For over a decade, the skinny jean was the undisputed king of denim. Now, you see looser fits¹ everywhere and wonder if the reign is officially, finally over. What happened?

Skinny jeans began to fall out of style around 2020. The shift accelerated globally post-pandemic, and by 2023, looser silhouettes like straight-leg, baggy, and wide-leg jeans had become the dominant trend in mainstream fashion.

Dean, you and I have lived through several major denim cycles, but the dominance of the skinny jean was something special. It lasted for so long. From my perspective in the factory, the change was like watching a slow tide go out. It wasn't overnight.

Your insight is spot on; the shift was visible on the streets of New York well before it hit the rest of the world. For me, the proof was in the purchase orders.

The demand for denim with high stretch content² started to dip, and my pattern cutters began getting more requests for wider, more voluminous leg shapes. It was a fundamental change in the architecture of the modern jean.

When Did Skinny Jeans Stop Being Fashionable?

You know fashion is a slow-turning wheel, not a switch. You saw the early signs, but you're trying to pinpoint the exact moment the skinny jean lost its crown.

The definitive shift away from skinny jeans³ occurred between 2020 and 2021. While high-fashion had been moving on for a while, this was when the mainstream market actively embraced looser fits.

The transition was a fascinating process to watch from a production standpoint. Around 2018-2019, our most fashion-forward clients⁴—the ones based in places like NYC, LA, and Tokyo—started experimenting with "mom jeans⁵" and straight-leg fits. These were small, niche orders. Then the pandemic hit in 2020.

Everyone stayed home and lived in comfortable sweatpants. That period fundamentally reset people's tolerance for restrictive clothing⁶. When the world opened back up in 2021 and 2022, consumers didn't want to squeeze back into tight denim. They wanted the comfort they had become used to.

That's when we saw the demand for loose-fit denim explode. It wasn't just a trend anymore; it was a mass-market shift driven by a collective change in lifestyle. By 2023, as you noted, skinny jeans were the minority on our production lines.

Do People Still Wear Skinny Jeans in 2025?

As a designer, you can't just focus on the new; you have to know what's still viable. You're wondering if there is still a market and a place for the skinny jean.

Yes, people will still wear skinny jeans in 2025, but they are no longer the dominant fashion trend. They have settled into a classic, niche status, much like bootcut jeans, favored for specific looks.

Absolutely, the skinny jean isn't dead; it has just changed its job description. For over a decade, it was the default, the go-to style for everyone.

Now, it's a specific choice. We still produce skinny jeans in my factory, but the orders are different. They are less about chasing the core trend and more about serving a loyal customer base. Think about its function now.

It’s perfect for tucking into tall boots, it works well with oversized tops to create a specific silhouette, and it remains a staple in certain subcultures like rock and punk. It has become a classic wardrobe piece rather than a trend item.

So, while you won't see it leading every fashion campaign, it has earned a permanent place in the denim dictionary. It's a tool in the styling toolbox, not the whole toolbox itself.

Is It Still Acceptable to Wear Skinny Jeans?

Your clients trust your taste. They want to know if they will look dated or "cheugy" if they hold on to their favorite skinny jeans. What's the verdict?

Yes, it is absolutely still acceptable to wear skinny jeans. Fashion is now more about personal style⁷ than following a single dominant trend. The key is how you style them to look current.

This is a great question because it speaks to a bigger shift in the fashion world. Ten or fifteen years ago, if you wore the "wrong" silhouette, you looked completely out of touch. Today, personal style is much more celebrated.

The rise of social media has created countless micro-trends and aesthetics that all exist at the same time. No one silhouette rules them all. So, yes, it's perfectly acceptable to wear them.

The trick is to make them look intentional, not like you just haven't bought new pants in ten years. This means pairing them with more current pieces. For example, instead of a tight top, style them with an oversized blazer or a chunky sweater.

Instead of ballet flats, try them with lug-sole boots or modern sneakers. It’s all about the context you create around the jeans.

Why Does Gen Z Not Like Skinny Jeans?

You need to understand the next generation of consumers. Their rejection of the skinny jean is a major cultural data point, and you want to know the "why" behind it.

Gen Z⁸ dislikes skinny jeans primarily because they prioritize comfort and self-expression. They associate skinny jeans with the restrictive, conformist styles of the previous generation and prefer looser fits that allow for more movement and individuality.

This is the most interesting part of the whole shift. For Gen Z, fashion is deeply connected to comfort, authenticity, and a rejection of the past. Skinny jeans represent the "Millennial" uniform, and every new generation defines itself by breaking away from the one before it.

From a practical standpoint, this generation grew up with streetwear and athleisure as a baseline. Comfort is not a luxury; it's a requirement. They see tight, restrictive pants as impractical for their dynamic, on-the-go lives.

Furthermore, baggy clothes offer a different kind of silhouette, one that is less focused on contouring the body and more about creating a unique shape.

It's a form of expression that feels more creative and less prescriptive than the body-hugging skinny jean. For them, it's a symbol of freedom—freedom of movement and freedom from the aesthetic standards of the 2010s.

Conclusion

The era of the skinny jean's dominance ended around 2020, giving way to looser fits. While no longer the main trend, it remains an acceptable classic piece in the modern wardrobe.

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