Not Skinny, Not Barrel-Leg: The Denim Trend That Makes Every Outfit Look Effortlessly Chic

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@aishafarida wears bootcut jeans with a graphic tee, and a fur jacket; @rubylyn_ wears a white tee, hoodie, leather jacket, sneakers, and bootcut jeans; a person wearing low-rise bootcut jeans, heeled boots, a white tee, a jacket, and sunglasses
(Image credit: @aishafarida; @rubylyn_; Launchmetrics Spotlight)
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Skinny jeans are back, but if you're not on board just yet, let me introduce you to the 2026 denim trend Gen Z's It girls are reaching for instead. Bootcut jeans are the Gen Z answer to effortlessly chic outfits in 2026. The slim-flare cut instantly upgrades a boring white T-shirt and jeans into an indie-chic look that's ready to grace the cover of Charli XCX's next album.

Fashion people, such as Bella Hadid and Margot Robbie, have embraced the dated denim trend, styling it with fellow indie-grunge icons: graphic tees, Napoleon jackets (a hot-ticket item on Gen Z's 2026 fashion wish list), pointed-toe boots, faux-fur jackets, and more.

I found five Gen Z coded bootcut-jeans outfits to wear in 2026. Included are the top shoes to wear with bootcut jeans (spoiler: moto boots and white sneakers are in the lead) and the best bootcut jeans from denim-lover favorites like Levi's, Agolde, and Reformation. Sure, cigarette jeans are cute, but if you want my Gen Z editor opinion, slim flares are so much better. Shop the trend and see how to style bootcut jeans below. Scroll for inspiration.

5 Effortlessly Chic Bootcut-Jeans Outfits

Outfit 1

@aishafarida wears bootcut jeans with a graphic tee and faux-fur jacket.

(Image credit: @aishafarida)

Styling notes: Compound on the inherent indie sleaze appeal of low-rise bootcut jeans with a hiked-up graphic tee, a fluffy faux-fur jacket, Jackie Onassis inspired sunglasses, a thick belt, and chunky boots to ground the look.

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Outfit 2

@rubylyn_ wears a white tee, hoodie, leather jacket, sneakers, and bootcut jeans.

(Image credit: @rubylyn_)

Styling notes: Looking for a casual bootcut-jeans outfit? Here's a perfect example of an effortlessly chic 'fit. A pair of white sneakers, a boatneck long-sleeve, and a hoodie feel intuitive to the flared jeans.

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Outfit 3

@piamance wears a pair of bootcut jeans, metallic top, and long leather trench.

(Image credit: @piamance)

Styling notes: A long leather trench, a beige tank, and pointed-toe shoes make bootcut jeans feel so luxurious.

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Outfit 4

Person wearing low-rise bootcut jeans, heeled boots, a white tee, a jacket, and sunglasses.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Styling notes: You need about five items to look cool in 2026: a white tee, light-wash jeans, a stand-collar jacket, heeled boots, and a pair of sunnies.

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Outfit 5

@susiegarvie wears black bootcut jeans, heels, and a coat.

(Image credit: @susiegarvie)

Styling notes: Napoleon jackets have been all over my feed for the past few months. While we wait for the market to catch up with the trend, I've spotted chic vintage options on Vinted and Poshmark. Style the military-inspired jacket with black bootcut jeans, heels, and a clutch for an edgy look.

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Josephine Hadjiloucas
Josephine Hadjiloucas
Assistant Shopping Editor

Josephine Hadjiloucas is a New York based writer. She first interned at Who What Wear UK in 2024 and later joined Who What Wear U.S. as an assistant shopping editor after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2025. When she isn’t covering the latest Gen Z trends or updating her under-$100 Nordstrom wish list, you can find her browsing the racks of NYC’s best vintage stores or rewatching Moonstruck for the 50th time. “Snap out of it!”