The allure of a good pair of jeans is pretty heady stuff, and few styles make for a better all-rounder than the bootcut variety. Once you find the right leg-lengthening pair, you’ll likely give all the other denim in your wardrobe the boot.
Originally the jeans of choice for cowboys and ranch workers, the bootcut earned its title for, well, exactly that — being cut to work in tandem with boots. Tailored from the waist and slightly flared at the ankle, they strike a markedly different air than the recently re-popularised wide-leg jeans or the love-it-or-hate-it new style in town, the barrel.
If you’re hunting for some denim-spo, Sydney Sweeney’s the one to watch; pictured in Manhattan, her graphic tee tucked into a mid-wash pair of bootcut jeans, with a matching flash of red via a pointed court shoe, the star delivered a masterclass in the power of this particular style.
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Not the only star to co-sign, Bella Hadid is also known to be a fan. Scroll through the model and founder's Instagram, and you will find plenty of inspiration, be it on the ranch with her new beau or in the city.
Then, of course, there's Kendrick Lamar, whose decision to wear a pair of light-wash Celine bootcut jeans for his history-making Super Bowl Halftime Show spoke volumes – and subsequently sent interest in the style soaring.
As for the designers doing it best, Isabel Marant is widely considered to be the matriarch of the bootcut – the Marant Etoile Belvira Jean is slightly slouchy and sartorially spot-on. But thanks to the style's increasing popularity and timeless appeal, there's a whole host of denim brands calling for a little cowboycore this year.
Personally, I love my Cos Pipe Jeans. They add a utilitarian flair that pairs well with slingbacks as well as bulkier boots and shoes. To play up the contrast of the raw denim finish, I opt for something a little slinkier on the top – cue the contrasting sparkly top, or second-skin tank.
For a true classic, 7 For All Mankind’s slightly faded bootcut jeans lend themselves particularly well to cold-weather dressing: the faux fold-up stitching around the ankle works nicely with any kind of boot. Similarly, Paige's aptly named Laurel Canyon cut would add an easy injection of the 70s to your wardrobe and is best paired with a cosy knit and big faux fur-trimmed coat – make Joni Mitchell your inspiration. The cherry on top? A sepia-tinted pair of retro sunglasses (even if it's grey and drizzly outside).
Reformation Mia High Rise Vintage Bootcut Jeans
Levi's Wedgie Bootcut Jeans
COS Pipe Bootcut Jeans
Acne Studios Atlantis Low-Rise Bootcut Organic Jeans
Arket Lupine Flared Jeans
M&S Eva Bootcut Jeans
Marant Etoile Belvira Bootcut Jeans
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