The allure of a good pair of jeans is pretty heady stuff, and few styles make for a better all-rounder than the bootcut variety. Once you find the right leg-lengthening pair, you’ll likely give all the other denim in your wardrobe the boot.

Originally the jeans of choice for cowboys and ranch workers, the bootcut earned its title for, well, exactly that — being cut to work in tandem with boots. Tailored from the waist and slightly flared at the ankle, they strike a markedly different air than the recently repopularised wide-leg jeans or the love-it-or-hate-it new style in town, the barrel.

sydney sweeney is seen in gramercy, new york wearing bootcut jeans on march 01, 2024 in new york city photo by gothamgc images
Gotham

If you’re hunting for some denim-spo, Sydney Sweeney’s the one to watch; pictured in Manhattan, her graphic tee tucked into a mid-wash pair of bootcut jeans, with a matching flash of red via a pointed court shoe, the star delivered a masterclass in the power of this particular style.

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Not the only star to cosign, Bella Hadid is known to be a fan. Scroll through the model and founder's Instagram, and you will find plenty of inspiration, be it on the ranch with her new beau or in the city. They have even made their way on set with Dakota Johnson whilst filming her new romcom Materialist. Though Isabel Marant may be the matriarch of the bootcut, (the Marant Etoile Belvira Jean is slightly slouchy and sartorially spot-on), there's a host of denim brands calling for a little cowboycore this year.

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Personally, I love my Cos Pipe Jeans. They add a utilitarian flair that pairs well with slingbacks as well as bulkier boots and shoes. To play up the contrast of the raw denim finish, I opt for something a little slinkier on the top – cue the contrasting sparkly top, or second-skin tank.

For a true classic, 7 For All Mankind’s slightly faded bootcut jean lends well to warm-weather dressing. The faux fold-up stitching around the ankle works nicely with barely there sandals. Similarly, Paige's aptly named Laurel Canyon cut would add an easy injection of the 70s to your wardrobe and is best paired with breezy prairie blouses or an untucked chambray shirt – make Joni Mitchell your inspiration. The cherry on top? A sepia-tinted pair of retro sunglasses.

Laurel Canyon Bootcut Jeans
Paige Laurel Canyon Bootcut Jeans
£280 at NET-A-PORTER
Tailorless Bootcut Jeans
7 For All Mankind Tailorless Bootcut Jeans
Belvira Jeans
Isabel Marant Etoile Belvira Jeans
Le High Flare Jeans
Frame Le High Flare Jeans
Pipe Bootcut Jeans
Cos Pipe Bootcut Jeans
H&M LUPINE High Flared Stretch Jeans
Beauty H&M LUPINE High Flared Stretch Jeans

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