Gang, I’ve been hunting for the best baggy jeans for women that feel current – but easy!! – in 2026. I’m looking for jeans-and-a-sweater kind of jeans. Everyday fall outfit kinds of jeans. Jeans that I can just…throw on and not worry too much about the rest of my outfit, ya know?

The problem – if I’m being totally honest with myself – is that I have been finding denim styles to be really tricky for a long, long time. Like, since…[don’t say skinny jeans]…skinny jeans? I mean, I embraced mom jeans (took me a while but I got there) and will always pop in and out of boyfriend jeans/dad jeans/whatever-you-call-them jeans. And I’ll also admit to a love affair with barrel jeans, but true barrel jeans aren’t jean-jeans. Barrel jeans are like cool, statement pants, and I have been wanting an easy, everyday jean.

jeans (29) | shoes | daisy ring | bag

And, after a year of trying on & playing around…baggy jeans (or any sort of long, loose and/or relaxed jeans) are my answer.

It turns out that the jeans I needed – to make all of my everyday outfit formulas feel fresh – jeans, tee, sneakers, sweater – are baggy jeans. These loose, comfortable jeans are making all of my existing basics look fresh for 2026.

sweatshirt (xs/s) | jeans (30) | shoes | daisy ring 

So here’s the thing: I have spent the last year (or more!!) trying on jeans. And it was only recently that I’ve started having success. Like…wild success. Like…if I order, say, 10 new pairs of jeans, I will now like 80% of them. Compared to, uh, 0% before (haha no but seriously). What changed? Well…I just started sizing The Freak UP.

My epiphany came last fall while trying on some Madewell jeans. In the pics below, on the left I’m wearing what we’ll call my “true” size (27) and on the right, I sized up two sizes (29).

tank (s) | jeans (left, 27p) | jeans (right, 29p) | shoes | ring | bracelets

Immediately the difference is pretty dramatic: the jeans on the left fit, but they look a little dated. The jeans on the right, however, have a slouchy, cool-girl vibe that feels really fresh for 2026.

sweater (s) | jeans (29p) | sneakers | bag

Once I started sizing up – like, really sizing up: one, two, and sometimes even three sizes bigger – I started finding the everyday, baggy jeans I’ve been looking for. This technique has served me well all year long, regardless of brand! It turns out that the fastest way to make my outfits look fresh is to….loosen up.

In general, finding jeans with a wider-leg that is still straight up and down and sizing up were the keys for me. Any jean with a tight waist and wider leg (making a bell or triangle shape) didn’t work – they don’t have quite the right silhouette.

The best baggy jeans – the kind I really do wear everyday – should be:

• Full length (not cropped)
• But not too long – I’m ok cuffing them once to wear with flats, but anything longer than that has to be hemmed.
• Soft and easy to wear – I can’t dread putting them on
• Not tight (see point above)
• Bonus points for a wash that looks perfectly broken-in (or like I’ve had them for years)
• Bonus points for patches, embroidery, detailing, or rips
• Are cute enough (I hate the word, “flattering”)

I’m typically a size 27 in jeans…but sometimes wear size 28. I don’t know if that’s because I’m physically larger than before (totally possible, haha), or if I just prefer relaxed jeans these days. That said, I did my best to explain – for each pair below – if I thought I went up one, two or three sizes. Let’s get into it.

Where To Buy: AGoldE (also in petites – what I’m wearing)

PRICE: $248
EXACT WASH: Curb
SIZE RANGE: 23 – 34
INSEAM: Standard 31″, Petite 27.5″
FIT: Wearing size 29p (sized up two sizes)
FABRIC: 100% Regenerative Cotton

These jeans are my hands down favorites. I now own this exact style in several washes, but this latest one is literally PERFECT. The wash is such a good broken-in boyfriend wash, and while they are 100% cotton, they’re part of AGoldE’s weightless line, so they’re actually super soft and lightweight.

I’ve been cuffing these once to wear with ballet flats, but then wearing them fully straight with small heels at night, too. I can’t say enough good things about these jeans.

jeans (29p) | shoes | daisy ring | necklace | bracelet

While the ‘weightless’ washes are newer…this exact AGoldE style is great, regardless of wash!! I’ve been wearing this pair (in one wash or another) basically all year long. Because of the slightly curved leg, these jeans look good with chunkier footwear – including winter boots. Case in point? These were really the only pair of jeans I needed in St. Moritz last winter (wearing the ‘pendulum’ wash, below).

jacket (s) | jeans (28p – ‘pendulum’ wash) | boots | bag

Where To Buy: Mother Denim (also in petites – what I’m wearing)

PRICE: $268
EXACT WASH: Green Thumb
SIZE RANGE: 23 – 34
INSEAM: Standard 28.25″, Petite 26.25″
FIT: Wearing size 30p (sized up two sizes from my usual Mother Denim size)
FABRIC: 100% Cotton

I find that Mother Denim runs pretty small, so I sized up two sizes from my usual Mother Denim size (or three otherwise). These jeans are another stellar example of 100% cotton jeans that feel nothing like rigid jeans (but are – happily – a far cry from stretch jeans). They’re soft, slouchy, and a perfect medium blue. This is one of Mother Denim’s better washes. It’s similar to AGoldE’s, but a slightly brighter blue.

jeans (30p) | shoes | daisy ring | necklace | bracelet

Where To Buy: Levi’s (available in 3 inseams)

PRICE: $110
EXACT WASH: Dream Nice Dreams
SIZE RANGE: 23 – 34
INSEAM: Available in 30″, 32″ and 34″
FIT: Wearing size 29 X 30 (sized up two sizes)
FABRIC: 100% Cotton (but depends on wash)

These are a perfect gateway jean into the world of baggy jeans. They’re low-rise (without being terrifyingly low), relaxed through the hip and thigh, and the leg is a true straight leg.

