The Trouser Jeans Guide: Where to Shop + 5 Ways to Style Them in 2026
I have been a fan of trouser jeans for decades; go through the archives of Wardrobe Oxygen and you'll find them mentioned as early as 2005 as a closet favorite. Made from dark denim or denim-looking fabric but replacing the contrast stitching and rivets with more traditional trouser details, this hybrid garment is back in fashion and I couldn't be more thrilled.
Trouser jeans have the ease, comfort, and versatility of jeans but are more polished to look appropriate at the office, elevated to dress up for nights out and social situations, and take your favorite blouses and knits up a notch. Whether you're pulling a pair out from the back of your closet or shopping for your first, I've got you covered: the best places to buy trouser jeans for every size and budget, plus five ways to style them right now.
TL;DR
The Quick Version
- Trouser jeans are wide-leg or straight-leg denim styled to look like dress trousers: comfort of jeans, polish of a trouser.
- They're having a major moment in 2026, seen on runways and styled by celebrities.
- Best places to shop: Chico's, Abercrombie, Judy Blue, Halara
- Style them for work with a blazer + loafers, or dress them down with a tee + clean sneaker.
- They work across petite, tall, plus, and curvy fits: see the full shopping guide below.
The Trouser Jean Trend for 2026
Trouser jeans are a trend that has faded in and out of fashion for a couple of decades now. Never completely passé, but sometimes a stronger focus than other times.
I saw the trouser jean trend heating up in Fall 2024 when designers like Victoria Beckham and Tory Burch showcased them in their runway shows. The trend continued into this fall's runway shows where designers like Zimmermann and Willy Chavarria featured denim trousers with tailored details. Denim trousers have been all over street style in the past year, and seen on stylish grown-ass celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes, and Zoe Saldana.
Trouser jean leg opening and rise depends on personal preference, but the most timeless option is also the most stylish right now: a mid- to high-rise with a loose straight to wide leg. Hemline should be just above the ground, depending on the height of your shoe. Wash is usually dark, but runways have also shown lighter washes as well as colors like cream and black.
It's 2026, and this trend has trickled down to major retailers. Let's break down the best places to shop for trouser jeans you'll love to wear now and years from now, and then I'll share ways to style them.
Where to Shop for Trouser Jeans
When it comes to trouser jeans, fit matters. In this day and age, tailoring is often necessary, but I created this shopping guide to offer the broadest range of sizes, shapes, and needs for our different bodies (as well as a good range of price points for all budgets).
Petite
What to look for: petite cuts will have a rise that hits at the right place, and less likely a need to be tailored. Consider front seams and creases to elongate the leg line.
Where to shop:
- Chico's: Chico's is a sleeper hit for denim, and makes classic yet chic denim trousers in petite up to size 18. These high-rise trouser jeans are an elegant classic.
- Talbots: One of the few places that offers petite plus, Talbots regularly carries trouser jeans and offers them in 0-22P. These travel trouser jeans are a pull-on style that looks great and is comfy enough for a flight. Read my full Talbots denim review here.
- Joe's: Known for high-end denim that fits great, Joe's offers many styles of petite jeans in sizes 23-34 including this wide-leg style.
Plus Size
What to look for: a higher rise is less likely to segment the body and will give a smoother effect under untucked tops.
Where to shop:
- Torrid: While you need to look out for overly creative options, Torrid always has at least one style of clean and chic trouser jeans in sizes 10-30 along with a range of inseam lengths. This lightweight version is stylish and perfect for spring and early summer.
- Universal Standard: Known for its great fitting size-inclusive denim (sizes 00-40 with occasional inseam options), Universal Standard always has at least one style of trouser jean. This style is made to be comfortable and is also part of the Fit Liberty program.
- Spanx: Spanx makes great looking denim that is also quite comfortable. It's also one of the few places with plus tall and plus petite offering XS-3X in petite, misses, and tall. I think these are really chic.
Curvy Fit
What to look for: extra room through the hip and thigh with a proportional waist, ideally a yoke or curved waistband. Patch and rounded pockets give a smoother effect than slash or on-seam pockets that can buckle with curves.
Where to shop:
- Abercrombie & Fitch: A&F has come a long way and is a surprisingly great denim destination for women of all ages offering curve fit in sizes 23-38. This trouser jean is elegant, high quality, and comes in 4 inseam lengths.
- LOFT: LOFT offers most of its jeans and pants in regular and curvy fit, including its trouser jeans. And all curvy styles are available in regular, petite, and tall sizes 24-34. This pair‘s wide leg and clean finish look expensive for the price
- Ann Taylor: The refined big sister of LOFT, Ann Taylor truly understands elevated business casual separates like trouser jeans. Having a curvy fit in most styles of pants and jeans in Misses 0-18 and Petite 00-16; I like this sleeker option of a trouser jean.
