19 best boyfriend jeans for off-duty dressing
Denim trends have a habit of circling back around, but boyfriend jeans have never really left our wardrobes. This season, however, they’re enjoying a full-blown renaissance. Slouchy, relaxed and effortlessly cool, they tap into everything we currently crave from a modern denim silhouette: looseness, ease and a kind of borrowed-from-the-boys feel that gives even the simplest outfit an air of understated cool.
As celebrity stylist Kat Pelosi puts it, “the boyfriend jean, slouchy, a little oversized, and worn with the effortless nonchalance of having borrowed them straight from someone else’s wardrobe” is exactly the mood right now — and it’s one we’ve all been guilty of leaning into at some point.
Looking to the catwalks for proof, the Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer 26 runways were in full agreement, with Celine, Stella McCartney and Loewe all confirming the silhouette as a key trend for 2026. While Pelosi notes that “after a brief break of the straight leg, women have once again turned to the more relaxed denim style”.
Off the runway, street style echoed the same energy across London, Paris and New York. From pale, mid-rise washes to ultra-baggy pairs cinched in with a belt (a styling trick that only heightens that ‘I just grabbed these from my boyfriend’s wardrobe’ effect), it's clear the laidback look is one we keep returning to.
But really, the beauty of the boyfriend jean is its sheer versatility. Some pairs skew wide-leg and dramatic, others sit closer to the straight-leg camp, while rises range from low-slung to high-waisted and everything in between. In short, there’s a boyfriend jean shape to suit every style personality — whether you prefer polished minimalism or exaggerated and oversized.
What are boyfriend jeans?
At their core, boyfriend jeans are defined by their relaxed, slouchy fit. They’re looser than mom jeans, less exaggerated than the barrel-leg styles currently beloved by Gen Z, and designed to feel lived-in rather than styled within an inch of their life. The best pairs should look as though they’ve been casually borrowed and thrown on without a second thought. You’ll find versions that skim the hip bones in a super-wide cut, as well as more tapered silhouettes that still maintain that laid-back, off-duty appeal.
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High street hero M&S is one of our favourite places to search for denim, particularly because they come in a range of leg lengths. No matter if you're on the shorter side, searching for petite picks, or looking for longer lengths, there's sure to be something for everyone. This is one great pair of black jeans.
- Colour availability: Black, ecru, dark indigo, medium indigo.
- Size range: 6-24, Length: extra short, petite, medium, long.
- Material: Cotton, elastane.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these Marks & Spencer discount codes at checkout.
ASOS DESIGN Curve Mid Rise Baggy Boyfriend Jeans In Mid Blue
If you're searching for the perfect plus size jean, look no further than Asos's stellar selection. This light wash pair is extra baggy, adding to the laidback look.
- Colour availability: Mid blue.
- Size range: Size 18-28, Length 30-34.
- Material: Cotton.
Citizens of Humanity Ayla Baggy Jeans
With a focus on planet-friendly practices, including regenerative farming, these Citizen of Humanity jeans are not just incredibly well made (I own three pairs), but also prove that the fashion industry can operate in a better way.
- Colour availability: Soft white, vintage black, chaya, and 18 other shades.
- Size range: Waist 23-34.
- Material: Regenerative cotton.
Khaite Bonnie Mid-Rise Boyfriend Jeans
The search for the perfect formal pair of jeans is far from easy, but with a dark wash, sharp lines, and a crisply hemmed cuff, this Khaite pair works as perfectly for the office as it does for evenings out.
- Colour availability: Indigo.
- Size range: Waist 24-32.
- Material: Cotton.
Levi's is unarguably one of the best places to shop for jeans, so it's no surprise the brand has a standout boyfriend style too. This pair is a more form-fitting shape than the classic baggy styles, making it a great pick for those who love skinny jeans.
- Colour availability: Lapis Gem, Cobalight Layer.
- Size range: Waist 25-35; Length 27,30
- Material: Cotton, polyester, viscose, elastane.
Bershka Boyfriend Jeans In Denim Blue
Dark wash jeans always offer a more formal feel, even if they're cut in a wide-leg boyfriend style. Pair these ones with a crisp white shirt, loafers and kitten heels, and you may even be able to wear them to work.
- Colour availability: Mid-blue.
- Size range: UK 4-16.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these ASOS discount codes at checkout.
We The Free Tennessee Low-Rise Boyfriend Jeans
White jeans may seem like a summer denim style, but they really can work year-round. A chunky boot, a knit, and an oversized coat will make them one of the hardest-working items in any wardrobe.
- Colour availability: Ecru, outlaw, cowboy romance, indigo run, rinse, montrose, hideaway black, pine, demitasse
- Size range: Waist 24-33.
- Material: Cotton.
Light Blue Adalae High Waisted Wide Leg Jeans
For those who love a wide-leg or flare, this New Look boyfriend style is sure to tick plenty of boxes. Light wash and high-waisted for a vintage feel, they pair perfectly with knits, shirts, and simple t-shirts. Easy.
- Colour availability: Light blue, black, mid blue, and 8 other shades
- Size range: UK 6-18.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these New Look discount codes at checkout.
I've already spied a number of chic women sporting brown jeans, so I'm expecting them to have a big renaissance this year. When paired with creams, blacks, and browns, they effortlessly lean into a safari chic look.
- Colour availability: Tan wash.
- Size range: Waist 24-32.