These jeans are also good for every generation right now. I walked into the Levi’s store with my little GenZ (or maybe Gen alpha??) niece and my mom…and we all walked out with this same exact pair of jeans. Love it.

jeans (29 X 30) | shoes | daisy ring | necklace | bracelet

Where To Buy: AG Jeans | Nordstrom

PRICE: $245
EXACT WASH: Capacity
SIZE RANGE: 22 – 33
INSEAM: 32″
FIT: Wearing size 28 (they run big, only sized up one size)
FABRIC: 100% Cotton

AG has always done that sort of medium-blue wash really, really well, so I’m not surprised that these are so freaking good. They’re low rise, but again, not a scary low rise, and super comfortable on. What’s surprising about this particular style is the fact that my sister and I (who look similar, but carry our weight in very different places) both love these jeans – which almost never happens!

jeans (28) | shoes | daisy ring | t-bar necklace | bracelet

Where To Buy: AGoldE – also in petites (what I’m wearing) | Nordstrom

PRICE: $288
EXACT WASH: Rank
SIZE RANGE: 22 – 33
INSEAM: Regular 31″, Petite 29″
FIT: Wearing size 28p (they run big, only sized up one size)
FABRIC: 67% Regenerative Cotton, 22% Lyocell, 11% Post Consumer Recycled Cotton

These are some of the coolest freaking jeans I’ve bought in a while. They’re giving me Rachel Comey vibes, and I love them SO MUCH.

jeans (28p) | shoes | daisy ring | t-bar necklace | bracelet

While the detail is, technically, utility, there’s also something almost trouser-ish about the vibe – I’d wear these into an office, too.

jeans (28p) | sweater (m) | shoes | daisy ring | bag

Where To Buy: Levi’s (available in 3 inseams) | Nordstrom

PRICE: $110
EXACT WASH: Plan To Stay
SIZE RANGE: 23 – 34
INSEAM: Available in 28″, 30″ and 32″
FIT: Wearing size 30 (sized up three sizes)
FABRIC: 100% Cotton (but depends on wash)

For the most borrowed-from-the-boys look, sizing wayyyy up in a pair of 501’s is exactly that. The key for me, however, is to just wait until Levi’s come out with a wash that makes your heart beat fast. And for me…it’s almost always ripped denim.

jeans (30) | shoes | daisy ring | necklace | bracelet

Levi’s 501s do give over time, so I’m wondering if I would’ve been better off just sizing up two sizes instead of three. Hmmmm. (And I did “hem” the bottom with scissors, haha.)

Where To Buy: Nordstrom

PRICE: $98
EXACT WASH: Medium Wash
SIZE RANGE: 24 – 31
INSEAM: 26″
FIT: Wearing size 28 (they run big, only sized up one size)
FABRIC: 84% Cotton, 15% Lyocell, 1% Spandex

These are stretchy jeans. The problem I have with most stretchy jeans is that – while comfortable – they never really slouch properly. This pair, however, does look nice and slouchy, and I suspect that the utility details are why. While the marked inseam is 26″ (which would normally be too short for me), this pair has a slight barrel leg (plus I’ve sized up), so the length is fairly forgiving. That said, as baggy jeans, these might be best for petites!

jeans (28) | shoes | daisy ring | necklace | bracelet

I bought these during the NSale this year, and have been wearing them a ton! They’re priced under $100, and are a pretty great way to test out both the baggy jean and utility trend to see if it’s something you’ll actually wear.

Where To Buy: Madewell

PRICE: $148
EXACT WASH: Harvey
SIZE RANGE: 23 – 33, plus 14W – 28W
INSEAM: Standard 31″, Plus 30.5″, Petite 28″, Tall 34″
FIT: Wearing size 29p (sized up two sizes, but Linzi preferred hers up one size)
FABRIC: 99% cotton/1% elastane.

These jeans were my favorites from last year’s try on, and they’re still pretty darn great. Oddly enough, once you size up there’s nothing wide-leg about them, they’re perfectly straight, relaxed jeans that are soft, comfy, and come in a ton of sizes and lengths. I appreciate that the butt is cute even when sizing up.

tank (s) | jeans (29p) | shoes | ring | bracelets

Madewell is still carrying these exact jeans, although they are on final sale (booo).

Ok Guys – that’s it, my top 8 pairs of baggy jeans…although…these are also just the 8 most-worn pairs of jeans I own right now!

How are you guys feeling about denim this year?

xo,

S