Hi there! Whether you love barrel jeans or you’re skeptical of them, you’re in the right place. I happen to feel both ways! I was initially very skeptical of them, especially as someone who doesn’t really love trends. But, I do love jeans. So, I thought I’d finally give them a try, but only by trying them on in store one day when I was already out shopping.
I couldn’t believe how flattering barrel jeans ended up looking on me! They definitely fit the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge a barrel jean by its shape on the hanger. They’re obviously a very unique style of jeans, but I think it’s possible to wear them with lots of different tops and shoes, and in different seasons.
How to Style Barrel Jeans
What Are Barrel Jeans
Okay, first of all, let’s talk about what barrel jeans, which are sometimes called horseshoe jeans, actually are. Barrel jeans are a unique style of jean that have a slight, or sometimes dramatic, curve to them. I definitely prefer a subtle barrel jean! Either way, they tend to be a cropped length and have a bit of a tailored look to them.
They come in all different colors and widths, so you can find the right pair for your wardrobe and life. When it comes to versatility, I think barrel jeans are meant for more casual occasions even though they do feel tailored. Maybe it’s because I’m an older millennial who doesn’t totally buy into trends. But, if you work in a casual office, you can wear these to work. If you’re in a business casual office or any other more formal dress code, I’d save them for the weekend!
Here are a few barrel jeans I love!
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Are Barrel Jeans Flattering
I was surprised by just how flattering barrel jeans are! I feel like I’m always skeptical of trending pants because so many of them are just so long. While that’s great for many people, it doesn’t work for me if I don’t have them tailored. So, I was thrilled to see that barrel jeans are actually a great length for anyone who is petite. They truly make your legs look longer and you look taller in general. I highly recommend trying out this style of jean if you’re 5’4 or under like me. If you’re more of rectangle, barrel jeans can help give you shape! If you’re pear shaped like me, barrel jeans are typically high waisted and they look great with a blazer.
What to Wear With Barrel Jeans
There are full outfits below, but here are a few tips on what to wear with barrel jeans!
What Shoes to Wear with Barrel Jeans
When I purchased my barrel jeans, I tried them on with several different styles of shoes to make sure I would actually wear the jeans. Isn’t it the worst when you buy something and don’t end up reaching for it? I tried them with ballet flats, booties, loafers, and even my metallic silver mary janes to avoid that happening, and I love how they look with all of these shoes. They did not look great with sneakers – they just felt kind of frumpy. Since barrel jeans feel casual to me, I think adding a nicer style of shoe is one key to styling them.
Ballet Flats
Ballet flats are the perfect shoe for barrel jeans in the spring or fall because they’ll balance out your outfit. Barrel jeans have a cool, edgy vibe to them, and ballet flats can add a softer, more romantic feel to your outfit.
Boots or Booties
Check out this video of how I styled barrel jeans with boots and booties. The options are pretty endless when it comes to what boots you can wear with barrel jeans. I even wore knee high boots under them! Since barrel jeans have a roomy leg where knee high boots hit, you can actually wear tall boots with them too, which I love!
What Tops to Wear with Barrel Jeans
Like most jeans, you can wear just about any top with barrel jeans. I’ve worn them with a nice sweater, a cashmere hoodie, a cardigan t-shirt, a blazer, and other tops.
Sweater
If you’re curious about what style of sweater to wear with barrel jeans, I think there are lots of options. I’ve styled mine with a crewneck sweater, a sweater hoodie, and a thick cardigan with a sleeveless sweater underneath.
Fitted Button Up
A slim cut button up is a nice way to balance the wider leg of barrel jeans. I love this chain print button up. I recently tried it on in store, and it’s really well made. The cut is a perfect slim cut, and the sleeves aren’t too long! Plus, I love how the lines on the shirt are vertical, so that it helps you look taller.
How To Wear Barrel Jeans
Navy Barrel Jeans And Colorful Sweater
If you’re looking for a way to make your barrel jeans look a little more elevated, you can lean into a nice sweater and elegant feeling shoes. I wore this outfit to dinner with my family, but I’d also wear it to work in a casual work environment.
Barrel Jeans Monochrome Outfit For The Weekend
This outfit felt like the ultimate weekend outfit to me because my sweater is a hoodie. My shoes are about a decade old, so they’re also one of the most comfortable pairs I own. Style this monochrome look for the weekend during the day or for a vacation. This is the exact type of outfit I wear around London in the day (if you’re packing your barrel jeans for a trip). I wore this to grab a coffee, but I’d also wear it to a brunch, lunch, day trip with friends, or a shopping day.
White Barrel Jeans For Spring And Summer (Or Any Season)
These creamy white barrel jeans with a small black stripe down the side are perfect for spring, summer, and fall. Honestly, you can wear them in the winter too. I tried them on in store, and I keep thinking about them. You can see what they look like on me here. I would wear these with a short sleeve sweater, a button up, or a t-shirt. These off white barrel jeans are also a good option, and the inseam is a great length if you’re short!
Black Barrel Jeans And Button Up For Work
If you work in a casual office or any other dress code where you feel comfortable wearing barrel jeans, I would definitely wear them in black or a dark denim wash. These options bring a more formal vibe to your jeans than lighter wash denim. I would pair them with the chain print blouse, which is a slimmer fit shirt and absolutely perfect for work. You can wear this outfit across different seasons by changing your shoes from booties to flats. You could also add a black cardigan or blazer for colder months.
Dress Up Barrel Jeans With A Blazer
Barrel jeans happen to look perfect with blazers of all styles, whether you prefer a cropped blazer or an oversized fit. If you’re a pear shape like I am, you may love blazers too. Click here to see how I styled my barrel jeans with an oversized blazer. If you’re an apple shape, you can break up your look with a cropped blazer.
Regular Blue Denim Barrel Jeans
I trust Madewell with barrel jeans, so I’m linking a plain denim pair that come in a few color options. I would treat this as your typical pair of denim and style it with pretty much whatever top you’d like. I put together a daytime or date night look below. These slingback heels are so good – I love the practical heel height. This lighter wash of denim is good for all seasons, but especially for spring. It will look really nice with neutrals or fun pops of color.
I think I’ll end up with this pair as well because they’re a little more versatile than the navy pair I own. Size down one size in Madewell barrel jeans!
Okay, thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you found a few tips on how to style barrel jeans or an outfit idea for a pair you already own. Let me know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to join my email list below if you’d like to hear more about style from me!
