Cancel culture can get pretty ridiculous, but this time, Gen-Z finally got it right: skinny jeans are out.
Trends come and go like the wind and skinny jeans have been blowing away for years now. For real, skinny jeans are totally uncomfortable. They’re wedgie-inducing and way too easy to tear. Not to mention, they look tremendously unflattering on most people.
Like, just watch Matt James’ recent season of The Bachelor and take a long, hard look at the dude’s legs. They just look so … awkward covered in skinny jeans. He’s a good-looking guy, don’t get us wrong, but man, his style would have been elevated if he were to let his legs breathe every now and again.
Now that skinny jeans for men are out, we’re replacing all of the skin-tight denim in our wardrobe with the exact opposite — men’s baggy jeans.
You’ve probably spotted them on a celebrity or two, including cutting-edge dressers like Justin Bieber — “Biebs” has long been known for going his own way, so when a trend appears on the singer or someone in his orbit, it’s one worth considering.
That begs the question “Are baggy jeans in style?”: We say a rousing yes.
Men’s baggy jeans have been seeing a total re-emergence from the early 2000s in men’s fashion through the help of streetwear and skate culture. This is likely due to the fact that loose-fitting jeans are way more comfortable than skinny jeans, so skaters can access more of their bodies without feeling constricted in their pants.
Additionally, men’s baggy jeans have a carefree aesthetic to them which is really popular right now in terms of men’s streetwear fashion. They add just the right balance to an outfit that says something along the lines of, “yeah, I spent twenty minutes on this outfit, but it looks like I spent one.” And that, right there, is absolutely baller.
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Are Skinny Jeans Officially Dead?
The answer is a bit complicated, but for the most part, let’s say that YES, super-skinny jeans are officially dead (unless you’re, say, Mick Jagger or Keith Richards, and have made the ultra-slim trouser part of your look for decades). Guys will always look better, in our opinion, in a nicely tailored pair of jeans — and relaxed-fit, or baggy jeans, can still fit nicely despite offering your legs more room to move and breathe.
Loose fit jeans don’t have to be sloppy, so keep in mind that you should still buy your regular jean size (and perhaps accessorize your baggy jeans for men with a stylish belt).
Slim-straight or boot-cut jeans — but not super-baggy boot-cut jeans, like decades gone by — are also a wise choice for most guys, as are straight-fit jeans. But when you want to lean into a trend, baggy jeans can provide a more viable option, too. Keep in mind: Baggy men’s jeans don’t have to mean sloppy.
Think of the days of old, when men wore full-cut trousers (you’ve seen black and white movies). And while those may have come in a full and baggier cut, they were still tailored and draped nicely. The same can be true even when wearing baggy jeans. We’re also seeing baggy clothes in general come back into vogue, beyond just baggy pants (think oversized blazers and denim jackets, for starters).
Why are skinny jeans on the way out? Well, fashion is cyclical, after all, and trends that start on the runway — as skinny jeans first did! — eventually make their way into the general public. The same is true right now with jeans featuring a baggier or more relaxed cut. Consider the situation carefully the next time you look at those ultra-skinny jeans you might have been wearing in recent years. Baggy jeans are yet another option to add to your wardrobe.
Currently, you can find men’s baggy jeans in classic styles at places like Amazon and Nordstrom, but there are also a ton of really unique options available for purchase on more modern, fashion-forward places like Urban Outfitters and ASOS. We’re sure there will be a pick for you whether it’s something casual or eclectic. Check out all of our favorites below and ditch your skinnies for good.
1. Everlane Relaxed 4-Way Stretch Organic Jeans
BEST OVERALL
These definitely aren’t the baggiest of baggy jeans for men on the planet, but they are great for guys looking to ditch their extremely slim-fit jeans for a boxier approach. These four-way stretch organic jeans from Everlane are made for moving around in confidence, something that skinny jeans never allow for. All pairs are made in a denim factory that recycles 98% of its water. Additionally, the pants are made primarily from organic cotton and are backed by a 365-day guarantee.
