2022 Denim Trends that You Will Love (and Hate)

Welcome to our first preview guide of the year:  2022 denim trends that you will love (and potentially hate).  But don’t worry, that’s the great thing about fashion.  If you love something, wear it; if not, don’t.  Today, we’re gonna take a look at 5 denim styles that are in this year.  They are: 

• low-rise; 
• patchwork (or embellished); 
• boyfriend & baggy; 
• flared & bootcut; 
• skirts. 

For each style of jeans,  I put together an outfit you can shop, similar to our new Daily Looks.  In addition, I’ve gone through the archives and found different ways you can style each pair.

Definitive denim guide (excerpts)

Like any fashion trend:  the 2022 ones will come and they may go.  But what remains constant is how to shop denim.  That doesn’t change.  In case you missed it, we’ve put together a definitive denim guide over here on the blog.  Below I pulled out, and am reprinting some useful tips that always apply when shopping jeans.  

Fit & feel

Nothing is more important than the fit and feel of a pair of jeans. And you’re never going to know how something fits or feels without a) trying it on and b) having several points of reference. I can’t recommend enough carving out an afternoon, physically going to a store like Gap or Nordstrom, and working with one of their stylists to try on a full range of jeans. They’re there to help! They’ll walk you through the full spectrum of what’s available to give you that reference point.

When you’re trying on jeans, focus on how they fit on your waist. Always ask yourself the question, “Does the jean sit on the waist where it is supposed to sit?” Also, focus on the length of the jeans. Ask yourself the question, “Are these jeans going to drag given the shoes you currently have in your closet?” And remember this one crucial fact worth pointing out again and again: just because you’re a size 6 in brand X does not mean you’re a size 6 in brand Y. 

All well and good. But what about those of us who are shopping exclusively online? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Below, I’ve linked to some of my favorite denim retailers, including their online denim guide.

• Gap:  fit guide
• Banana Republic:  fit guide
• Frame: fit guide
• J. Crew: fit guide
• Madewell:  fit guide
• Anthropologie:  fit guide
• Talbots:  fit guide

Wash

Roughly speaking, the “wash” of a jean refers to the extent to which a pair of denim has undergone a washing and treatment process prior to sale. The washing and treatment process affects the color and softness of denim.

Below, I’ve put together a scale of various washes beginning with “raw denim” and ending with “bleach wash.” Raw denim is very stiff, dark and has not been washed to soften and remove dye, whereas bleach-washed denim is very soft and light, as most of the dye has been stripped away. Most of us are probably going to stick in the rinse-to-light wash region of the below scale, but some of us may deviate to either end of the spectrum.    

raw denim < rinse wash < mid-wash < light wash < bleach wash

Know your wardrobe

Jeans don’t exist in isolation. You’re going to pair them with what you currently have in your wardrobe. It’s pointless to buy a pair of jeans that don’t work with a single top or single pair of shoes you currently own. Always have a game plan. When you are looking to buy a pair of denim, a good rule of thumb is this: have at least two tops and two pairs of shoes that the jeans you’re eyeing actually go with. That will give you the flexibility and versatility to successfully integrate a new pair of denim into your closet.

Proportionality based on use 

If you have ten pairs of jeans, it usually doesn’t make sense for 8 of them to be white if you only wear white jeans one month out of the year. Are your go-to jeans boot cut, but of your five pairs of jeans, only 1 of them is actually boot cut? Seems obvious, but it’s worth pointing out: a) know what denim you love, b) know what denim you actually wear in practice, and c) base the proportionality of your denim on (a) and (b). a + b = c.

2022 denim trends

Low-rise

Just when you got used to high-rise jeans, low-rise jeans are back in a big way.  I featured them heavily between 2016-17 and have begun reincorporating them into my wardrobe this winter. Low-rise jeans or “low-cut jeans” sit low on the hips and a few inches above the navel. 

• OOTD.  I’ve ankle-rolled my jeans and paired them with a blouse from Halogen and Rothy’s cap-toe flats.  Super-simple springtime outfit.  

Blouse (Halogen) | Low Rise Denim (Frame) | Cap Toe Flats (Rothy’s) | Earrings | Cuff Bracelet

Patchwork & embellished

Patchwork jeans were definitely a DIY, 70s thing.  Take a couple of pairs of denim (or any garment) and patchwork a new pair of jeans.  I featured patchwork jeans heavily back in 2018—even on my 60th birthday!

• OOTD.  Today’s OOTD is comfy-casual.  My jeans are old but you can find similar from Ralph Lauren.  I love patchwork jeans because they give you so many highlights to pick up with your top.  I went with a pink mock-neck sweater from Ann Taylor) and a pair of platform sneakers. 

Patchwork Jeans  (Ralph Lauren, old similar here, here and here) | Sweater (Ann Taylor) | Sneakers 

Boyfriend & baggy jeans

True-blue baggy—or barrel—jeans are in this year.  (Not quite the same as sizing up Levis 501s to get that 90s Seattle look.)  If you’re not into that look, you can certainly stick with boyfriend or girlfriend-style jeans.  But I’ve been having a lot of fun styling my barrel-fit ones. 

• OOTD.  I’ve pulled in a pair of barrel Jeans from Banana Republic.  The top is an old one, but I found a  similar chiffon top. I added an additional color pop pink pumps to offset the wideness of the jean leg.

Barrel Jeans  (Banana Republic) |  Top (old similar here) | Shoes  (Jeffrey Campbel) | Earrings | Cuff Bracelet 

Flare & bootcut

Flared and bootcut are back to the point where I’m regularly seeing bellbottoms on the streets of Athens.  What I love about this particular style is that there is a spectrum of flare.  Simple bootcut all the way to flower power, it’s easy to find and style a jean you’re comfortable with. 

• OOTD.  Have you tried pairing your flared jeans with a pair of pumps?  That’s what I did today, and I’m liking the results.  I also layered a button-up and oversized cardigan from Theory.  I’m really liking the contrast between top and bottom here.  

Bootcut/Flare Denim (Ann Taylor) | Button-up  (Theory) | Oversized Cardigan (Theory) | Suede Pumps | Coin Necklace (old similar here and here)

Denim skirt 

Ahh, the denim skirt.  It never really goes out of style, does it?  It’s certainly one of my all-time favorites, and I’ve featured it heavily on the blog since its inception. 

• OOTD.  Classic look here.   I’ve paired an Everlane skirt (limited sizes similar here, here, and here) with a striped sweater and bomber jacket.  (Gotta be honest with you, I love any excuse to pull out a bomber jacket.) 

Denim Skirt (Everlane, limited sizes similar here, here, and here) | Striped Sweater (Ann Taylor) | Bomber Jacket  (old, Ralph Lauren) | Suede Sandals 

Daily Looks

We continue to be excited about the launch of our new blog feature Daily Looks.  Every day, I’m featuring a new, directly shoppable OOTD.  So head on over and see today’s daily look.

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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