The high street jeans offering has significantly improved in recent years. This is thanks – in part – to the fact it’s now considered acceptable to wear jeans for almost any occasion; be it for everyday use or an evening out (see: the rise of “jeans-and-a-nice-top”).
Gone are the days when a less-than-premium price-tag would mean flimsy fabric and styles that would fall apart – major retailers now stock affordable jeans that promise longevity. The trick to maximising their shelf-life? Avoid washing regularly (unless necessary, of course). And when you do wash them, put them on a gentle, cold cycle (along with similar colours only) with mild detergent or a specialist denim product (no fabric softener!). Don’t forget to turn them inside-out and do up all the fastenings (buttons, zips etc).
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In the name of research, I tried on some of the best high-street jeans available now, with insights into fit, sizing and fabrication. After checking in with my Vogue colleagues and other fashion connoisseurs, I whittled down the list to Marks & Spencer, Arket, Cos, Levi’s and Uniqlo, and went on my merry way to Oxford Street’s finest dressing rooms.
I found that, while trends are inevitably reflected in some designs, thankfully the denim landscape isn’t solely dictated by what’s “in” or “out”, and makes plenty of room for a wide variety of styles and washes. Keep reading for my insights on the best jeans currently on the high street.
Uniqlo Wide Straight jeans
A far cry from my pink denim days, I recently discovered an exceptional pair of wide-leg jeans from Uniqlo (pictured above) that give all my premium pairs a run for their money. They’re the perfect loose style that look great rolled up or down, and are comfortable enough to wear on a cosy day indoors. A number of friends have either borrowed mine or bought their own and, if I say so myself, they look great on all of us.
Uniqlo Curve jeans
Much like Uniqlo’s other viral products, the Curve jeans have already garnered a cult following on social feeds – and in the Vogue offices. “The unisex silhouette leans into the popular baggy jeans styles that have proliferated heavily among the street-style set and content creators over recent years,” says senior commerce writer Alice Cary. “The jeans feature a high waistband and a slight curve in the leg (hence the name) that subtly echoes the trending “horseshoe” shape of recent seasons – and like any good loose-fitting denim, the hemlines puddle perfectly around the ankle.”
Levi’s XL Straight jeans
I tried these on in a size up from my usual (25) and they sat low and loose on the hips, falling in a wide, straight line down the leg, which I loved. Because of the 31” length, I wore them with heels, but I later realised that Levi’s offers this style in four different leg lengths, so if like me, you are on the shorter side (I’m just under 5,4” for reference), you could size down to 29”. One thing to remember is that, while vintage Levi’s might run small, the current mainline collections run true to size.
Reformation Cary high-rise wide-leg jeans
A pair of studded jeans is the answer to all of your day-to-night dressing conundrums. I would style these with a shirt and loafers for daytime, and then come evening, I would swap in a kitten-heel and tank top for a night on the town. This soft cotton pair from Reformation has a gentle wide-leg fit and I enjoyed how the silver accents follow the stitching around the side seams and back pockets. Although my usual size would have fit, I sized up here as I didn’t want to feel restricted.
Arket Coral relaxed jeans
Although I often find high-rise styles restricting, this pair was calling to me from the shop floor. I decided to try them in a size up to soften the potential discomfort – and I’m glad I did. The waistband felt just right and the length was perfect; with the hem skimming just above floor level. The elongating effect of this silhouette had me wondering if I should dig out my high-waisted jeans from the back of my wardrobe.
Cos Column straight-leg jeans
Now these are jeans I can get on board with. Sitting low on the waist (in a size up from my usual) with a straight, but loose-fitting cut, they are comfortable and flattering. I tried on the dark-blue wash, but they also come in a handful of other equally elegant shades. I can see these dressed up with heeled boots or kept casual with trainers and a big knitted jumper. I think I might be going back to purchase a pair for myself.
Cos Tide wide-leg jeans
The photos of these on the Cos website show them sitting relatively low on the model’s hips, with the loose material around her legs suggesting that they would come up oversized and baggy. However, as I so often find with denim, this was not the case for me. They are described as having a relaxed fit and wide-leg with a high rise, and while they were indeed high on the waist, I found that they were slightly fitted on the upper leg and throughout the hips and waist. The material at the bottom was loose with a slight flare, which helped to elongate the legs. Despite them being different to how they were pictured online, I loved how they fitted and could see them slotting perfectly into my winter wardrobe. Note, I found these were true to my usual size.
Marks & Spencer Boyfriend ankle grazer jeans, long
These jeans, like most M&S styles, come in three lengths – and although I don’t typically require a longer length, I decided to opt for this option and roll them up at the hem. The composition is 99 per cent cotton and 1 per cent elastane, so I thought the soft, moveable material and slouchy style would lend itself to a rolled-up hem. This was my first time trying on M&S jeans and when I pulled them on, I was very pleasantly surprised by how they fitted at the mid waist and fell loosely on the leg. These are jeans you could live in day in, day out.
Marks & Spencer The Wide-Leg jeans
Once again intimidated by the high rise of these, I tentatively pulled them on. In a UK size 8, they were a bit snug around the waist but – as jeans should – it felt as though they would stretch nicely with wear. Again, the material was a cotton-elastane mix, meaning that although they were more fitted than my usual styles, I could still move around in them comfortably. In this size, they work as a smart, fitted style, while a size up would make them look more relaxed.