2. Wrangler Authentics Classic Carpenter Jean
RUNNER UP
Oh, you know Wrangler damn well at this point. You’ve been wearing them since infancy, so you’re already familiar that these are some of the most reliable jeans you can buy. Period. These men’s baggy jeans come in a classic carpenter style designed solely with your comfort in mind. They never bunch up the way skinny jeans do, so you can fix any wedgie and hourly ball-fixings goodbye entirely. These Wranglers are available in a number of colors, but you can never go wrong with a light wash blue.
3. DUER Relaxed Fit StayDry Denim
BEST INTRO TO BAGGY JEANS
Yes, we said what we said: There’s a right way and a wrong way to get an intro of sorts to the best baggy jeans for men. We’d say DUER checks off all the right boxes in this instance, delivering a fit that’s neither too slim nor too relaxed or sloppy. We’d say these are the ideal jean for men who don’t want to go all-in just yet on men’s baggy jeans, but want to transition away from skinny jeans. Plus, they’re made to repel dirt and stains for consistent, durable wear.
4. Levi’s 569 Loose Straight Fit Jeans
BEST BLACK JEANS
For as long as we can remember, Levi’s has been as reliable an option as any for making some of the best jeans for men on the market, and that goes for baggy jeans, too. The 569 style might not be as famed as the brand’s slimmer options, like the 511, but it’s a wise choice if you want to nail the look and feel of baggy jeans, especially in a cool black colorway. These also feature a touch of stretch in addition to durable cotton, all the better for plenty of comfort all day (and night) long.
5. Dickies Relaxed Straight Fit Carpenter Jeans
BEST WORKWEAR
Jeans were the original workwear trouser, prized for their ability to stand up to dust and debris, so it only makes sense that Dickies would make a highly functional pair in a fit that gives you plenty of room to move. The carpenter jean style was also popular in the ’90s as a fashionable move beyond the confines of workwear-minded situations, so these can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, if you’re looking to get the most out of your next pair of baggy jeans.
6. Carhartt Relaxed Fit Holter Jeans
BEST EVERYDAY
If you prefer to rock blue jeans on the daily — and who doesn’t? — a pair of durable baggy jeans can work wonders for your style and for your daily needs, especially if you happen to work in a more labor-intensive field. Granted, you’ll have to make sure your jeans don’t get too down and dirty, so to speak, but if you want a reliable pair of jeans in a cool color, the kind that won’t break the bank in terms of price, go with a dependable brand like Carhartt, then rock ’em for work or play.
7. L.L.Bean 1912 Jeans
BEST NATURAL FIT
Not every pair of baggy jeans has to go above and beyond in terms of their bagginess. Some, like these 1912 Jeans from L.L.Bean can be baggy without making you look like, well, a bag. These vintage-inspired midweight cotton jeans are great for all-day, everyday wear. They’re made from ring-spun and made out to be both durable and soft so you’ll never feel like you’re wearing jeans even when you’re wearing jeans.
8. J. Crew Classic Relaxed Fit Jeans
BEST CLASSIC
There’s a fine line between wearing baggy pants and sloppy pants, and J. Crew toes that fine line quite nicely. Its classic jeans are aptly named, with all the quality and the sort of expertly faded wash you’d expect from J. Crew, with a fit that doesn’t overdo it when it comes to baggy jeans for men. If you’re wearing, say, a slightly oversized field jacket or topcoat from J. Crew, that’s all the better.
9. Flint and Tinder All-American Relaxed Stretch Denim
NEW FAVORITE
Flint and Tinder has been making reliable style gear for years under the Huckberry umbrella, and its All-American Denim continues to be a smash hit, but this relaxed take on the style is a newer introduction to the line. You might call them a “new-old” favorite, but either way, you’re getting a high-quality of overdyed, perfectly washed and faded men’s baggy jeans.
