Here’s the thing: in the mid-2020s, it’s impossible to point to a single dominant denim trend. Where we once might have all worn broadly the same silhouette around the same time (see: 2013, when everyone wore skinny jeans), these days it’s a lot more “anything goes.” Step into Vogue HQ, for instance, and you’ll clock everything from ripped Levi’s 501s to mega-baggy embellished denim to barrel-leg jeans (though, as someone who barely scrapes 5’1, you’ll never catch me in the latter).
Vogue’s Favoite ’90s Jeans:
Even so, over the past few seasons, there’s been a renewed interest in ’90s styles, specifically. From the sort of classic straight-leg jeans seen on the likes of Princess Diana and Julia Roberts, to the cropped bootcuts favored by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, ’90s denim fever is upon us (some might say it never left). To that end, here are the jeans from the ’90s we’ll be wearing again in 2026, as winter finally turns to spring.
Cigarette Jeans
These are a personal favorite. Can you really go wrong with a pair of rigid straight-leg jeans, à la Julia in 1998? Cigarette jeans–named after the obvious–are having a real street-style moment right now, with everyone from Dakota Johnson to Alexa Chung and Lily-Rose Depp repping the style.
Bootcut Jeans
It’s no secret that Bessette-Kennedy loved a bootcut–specifically Levi’s 517s, which are no-stretch and super flattering for strolling around Manhattan or Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a look that’s being emulated now more than ever before, with everyone from Bella Hadid to off-duty models at fashion month opting for bootcut jeans.
Baggy Jeans
I know I said there is no dominant jeans trend in the mid-2020s, but if forced to choose, it’d probably be loose and baggy. The style was first popularized in the late ’80s and early ’90s, before becoming a staple among nu-metal and grunge types as the millennium approached. These days, we like them low-rise, with hems puddling over pointed-toe boots or ruched loafers for a more polished feel.
Mid-Rise Denim
While low-rise jeans have been a go-to style for the past few years, the humble mid-rise is starting to inch its way back into our hearts and wardrobes – probably because we’re leaning towards more classic shapes and cuts. It’s easy to forget that ultra-low waistbands are mostly a post-Y2K thing. Before then, it was all about well-made jeans that hugged your legs and hips.
Cuffed Jeans
This is less a type of jean and more of a styling detail, though turned-up cuffs are nonetheless gaining momentum in 2026—certain jeans come with pre-stitched cuffs so you don’t have worry about mismatched lengths. While the likes of Jennifer Aniston wore rolled-up jeans with sandals to various film premieres in the ’90s, the cuffed jeans of 2026 are more rigid, structured and dramatic (see: Kendall Jenner, Victoria Beckham, and Rihanna for pointers).
