 4 other options
With a mid- to low-rise fit and a true baggy style, this pair from We The Free is beyond cool. The Good Luck Printed Barrel Jeans have dart details at the knee, and a bold floral wash. While I'm certainly obsessed with the flowers, there are a few other printed options to choose from, too, some of which come in a shorter length option. Just a heads up: this style runs large.
Pros:
- Fun pattern options
- Cool, baggy style
- Lower rise for those who don't love high-rise jeans
Cons:
- Runs large
- No short or tall options for this wash
Sizes: 4-18 | Inseam: Not listed | Colors: 6
If you're interested in dabbling in the barrel-leg trend but don't want to spend much cash on the experiment, this pair from Dokotoo might be the place to start. This pair captures a lot of the elements of more expensive barrel jeans, like the dart details at the knee and a relaxed fit through the thighs, and comes in a variety of denim hues. However, there aren't as many size or fit options available, so it's not the most customizable pick on this list.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Several color options
- Cute stitching details on the shin and darted knees
Cons:
- Limited sizes and fits
- No inseam length listed
Sizes: 23-33 | Inseam: 30" | Colors: 5
Denim is Pistola's bread and butter, so a pair of the brand's "Wes" barrel jeans is an investment you're sure to have for a long time. The high-rise fit and slightly understated barrel-leg makes this a super versatile pick that you can easily dress up or dress down. Plus, the barrel style also comes in a few other colors and, while this pair has a 30-inch inseam, Pistola also makes a copped silhouette called "Eli." Just be sure to look at each color's "stretchability" details, as the stretch varies by color.
Pros:
- Versatile silhouette
- Variety of washes and a cropped option
- High-quality denim with durable construction
- Available in stretch and non-stretch styles
Cons:
- Priciest pair on this list
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