10. ASOS DESIGN Baggy Jeans
EDITOR’S PICK
We’re going to say it and we’re going to mean it: ASOS is an excellent spot to buy jeans online. They have a number of styles that look great, feel great and almost always come at an affordable price. Given the fact that ASOS is a known fast-fashion online retailer, some might believe that quality-wise, ASOS jeans could be chintzy — but we promise you, they’re totally not. Our e-commerce editor Tyler Schoeber has these jeans himself and swears by them. They’re comfortable, have an easy fit, come in a great color and totally affordable for just about any dude’s budget.
11. Levi’s 514 Straight Leg Jeans
BEST DARK JEANS
Levi’s makes some of the best jeans known to man, so it should come with no surprise that we’re naming these dark blue, straight-leg jeans the best dark baggy jeans for men to own. While dark jeans aren’t much of a spring and summer moment, we suggest you keep these in your closet for the winter months. Though these jeans have a pristine look to them, they look great paired with rugged apparel. You know, picture what a lumberjack would wear: a flannel, a beanie, a pair of Tims — you get the picture.
12. Tommy Bahama Cayman Island Relaxed Fit Jeans
BEST WARM-WEATHER OPTION
Want to channel breezy coastal living without breaking a sweat? Pick up some classic blue jeans from a brand that brought the premium-yet-easygoing style movement to the masses (arguably) with this pleasingly washed pair from Tommy Bahama. Relaxed fit or baggy jeans don’t have to be sloppy, and this is an excellent example of how to let your legs breathe without overdoing it. Plus, the Light Indigo Wash is perfectly on-trend, too.
13. BDG Baggy Skate Fit Jeans
BEST ON-TREND
Men’s baggy jeans have long been associated with skaters and the grunge movement, and as that fashion cycle comes back around, these jeans from BDG at Urban Outfitters are more on-trend than ever. Bonus points for the eye-catching color, the agreeable price and the fact that they nail that coveted, ultra-cool “skater jean” look, along with a very cool pre-distressed finish.
14. COLLUSION x014 90s Baggy Jeans
BEST DARK BLACK
A pair of dad-fit baggy jeans in a shade so black you’d absolutely melt into the midnight sky? Sign us the hell up. These baggy jeans from COLLUSION are exclusively sold at ASOS. They have a straight-leg silhouette that is exceptionally baggy, but more in the way that they look as if they’re a bigger size on your body than they should be. The bottom of the legs are pretty wide and don’t taper even remotely, so we think it’s safe to say these are the darkest-colored baggy jeans you can purchase online.
15. PacSun Light Indigo Baggy Rigid Jeans
BEST LIGHT WASH
Is there anything more closely associated with baggy jeans than, say, the ’90s alternative rock or grunge look, complete with a flannel shirt and of course, light wash baggy jeans? PacSun brings that trend back around by using an ultra-cool, eye-catching light wash indigo take on men’s baggy jeans. Best of all is the fact that these wear quite well with your favorite flannel shirt or with an oversized crewneck sweater for casual weekend days.
16. Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Carpenter Jeans
BEST PRICE
Just $25 for a solid-constructed pair of jeans? Sign us the hell up. The Signatures by Levi Strauss & Co. should be a no-brainer for adding to your closet. They look excellent on all body shapes and even occasionally have sizes on Amazon that rise all the way up to 54W. Whether you’re somebody who simply needs a reliable pair of new jeans or you’re a street geek trying to put together the look of the century, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.
17. Carhartt RuggedFlex Relaxed Fit 5-Pocket Jeans
ALSO CONSIDER
Want the durability and useful design of Carhartt pants, but in the form of men’s baggy jeans? Better still, if you want a pair that’s a bit more stylish and suited to “play” rather than “work,” then Carhartt also has you covered for off-duty pursuits, too. It’s more than possible for baggy pants to look cool, feel comfortable and provide versatility time and again, and Carhartt boasts that these feature a new and improved design. Try them and see for yourself.