Tall
What to look for: inseams of at least 32″ and tall cuts will offer the length you desire. Higher rises are more likely to hit at a comfortable place on the torso.
Where to shop:
- Gap: Gap is back, baby, and again a great destination for denim trends like trouser jeans. Not only that, Gap offers Tall in sizes 00-20. This pleated trouser jean is a personal fave.
- Lands' End: While best known for coats and swimsuits, Lands' End has become one of my favorite places for denim. Not just for style and quality, Lands' End has a great size range with Tall in sizes 6-18 and many long lengths available in Misses 2-18. These trouser jeans look comfortable and have that iconic Lands' End quality.
- Boden: If you desire a bit more length, Boden offers its talls with a 33″ inseam and sizes 26-33. This pair IMO is very cool.
Stretch & Comfort
What to look for: You want enough stretch to feel comfortable all day without the fabric bagging out or losing its shape. Look for styles with a small percentage of elastane (under 5%), and consider a higher rise so the waistband doesn't dig when you sit.
Where to shop:
- NYDJ: The G.O.A.T. for quality stretch jeans, NYDJ offers Misses 00-18, petite 00P-18P, plus 14W-28W, and some styles in tall 00T-18T. This highly-rated denim trouser jean comes in a range of colors, washes, and prints.
- Judy Blue: A favorite with women with soft curves, Judy Blue jeans have amazing stretch for comfort and great fit. Their denim trousers are available in sizes 0-24W.
- J.Jill: J.Jill makes soft and stretchy denim that looks great and comes in a fantastic size range: regular 2-28, petite 00P-18P, and tall 4T-18T. These lyocell trousers look like denim but have an elasticized waist and breezy flow that is great for comfort, especially in spring and summer.
Sustainable / Ethical
What to look for: certified sustainable denim, organic cotton, ethical manufacturing.
Where to shop:
- Eileen Fisher: Sustainable and size-inclusive, Eileen Fisher's trouser jeans are chic and available in sizes S-3X and petite sizes PP-PL.
- Poetry: Made from indigo dyed organic cotton and hemp denim, these denim trousers are ethical and elegant. Sizes 2-18 with regular and long inseams.
- Wool&: Known for merino dresses, Wool& also has a pair of trouser jeans from 9% cotton, 39% wool, 2% elastane, and 100% sustainable style in sizes 26-34.
Budget-Friendly
What to look for: dark washes and styles free of embellishment or creative washes will look more expensive while also being more versatile and timeless.
Where to shop:
- Halara: Halara is known for activewear and pants but also makes a really great stretch trouser jean that is usually on sale under $60 and part of a buy X and get Y free promotion. Not only that, this style is available in a dozen washes, sizes 0/2-24W/26W with misses available in three lengths.
- Lee: An American brand around for over 125 years, these trouser jeans come in two washes, sizes 2-30W, three inseams, and retails for less than $60.
- J. Crew Factory: The same preppy classic vibe as its big sister, J. Crew Factory translates the aesthetic for less. These denim trousers are classic, under $70, and available in sizes 27-35 with petite and tall options.
How to Style Trouser Jeans in 2026
Denim trousers are as versatile, and in some ways, more versatile than your favorite jeans. The denim grounds the look casually, while the trouser silhouette elevates it. They work year-round but are especially powerful in spring and early summer. The key is treating them like a trouser: let them be the ‘dressed-up denim' option in your wardrobe.
How to Style Trouser Jeans for Work
Trouser jeans are one of the easiest ways to do business casual denim; they read as a proper trouser from a distance.
shop the collage: blazer | blouse | trouser jeans | glasses (I own) | earrings | work tote (I own) | phone case (I own) | belt (I own) | loafers
A dark wash or black reads more professional; keep lighter washes for creative workplaces. Elevate the look with loafers and boots in place of sandals and sneakers.
How to Style Trouser Jeans with Sneakers
The trouser + sneaker combo is definitely having a moment right now so this combo works great.
shop the collage: sweater (I own) | trouser jeans | bag | sneakers | lipstick | necklace (I own) | earrings | bracelet (I own)
Keep the look modern with low-profile retro-inspired sneakers and shorter or tucked-in styles to showcase the trouser jean silhouette.
How to Style Trouser Jeans for Spring/Early Summer
Trouser jeans in lighter washes and/or lighter-weight fabrics are stellar for the warmer months.
shop the collage: linen shirt | trouser jeans | hat | sunglasses | necklace | tote | sandals | skin tint | lip stain
Go Coastal Chic with breezy linen or glam up a simple tank or camisole. Go casual with birkenstocks or espadrilles, or glam up with a strappy sandal with wedge or block heel to balance the leg opening.