- Material: Cotton.
Plus Blue High Waisted Relaxed Straight Jeans
We're forever searching the River Island new arrivals section and there's no short supply of great jeans right now. This light blue plus size pair is sure to become a staple item in any wardrobe that's as comfy as it is chic.
- Colour availability: Blue.
- Size range: 20-26.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these River Island discount codes at checkout.
We The Free Deep Trance Dropped Boyfriend Jeans
To truly lean into the borrowed from the boys look, consider a jean that looks even more lived in with rips, frays, and paint splats aplenty. A real relaxed fit.
- Colour availability: Blue Delphinium, From Beyond, Casual Khaki, and 12 more.
- Size range: Waist 24-33.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these Free People discount codes at checkout.
The Row Eglitta Boyfriend Jeans
Famous for it's quiet luxury chic, The Row excels with expertly made everyday basics, denim included, and these mid-rise boyfriend jeans are a great example.
- Colour availability: Navy.
- Size range: US0-14.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these Net-A-Porter discount codes at checkout.
Another jean option that can also be worn to the office? This dark wash, cuffed hem Levi's pair. With a straight leg shape, and classic five pocket design, they're a true timeless staple.
- Colour availability: Rinse moj.
- Size range: Waist 26-30.
- Material: Cotton, elastane.
The majority of denim styles may flit between different washes of blue, but a coloured wash offers a real point of difference — especially when in a shade that's just as easy to wear.
- Colour availability: Grey, black, mid-blue, blue, white.
- Size range: Waist 25-33.
- Material: Cotton.
Save when you shop for the best boyfriend jeans with these Arket discount codes at checkout.
Bottega Veneta Boyfriend Jeans
This well-washed pair of boyfriend jeans is a great option for those after a true lived in look. Shooting to runway fame as part of Matthieu Blazy's first collection, they're sure to be spied by any eagle-eyed fashion fans.
- Colour availability: Blue.
- Size range: IT36-48.
- Material: Cotton.
If it's a typical pair of boyfriend jeans you're after, look no further than this Hush pair. With a mid-blue wash, slouchy fit and high waist fit that effortlessly leans into the laidback look.
- Colour availability: Mid blue, light blue.
- Size range: UK 4-18.
- Material: Cotton.
Chloé Organic High Rise Boyfriend Jeans
With a high waist, wide-fit thigh, and tapered ankle, these boyfriend jeans fit into more of a cigarette shape, offering a vintage-like look that pairs perfectly with blouses, blazers, and knits.
- Colour availability: Light Denim.
- Size range: Waist 24-32.
- Material: Organic cotton.
Rag & Bone jeans are incredibly popular amongst fashion fans who often have one pair in rotation at all times. These Dre Boyfriend Jeans are slightly slimmer than some of these other options and come in a cropped length, perfect for those who are after something a little more tailored.
- Colour availability: Julienne.
- Size range: Waist 23-32.
- Material: Cotton, polyurethane.
Nilli Lotan Shon Boyfriend Jeans
Barrel-leg jeans are plenty popular right now and this Nilli Lotan pair combines their curved silhouette with the slouchy shape of a boyfriend style. Add to that the deep pockets and structured stitching and this pair of jeans is the focal point of any outfit.
- Colour availability: Dark denim, blue.
- Size range: Waist 24-31.
- Material: Cotton, polyurethane.
How do I style boyfriend jeans?
Proportion is everything. If you’re leaning into a bigger, looser jean, it pays to balance it out up top with something more streamlined — think a slim white tank, a fine-ribbed tee or a softly tailored shirt. Pelosi, however, favours contrast and character. “Celine’s version stood out with a subtle crop, high waist, styled simply with a soft leather red boot,” she says. “A blue jean and a red shoe is always a win in my eyes”. For her own wardrobe, she gravitates towards Stella McCartney’s “ultra-relaxed, comfort-first fit that feels modern and undone,” praising the “lived-in quality that makes the silhouette so compelling right now.”
Her styling inspiration borrows from classic menswear, too. “I’m drawn to contrast: preppy layers inspired by Ralph Lauren’s men’s Fall 26 show,” she explains, envisioning a cashmere polo beneath an oversized grey coat, a chunky jumper twisted over the shoulders and relaxed denim pooling over patent black or velvet red ballet flats. Even the paint-splatter jeans seen on the runway get her vote, layered with “a lot of belts and a simple white tee” for a look that feels personal, playful and perfectly imperfect.
Whether you’re shopping the high street – M&S’s ankle-grazer boyfriend jeans are a perennial favourite – or investing in a luxury pair from Citizens of Humanity, the appeal remains the same: boyfriend jeans are the ultimate weekend staple, and there's no shortage of options to choose from.
Why you can trust me
As a fashion editor with close to a decade of experience finding the perfect items, from winter coats to shoes, I'm confident in claiming I've mastered the art of curating the perfect shopping guide. And, with a penchant for jeans, and more than 12 pairs in my own wardrobe (oops), this is one of the areas I'm most passionate about. So, whatever your budget or style, there's something to suit (almost) everyone below.
How we tested the best boyfriend jeans
With years of experience wearing, trialling, and shopping for jeans, we instinctively know which brands are best, which washes to reach for, and exactly which trends are worth stepping into without worry that they'll pass before the season ends. So, we bring to you the edit of the best boyfriend jeans that tick every box. Welcome to your perfect pair.
