After more than two decades working in fashion and retail, few things get me genuinely excited, but the return of the trouser jean? Be still, my geriatric millennial heart.
Trouser jeans were everywhere in the early 2000s, and I wore them constantly. They combine the ease of denim with the longer, cleaner line of a tailored pant, making them feel a little more dressed up than an everyday jean.
They also fill a real gap in our wardrobes. There are plenty of occasions when you want something a little more refined than a standard jean but still casual. A trouser jean gives you that elevated feel without requiring an entirely different wardrobe. All of the basics you already wear with jeans still work. Pair them with a sweater and loafers during the day, then add a blazer or a heel for dinner. They are an easy option for work, dinners and any plan that calls for something a little more pulled together than your everyday denim.
You might be wondering what separates a trouser jean from a regular wide-leg jean. A traditional wide-leg jean still looks and feels like classic denim, while a trouser jean is designed to fall more like a pair of pants. The waist is defined, the leg is full and the denim has enough softness to drape rather than stand away from the body. I also think this style looks best in a dark rinse wash, which gives it a cleaner, dressier appearance and reinforces that trouser-like feel.
For today’s Splurge, Spend, Save, I found three options at three very different price points. All three deliver the same general silhouette, but there are differences in fabric, fit, length and size range that are worth considering.
Splurge: Reiss Addie Cotton-Lyocell Wide-Leg Jeans, $265
The Reiss Addie Cotton-Lyocell Wide-Leg Jeans are the most tailored-looking of the three. They have a clean dark wash, side pockets and a wide leg that falls fluidly from the hip.
The fabric is 71 percent cotton, 16 percent polyester, 11 percent lyocell and 2 percent elastane. The lyocell gives the denim a softer, lighter feel and creates the drape we associate with a trouser. There is also enough stretch to make them comfortable without taking away from the structure of the leg.
The regular inseam is 30.5 inches. They are also available in petite with a 28.5-inch inseam, proportioned for women 5’3″ and under. Reiss shows a tall option for this style, although it is currently unavailable.
This is the splurge because the fabric and construction create the most elevated version of the look. I have a handfull of Reiss pieces and I’m always impressed with their quality.
Buy: Reiss Addie Cotton-Lyocell Wide-Leg Jeans, $265
Spend: J.Crew Denim Trouser Jean, $168
The J.Crew Denim Trouser Jean is the sweet spot in this comparison. It gives you the long, wide-leg silhouette and dark rinse of the Reiss pair at a more manageable price.
These have a high rise. They are fitted through the hip and gradually become wider through the thigh and leg, which keeps the shape from feeling overwhelming.
The denim is 75 percent cotton, 23 percent lyocell and 2 percent elastane. It has the softness and movement that make this silhouette work, while still retaining enough structure to hold its shape throughout the day.
J.Crew also offers an excellent range of sizes and lengths. The classic fit comes in waist sizes 23–37 with a 31-inch inseam. Petite is available in sizes 23–32 with a 29-inch inseam, and tall comes in sizes 25–32 with a 34-inch inseam. J.Crew recommends petite for women 5’4″ and under and tall for women 5’9″ and above.
I own these and at 5’10 the regular inseam is perfect for me to wear with a pair of flats, the tall inseam works for heels but I need to have them hemmed.
Buy: J.Crew Denim Trouser Jean, $168
Save: Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans, $50
At $50, the Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans give you a remarkably similar silhouette for significantly less.
They have a high rise, a fitted hip and a full wide leg, along with a deep blue wash that gives them a clean, trouser-like appearance. Like the J.Crew pair, they retain traditional five-pocket styling, but the overall cut and drape create the same long line.
The biggest difference is the fabric. In the Deep Sea Blue wash, the Quince denim is 94 percent organic cotton, 5 percent elasterell-p and 1 percent Lycra. It has considerably more stretch, so it will feel softer and more flexible than the other two options, with slightly less structure through the leg. I would consider going down one size to accommodate them stretching out.
Quince offers the best range of lengths. Sizes 24–33 are available on the standard product page, with plus sizes 33–37 offered separately. Short has a 28-inch inseam, regular is 30 inches, long is 32 inches and extra long is 34 inches.
Quince recommends short for heights 5’2″–5’4″, regular for 5’4″–5’7″, long for 5’7″–5’9″ and extra long for 5’9″ and above.
Note: the trousers in the product image above are painfully too short, you want any of these to either graze or slightly puddle on the top of your shoe regardless of if you are wearing flats or heels.
Buy: Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans, $50 | Plus Size, $60
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