How Jeans Styles Have Changed Over the Last 10 Years

From skinny to barrel-leg—how denim evolved and how to find your perfect fit with Tellar.co.uk

Over the past decade, jeans have gone through a full style revolution. What was once a skinny jean stronghold has given way to wide-legs, vintage cuts, and directional silhouettes seen on catwalks and high streets alike. In 2015, we squeezed into super-skinny denim. By 2025, we’re embracing volume, comfort, and cut with character.

This post explores how jeans styles have evolved over the past 10 years—and how Tellar.co.uk helps you find your exact fit, no matter the trend.

🔹 2015–2017: The Peak of Skinny Jeans

Back then, skinny jeans were everywhere—low-rise or mid-rise, often made with ultra-stretch denim. They were styled with oversized tops, long coats, ballet flats or ankle boots. Jeggings (jeans-legging hybrids) dominated fast fashion, and black was the go-to wash.

Popular styles:

Low-rise or mid-rise skinnies
Ripped knees
Spray-on stretch denim
Jeggings with elastic waistbands

The fit issue? Sizing was hit or miss. Jeans would bag at the knees or gape at the waist. Most people guessed their size and hoped for the best.

🔹 2018–2019: Straight Legs and the Vintage Shift

Skinny fatigue began to set in. Style influencers and fashion editors started wearing straight-leg jeans, inspired by 90s minimalism and early 2000s off-duty looks.

Key changes:

High-rise styles became the new norm
100% cotton denim made a comeback
Frayed hems, raw cuts, and ankle-grazers entered the scene
Light washes and “mom jeans” grew in popularity

Brands started releasing 'curve' lines, but sizing still varied significantly between retailers.

🔹 2020–2021: Comfort Takes Over (Hello, Lockdown Denim)

The pandemic redefined what we wore. Jeans were out, loungewear was in—until denim adapted.

What changed:

Rise of pull-on jeans with stretch waistbands
Increased demand for comfort-focused high-rise fits
Wide-leg jeans gained ground as stylish and wearable
Stretch denim blends were reintroduced for all shapes

Fashion became more relaxed, and people demanded better fit data when shopping online.

🔹 2022–2023: Flared and Baggy Come Back

Fashion circled back to Y2K nostalgia. Bootcut, flared, and oversized jeans returned—styled with crop tops, ribbed tanks, and blazers.

Trending styles:

Slim flares
Wide-leg crops
Balloon and barrel-leg jeans
Low-rise options for the bold

But with new shapes came new sizing problems. The fit of a high-rise flare is very different from a wide-leg crop. Online shopping made guessing more complicated.

🔹 2024–2025: Volume, Structure, and Personal Fit

We’ve now entered the era of statement denim. Jeans are architectural, tailored, and fashion-led. The skinny jean has quietly returned—but as part of a wider mix, not the default.

What’s hot now:

Barrel-leg, horseshoe, and puddle jeans
Cuffed hems and long inseams
Structured dark denim for smart-casual wear
High-rise waists with sculpted tailoring
Tailored wide-leg jeans with clean lines
Skinny jeans tucked into boots or styled with oversized pieces

Denim today is about cut, proportion, and personal styling—and that means getting your size exactly right.

🔎 Fit Changed Too—But Size Charts Didn’t

Over the decade, denim silhouettes changed completely, but size charts didn’t keep up. A UK 12 in one store is now a UK 16 in another. Jeans stretch, shrink, or fit entirely differently based on:

Rise (low, mid, high)
Fabric blend (rigid or stretch)
Hip-to-waist ratio
Inseam length and flare point

This is where most shoppers get stuck—and where Tellar.co.uk solves the problem.

✔️ Tellar.co.uk: Find Your Exact Jeans Size—No Matter the Style

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free sizing tool. It lets you:

Enter your body measurements (waist, hips, chest)
Or use a known size from a brand you trust
Instantly see your perfect size in over 1,500 stores
Get smart recommendations for your body shape
Know whether a brand runs small or large
Toggle between cm and inches
Use it for jeans, trousers, tops, dresses and more

🔗 Create your profile now

🔗 Check your jeans size in real time

💬 Example:

You wear a size 14 in M&S, but want to try barrel-leg jeans at Zara. Tellar tells you:

➡ You’ll likely need a size 16 at Zara, as they run small on the hips.

➡ If you're petite, the full-length cut might be too long—adjust accordingly.

No guesswork. No returns. Just the right fit, first time.

Final Thoughts: Trends Change—Fit Shouldn’t Be a Gamble

In the last 10 years, denim went from skin-tight to sculptural, low-rise to high-rise, black to raw indigo. But the most important trend is personal fit—finding jeans that suit your body, not just your size label.

With Tellar.co.uk, you can shop for jeans in any brand, in any cut, with total confidence.

Start Here:

🔗 Create your free Tellar profile

🔗 Use Tellar to match your size in 1,500+ brands

Tellar.co.uk – Find your jeans size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s Free & Easy.