Sorry, Skinny Jeans—This Dated-But-Chic Denim Style Is Getting Ready to Dominate Autumn

For a brief moment, I really believed the rumours. Every conversation with colleagues seemed to touch on a specific topic: the return of skinny jeans.

At the time, the signs were all there: 2010s nostalgia was gathering pace, influencers were sneaking them into their outfit rotations and I even caught myself (in a moment I’m not particularly proud of) Googling styles to buy. But just a few months on, the hype has fizzled, and that once-ubiquitous silhouette has quietly slipped back under the radar. But, in its place, another so-called "dated" denim trend is staging a far more convincing comeback.

Swishy, voluminous and radiating the kind of boho energy that feels especially relevant this season, flared jeans are officially on the rise. Taking the trend for a spin this week, actor Simone Ashley stepped out in New York wearing a ’70s-inspired light-blue pair. Styled simply with a black vest top, the look was understated in theory, but the retro cut injected a level of personality no other denim style could have matched.

Between the extra sweep of fabric and the subtle drama of movement with every step, flares have a presence that skinnies could never compete with.

Once a staple of every ’70s fashion person, flared jeans have never quite regained that same mainstream dominance. Perhaps that’s why they’ve long carried a "dated" reputation. But with the boho revival in full swing—thanks in no small part to labels like Chloé and Isabel Marant—this once-nostalgic style suddenly feels modern again.

As we edge away from summer shorts and towards styles with a little more coverage, I’ll be reaching for flares with far more enthusiasm than any pair of skinnies. And if you’re tempted to do the same, keep scrolling for my edit of the best flared jeans to shop now.

Shop Flared Jeans:

These come in UK sizes 4–22.

Zara

Flare Fit Low-Rise Jeans

The low-rise silhouette makes these easy to style with a wider range of blouses and tops.

Mango

Violet Flared High-Rise Jeans

These dark-wash jeans are so easy to slot into a capsule wardrobe.

Mother

The Pocketbook Hustler Roller Heel

Give your styling a playful edge.

Paige

Marlow Skimmer Flare Jean

These also come in four other shades.

Mint Velvet

Mid Indigo Flared Jeans

These come in short, regular and long lengths.

M&S Collection

Mid Rise Flared Jeans

Flared jeans will always hold a special spot in my wardrobe.