How to Style Trouser Jeans for a Night Out or Elevated Occasion
A dark wash or black trouser jean can absolutely work for a night out and creative elevated occasions.
shop the collage: blouse | trouser jeans (I own) | earrings | ring (I own) | belt | bag | eyeshadow (I own) lip oil | shoes
On top, focus on fabrics that read evening (chiffon, lace) or catch the light (silk, satin, beading, velvet) and keep accessories elevated. Choose a clutch over a shoulder bag, shoes with heels or from formal fabrics, and jewelry with some sparkle.
How to Style Trouser Jeans with a Graphic Tee
I personally love this combination: trouser jeans elevate a graphic tee without losing the comfort. And if you are permitted to style a graphic tee for the workplace, trouser jeans are a great pairing.
shop the collage: cardigan | t-shirt | trouser jeans | glasses | belt (I own) | tote | earrings | lip oil (I own) | sneakers
Tuck in the tee, add a belt, and consider a top layer (cardigan, soft jacket, even a scarf). Dress it up with loafers or block heel boots, or keep the casual vibe going with low-profile sneakers.
FAQ
What are trouser jeans?
Trouser jeans are a style of denim designed to mimic the look of dress trousers. They typically have a high rise, a wider or straight leg, and a cleaner finish than traditional jeans. The result is a pant with the comfort of denim but polished enough for work, dinner, or occasions where regular jeans feel too casual.
Are trouser jeans in style in 2026?
Yes! Trouser jeans have been trending since Fall 2024 and remain a strong option in 2026. Designers including Victoria Beckham and Tory Burch sent dark-wash denim trousers down their runways, and the style has been embraced by celebrities like Katie Holmes and Jennifer Lopez. The wide-leg and trouser silhouettes in general continue to dominate denim trends as an alternative to skinny jeans.
How should I style trouser jeans for work?
For work, pair trouser jeans in a dark wash with a blazer and loafers or a pointed-toe flat. A blouse or a refined knit also works well. The key is to treat them like you would a pair of dress trousers; the denim is what keeps it casual enough to be considered smart business casual in most offices.
What shoes look best with trouser jeans?
Loafers and ankle boots are the most versatile choice: they balance the wide leg without competing with it. Other great options include pointed-toe flats, kitten heels, wider-strap sandals, and low-profile sneakers provide a casual look. Avoid very chunky or platform soles, which can overwhelm the silhouette.
Can petite women wear trouser jeans?
Absolutely! I'm 5'3″ and love trouser jeans. The key is to seek out true petite fits, not just shorter inseams. Also look for lighter-weight denim, which drapes better and won't add bulk to a shorter frame.
Where can I find trouser jeans in plus sizes?
Trouser jeans are a trend that is available in a beautiful size range. I found great plus size trouser jeans at Universal Standard, Torrid, NYDJ, Talbots, J.Jill, Lands' End, and more. Look for styles with a curved or contoured waistband to minimize gaping, and a rise that works with your proportions.
Shop My Picks for Trouser Jeans:
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Thank you so much for this post, Alison! I have already been wearing this style in recent months, and I adore it! It works perfectly for my “chic grandma” lifestyle–sturdy, comfortable, and stylish. I have some on at this very moment (I ordered mine from Madewell.). After I loved the first pair, I ordrered another, so I have a dark denim pair and a black pair. These have been great for daily wear, travel, and even for going for long walks in the nearby woods (as long as it’s not too muddy from the PNW winter rains.)
I love trouser jeans and had a favorite pair of medium wash, side-zip, high waisted, wide leg ones with a 33 inseam that I wore until they fell apart. In retrospect, I wish I’d had a tailor create a new pair using the old one as a template.
Anyway, in today’s world, it’s interesting to see what is labeled as a trouser jean — I see some of the same metal buttons, riveted pockets, and weird hems as regular jeans, just with wider legs.
Also, for those of us who are apple shaped, finding jeans, ANY jeans, is an exercise in frustration. I don’t know why there’s a curvy fit, which has come to mean an hourglass shape with big hips, butt, thighs and small waist, but no equivalent apple shape, with a larger waist and small hips, butt, and thighs. Some people suggest wearing men’s jeans, which is ridiculous, as the thighs are huge and cannot be taken in, and the rise is short. And then there’s the ubiquitous suggestion to wear maternity jeans, which again, do not work for multiple reasons, the main one being that an apple shape is not a pregnant woman shape.
A specific jean recommendation from apple-shaped readers welcomed!
I would try Judy Blue, which has great stretch and bounceback and is often recommended by fellow apple shapes. https://go.shopmy.us/p-44481678 I also know Talbots is often recommended, and I have found to work well with my belly. I like the wash and design of these from Talbots; I think the seaming is a cool detail https://bit.ly/4qWXY3f and the pull-on style is also a great concept and doesn’t add bulk at the midsection https://bit.ly/4cMT31b