The pandemic has changed us. Deeply. 2022 brings changes in our jeans tastes. Comfort has become a priority, leading to a shift away from slim and tapered fit dominating the denim category.
Many retailers are leaving skinny jeans behind as the desire for more comfortable and relaxed clothing grows due to changes brought about by remote work and cultural shifts. Straight, baggy, or 70s-inspired styles are gaining popularity, with Louis Vuitton, Celine, and Icicle featuring straight-legged models in their 2022 spring-summer collections. The once immensely popular skinny jeans, representing 41% of women’s jeans sales in 2019, have seen a decline due to the pandemic and a trend for more relaxed fits influenced by nostalgia for 90s and 2000s fashion. High-waisted 70s-style models have also made a comeback.
Levi’s chief marketing officer predicts a return of skinny jeans in about ten years, confirming the cyclical nature of fashion. Therefore, it may be unwise to eliminate any jeans from one’s wardrobe, as fashion trends tend to come back around.