I Tried On Hundreds of Jeans in 2025—Here Are My Top 10 Pairs
It's the time of year when we start reflecting on what really matters—like jeans! No, I kid, but I do think it's worthwhile to take stock of what we wore and loved in 2025 and celebrate the pieces that really delivered, i.e., made life easier, more expressive, and fun. For me, that's jeans. I tried on hundreds (yes, hundreds) of pairs this year and was delighted more than ever by the variety of styles I had to choose from. This was really the year anything goes (er, went?). Barrel, straight-leg, bootcut, slim fit, high rise, skinny, stretch, rigid, wide… All of these fits had a place in fashion and in my weekly rotation. Although I cycled through dozens of styles over the past 12 months, some really rose to the top and ran on repeat.
Here are my 10 best jeans of 2025—plus a bonus pair that's sure to stay relevant through 2026 and the years to come.
1. The Only Jane Bob Jeans
I designed and introduced this slight barrel style at the very beginning of the year. It has a curved leg and side seams that twist to the front, a detail that nods to vintage. Made in Los Angeles with American-milled denim, it's a style I feel really good about and wear at least once a week.
2. R13 Jane Jeans
This high-rise style has a slightly flared leg that's great for cowboy boots and pointy-toed party shoes. R13 jeans are always so rich and considered. The indigo just oozes blue.
3. DL1961 Taylor High-Rise Jeans
One of my all-time favorite barrels, the Taylor's leg is curved just right. A long rise gives the fit a menswear vibe. I wore these jeans all fall and winter with a black belt and boots. They're also one of my go-to travel jeans because they're roomy and easy to wash.
4. Aflalo Brontë Jeans
These are very good night jeans—my term for dressed-up denim—because the wash is dark and the fit is so polished. For those of us with shorter legs, a wide cuff is cute.
5. Old Navy High-Waisted Vintage Slim Jeans
These were my gateway jeans to skinnier styles. They're soft. They're comfortable. The fit is *chef's kiss,* and it's impossible to beat the price.
6. Rùadh Quinn Jeans
These hefty, high-waisted jeans technically came out in 2024, but I wore them so often in 2025 that I had to include them here. Wear them with boots or any block-heeled shoes. Delicate flats will get swallowed by this one.
7. Ossou Noon Jeans
Jane on Jeans readers know I rave about this style constantly. It has a high rise and slim, tapered leg; a clean wash; and fancy, jewelry-inspired hardware. It goes with nearly every shoe style on Earth and also comes in a neutral clay, which will be big next year. Just wait.
8. Buck Mason Roper Jeans
The Roper is one of the best executions of a bootcut style I've seen. I actually prefer to wear it on the long side, like real cowboys would so their boots stay covered when straddling a horse. Made of Japanese denim, it has a little bit of stretch so you can wear it extra tight—as intended.
9. Mother Reifler Jeans
These jeans are a perfect mash-up—'70s rise meets '80s leg shape meets '90s wash. I love that they come in petite sizes for those of us with shorter legs because the spur-bite rips at the hem make the Reifler hard to shorten. Size wisely.
10. Jamie Haller Crease Jeans
The crease down the middle makes these jeans so dress-up-worthy. Wear them with the brand's Lennon Boots. You can't go wrong.
Bonus Style for Luck: Levi's 501 '90s Selvedge Jeans
A denim best-of without a pair of Levi's 501s just wouldn't feel complete. This version made of selvedge denim is destined to be as iconic as its now-vintage predecessors. I love it with moccasins and socks or flat, flat boots and a cozy crewneck sweater.
