If you know me, you know I love denim—and summer is no exception. From breezy wide-leg jeans to polished jorts, we’re still reaching for our beloved blues right now, but the silhouette we can’t stop seeing everywhere is the barrel leg.
A fave shape among celebrities, models, and influencers alike, barrel jeans are one of the most popular (and controversial) denim styles of the moment. I’ve spotted everyone from Blake Lively and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Gigi Hadid and sister Bella Hadid embracing the baggy, relaxed jeans—ideal for easy summer styling, whether you’re heading to brunch, the office, or post-work drinks.
But if you're struggling to know which shoes to choose to wear with a barrel leg in warm weather, allow us to share some style advice. The key is balancing out the volume of the denim with your shoe choice—whether a slimline sneaker, a polished loafer, or an eye-catching kitten heel. But don't just take our word for it, allow these stylish women to take the lead.
Smarten Them Up With Black Loafers
While denim can sometimes feel like a chill option, we all know “jeans and a nice top” hits the smart casual dress code. Take things one step further with a pair of black or patent loafers, perfect for making your barrel leg feel office or dinner appropriate.
Dress Them Up With a Heeled Flip Flop
For somewhere more on the smart casual scale, opt for a heeled flip flop, which have been spotted on the feet of the most stylish of fashion girlies as of late. Whether you're catching up with friends over brunch or heading for date night, trust us when we say these shoes are versatile.
Throw on a Pair of Trusty Mary Janes
Summer city break? Tick. Sunny Saturday at the bar? Yep. An easy outfit you’ll wear on repeat? Absolutely. Barrel-leg jeans and Mary Janes are a foolproof pairing to reach for right now—polished, practical and perfect for whatever’s in the diary.
Add a Kitten Heel
If you’re leaning into an exaggerated barrel-leg shape, a kitten heel adds just the right amount of height. It helps balance the volume while keeping the focus firmly on the jeans.
Go Casual With Slimline Trainers
For a Princess Diana-inspired off-duty look, pair your barrel jeans with classic Nike sneakers and a simple tee or sweatshirt. Add a tomato-red accessory for a timely pop of color, and consider your next denim outfit sorted.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).
