French Designers’ Favorite Denim Trends of 2021

Denim

Mar 31

When deciding which denim trends are worth investing in, I always turn to French designers for advice. Though jeans originate from the United States and are most commonly associated with casual West Coast style, Parisian women always give them that certain je ne sais quoi.

French fashion is known for being both timeless and innovative, so Paris Fashion Week is the ideal place to look when it comes to denim. While quintessential Parisian houses like Celine, Chanel, and Hermès serve up time-tested classics, more experimental labels like Vetements and Y/Project often highlight denim trends that are just starting to take off.

In many ways, 2020 gave the global denim industry a bit of a reset. As shoppers turned to work-from-home-friendly loungewear during early lockdowns, denim sales dropped dramatically. The sudden shift in consumer spending caused many large corporations (including Joe’s Jeans, G-Star Raw, Hudson Jeans, and Lucky Brand) to file for bankruptcy. Even Levi Strauss & Co reported a 62% decline in revenue during Q2 of 2020. Needless to say, the pandemic has been devastating for smaller denim labels. As the vaccine roll-out continues and the world begins to reopen in 2021, I’m certain the denim brands that survived 2020 will emerge like a phoenix from the ashes.

The denim trends of 2021 serve as strong indicators of where the denim industry is headed post-pandemic. Many designers went back to the basics, focusing on simple washes and timeless silhouettes with guaranteed staying power, while others went all-out with daring cuts and bright colors that celebrate the return of real pants.

According to French fashion designers, these are the biggest denim trends of 2021:

Light-Wash Straight-Leg Jeans

Hands down, the biggest denim trend of 2021 is simple straight-leg jeans. If there’s one pair of jeans to purchase this year, it’s classic Levi’s 501s in a light or medium wash without distressing.

At Hedi Slimane’s denim-filled spring runway show for Celine, Kaia Gerber sported light-wash non-stretch jeans with an athletic-inspired combo of a blazer, sports bra, baseball hat, and leather ankle boots. In true Parisian style, Alexandre Vauthier showed theirs with a white button-up shirt, necktie, and chic ankle boots.

Even Y/Project, a Parisian brand known for experimenting with denim, offered its take on simple straight-leg jeans with a deep v-cut pair that would make for one legendary Kendall Jenner mirror pic.

Baggy 90s Jeans

So far, baggy jeans are panning out to be one of the year’s most popular denim trends among Gen Z consumers. Though they have the same laid-back vibe as boyfriend jeans, this season’s oversized denim has a higher rise and looser fit through the leg. The faded and ripped baggy jeans at Balenciaga, Vetements, and Y/Project drew clear inspiration from early 2000s ravers and 90s fashion icons like Kurt Cobain and Aaliyah.

If you plan to partake in the trend, don’t waste your money purchasing them brand new. An authentic pair of 90s baggy jeans from a vintage store will give you the lived-in look and feel you’re searching for. According to the Fall/Winter 2021 runways, you should stick to a faded black or medium wash with lots of grungy distressing. The baggier the better.

Denim Midi Skirts

Unlike the micro-minis of the early 2000s, this year’s denim skirts aren’t focused on showing skin. Instead, their knee-skimming hemlines, generous cuts, and medium washes offer a casual take on the satin midi skirts we sported pre-pandemic.

For casual looks, style them as you would boyfriend jeans. At Balenciaga and Celine, simple denim midi skirts brought the perfect balance of femininity to streetwear staples like bucket hats, sock boots, and denim jackets.

Full-Length Jeans

While many French designers still offered ankle-length jeans with distressed hems at their Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter 2021 runway shows, it’s safe to say that full-length inseams are making a comeback. According to Balmain, Celine, Chanel, and Paco Rabanne, raw-hem skinny jeans are dead.

Instead of statement-making 70s flare jeans, try a pair with a slim bootcut or straight leg that elongates your leg line and pairs with a wider array of items in your wardrobes. The trend is all about sophistication so stick to medium-wash styles without any distressing or raw hem. Feeling adventurous? Try the 80s-inspired acid wash seen at Alessandra Rich.

Colored Acid Wash Jeans

Over the past few years, 80s-inspired jeans have become a mainstay at Paris Fashion Week and 2021 was no different. The most popular take on 80s denim was the colorful acid-washes seen at Balmain, Chanel, IRO, Isabel Marant, and more.

Chanel styled their electric blue jeans as casual trousers, pairing them with a simple white tee and a classic Chanel tweed jacket. At Balmain and IRO, they were paired with coordinating stone-wash denim jackets for an 80s take on the Canadian tuxedo.

Ultra Sexy Skinny Jeans

And now to answer the question on everyone’s minds: Are skinny jeans still in style in 2021?

The short answer is no. The long answer is it depends. Based on this year’s runways, it’s clear that skinny jeans are no longer the biggest trend in denim. In fact, few designers even showed them at all. Relaxed straight-leg jeans are clearly the new It-jeans.

But with that being said, don’t throw out your favorite mid-rise and high-rise skinny jeans anytime soon. Instead, tuck them in the back of your closet because trust me, whether you like it or not, they’ll be back eventually. Designers that did offer skinny jeans opted for super-sexy high-rises with unique details like the stirrup straps at Isabel Marant and the thong-inspired color blocking at Mugler.

Dark Wash Raw Denim

When the pandemic brought production to a screeching halt, many designers felt inspired to pare back their collections and return to classic styles that are more likely to sell amidst economic uncertainty. One normcore-approved style that received renewed attention was dark wash jeans.

Stiff, untreated selvedge denim was kept simple at A.P.C., Hermès, and Schiaparelli. Paired with basic button-up shirts, blazers, and turtlenecks, the androgynous jeans provided a casual alternative to trousers that felt perfectly suited for today’s laid-back work environments.

Knee-Length Denim Shorts

Though Bermuda shorts have earned themselves a frumpy reputation, summer 2021’s knee-length denim shorts are anything but. At Balmain, they offered a sophisticated take on the bike shorts craze when paired with sharp-shouldered blazers and sexy going-out tops. Chanel and See by Chloé proposed a more relaxed silhouette similar to traditional Bermuda shorts. Consider them the ideal jean shorts for laid-back summer outfits.

Images c/o Vogue Runway

Sarah Maberry