It’s time to level up your denim game. Yes, jeans and denim jackets are forever staples, but that doesn’t mean you should play it safe. In 2025, there are four major denim trends that will make your wardrobe feel fresh, cool, and right on time.
You don’t need to overhaul your closet to tap into these trends—just swap in a couple of updated pairs of jeans or a new jacket. The beauty of denim is its versatility—your favorite gray sweatshirt will look even better paired with embellished jeans or flares than with those worn-out jeans you’ve been dodging the laundry with for months.
Let’s break it down.
1. Denim for Doing Stuff
Louis Vuitton Fall 2025 runway at Paris Fashion Week.
Jeans were born from workwear, and this year, that heritage is coming back in a big way. Think double-knee reinforcements, extra pockets, and even tool loops—functional details that make denim feel rugged and purposeful again.
Esquire’s senior market and style editor, Alfonso Fernández Navas, spotted this trend at Paris Fashion Week, with designers like Junya Watanabe and Louis Vuitton leaning into denim’s hardworking roots. “As the proverb goes, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going,'” he says. “Jeans are begging to get back to work.”
Get the Look:
🔹 Levi’s 568 Loose Straight Cargo Jeans – $98
🔹 Abercrombie & Fitch Baggy Workwear Jeans – $100
🔹 Alex Mill Painter Pants – $185
2. Double Denim
Saquon Barkley shows up to Super Bowl LIX in double denim.
The Canadian tuxedo has gone global. Wearing denim on denim is a power move in 2025, and the trick is to match your washes. Whether you go for an all-black look, a cowboy-inspired light wash, or bold patchwork, keeping it cohesive makes all the difference.
Esquire’s commerce editor, Luke Guillory, swears by the look: “Double denim needs to feel like you just threw it on. Think Martin Sheen in Badlands, Kendrick Lamar, Ralph Lauren, or Serge Gainsbourg—it’s the carefree attitude that makes it cool.”
Get the Look:
🔹 Wrangler Cowboy Cut Unlined Denim Jacket – $55
🔹 Levi’s x E by END. Type II Trucker Jacket – $239
🔹 Lee x Buck Mason Loomstate Selvedge Denim Jacket – $398
3. A Flair for Flares
Kendrick Lamar rocks flare jeans at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
Western wear is making a full comeback, and flared jeans are leading the charge. Kendrick Lamar solidified the trend during his Super Bowl halftime performance, proving that bootcut is back—whether you’re hitting the streets or the rodeo.
If you’re hesitant about flares, start with a classic bootcut pair and some cowboy boots. The silhouette is easier to pull off than you think.
Get the Look:
🔹 Wrangler Relaxed-Fit Bootcut Jeans – $29
🔹 Levi’s 517 Bootcut Jeans – $98
🔹 7 for All Mankind Airweft Brett Bootcut Jeans – $248
4. Embellished Denim
Timothée Chalamet embracing embellishments at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.
Plain jeans? Boring. This year, it’s all about denim with personality—think studs, embroidery, patchwork, and intricate designs on back pockets.
Timothée Chalamet has already been spotted rocking flared, embellished jeans, proving that this trend is all about going bold. Whether you opt for subtle detailing or full-on statement jeans, don’t be afraid to have fun with it.
Denim is evolving, but it’s still one of the easiest ways to make a statement. Whether you’re into workwear, doubling down on denim, embracing the western revival, or adding some embellishments, 2025 is all about wearing jeans your way.