There are so many different types of jeans in the world, and they all seem to come with their own styling guide. How to style barrel jeans—one of fall 2025’s biggest denim trends, for example—is not necessarily going to be the same as how to wear baggy pants or skinny jeans.
The beauty of barrel-leg jeans, however, is that they’re bringing something new to the table. We all might have a classic pair of bootcut or wide-leg pants in our closet, and we often find ourselves wanting to mix and match them with a new top or different shoes. This denim style comes with a totally fresh perspective, which means even the most basic T-shirt from your dresser drawer suddenly looks cool and modern.
12 Best Barrel-Leg Jeans for Fall, According to Style Editors
12 Slides
By Jake Henry Smith and Malia Griggs
A quick aside to talk about what a barrel jean is, exactly: Also known as balloon jeans, they’re defined by having a higher waistband that widens at the hips and narrows again at the hem. They’re often ankle-length, but not always. Regardless, the result is the same—a balloon or barrel silhouette. The pants first started trending last spring and are absolutely everywhere this fall, which means they’re on their way to become a classic standard soon enough.
Below, here are 3 ways fashion pros are wearing their balloon jeans this fall.
1.With a cuffed hem
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