There are things in life that are just there. Gravity, Monday mornings and classic jeans. You don’t question them. And then there are things that emerge and divide the nation. Pineapple on pizza, the new season of your favorite series and yes, apparently pants too.
The Barrel Jeans is one such case. Hardly any other cut gets people as excited as these trousers, which look as if they have their own opinion on the subject of legroom. Some shout: “Finally something new!”, others quietly pray for the return of skinny jeans. Or at least for a time when pants were just pants and not exciting. I? I stand there and enjoy myself. Because let’s be honest: they’re pants. No reason for high blood pressure.
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The fairy tale of the “misshapen” barrel jeans
Whenever people talk about barrel jeans, one word comes up: shapeless.
I have to grin every time. Shapeless compared to what? The perfect hourglass figure that has been sold to us as the ultimate for decades? To the ideal that clothing is supposed to make us “slim”? Or just shapeless because it doesn’t stick tightly to the body?
For me, this word contains so much judgment. So much pressure. And honestly? That bores me. Of course, you can use fashion to emphasize your assets and hide the areas you may have problems with. But that’s always just your own view of things. Because others often find exactly the things about us great that we ourselves would prefer to hide. You know?
The barrel shape is a good example. It is cut narrow at the top, then becomes very wide towards the knee, often even has a dart there so that it stands out even more, and then narrows again towards the ankle. The result is a silhouette that you don’t see on every corner. She is different. And that’s exactly what makes them interesting. She breaks with what we are used to. By the way, mine is so dark blue that you can only see the cut at second glance. An entry-level model, so to speak. Hehe.
“What matters is whether you wear the pants or whether they wear you.”
Combining barrel jeans: Proportions are not a law
Sure, we can now philosophize about proportions. About the golden ratio, about optical lines and about how to design an outfit “harmoniously” if you want to combine barrel jeans. A short top with wide trousers. A long coat that stretches. Bla bla bla.
All of this can work. But it doesn’t have to.
I certainly haven’t seen a fashion code that says, “You shouldn’t wear baggy pants with baggy tops.” And if there was, I would probably use it as kindling for the next barbecue. So if I had a charcoal grill… 😀 Maybe it could also be used as a base for a crooked piece of furniture.
Fashion that is really good does not come about through rules. It comes from feeling. Through personality. The fact that someone puts something on and simply feels unbeatable in it. No matter what the self-appointed fashion police say about it on Instagram or elsewhere.
A walk through real life
Last week I was out and about in the Gärtnerplatzviertel in Munich. When you open your eyes, you quickly realize how far away the slick influencer world is from reality. The people there didn’t look like something out of a catalog. They looked like themselves.
There was a guy with a bright red coat and green pants. A woman with a huge vintage blazer who has probably experienced more than me. A combination of a leather jacket and a lace dress, the material of which reminded me of the stor at my grandmother’s and she just screamed: “I don’t care!”
I’m sure none of them asked themselves in the mirror whether this was “advantageous”. It was just style. Personal, honest, lively style.
And that’s exactly where fashion begins for me. Not on the catwalk, not in glossy magazines, but on the street. In real life.
My look: This is how barrel jeans can be combined
My outfit in the pictures is my very personal suggestion on how to combine barrel jeans. The pants are the basis. Modern, comfortable and yes, a bit “bulky”.
I also wear pieces that have proven themselves in my closet. The checked jacket from THE BRITISH SHOP (from a collaboration) from last year is one such piece. Even though she’s only been with me for a season, I’ve been asked about it many times. Probably because she has that timeless British charm that just can’t be killed.
Underneath I’m wearing a wool jacket from the current collaboration with THE BRITISH SHOP. And I’ll tell it like it is: This thing is a workhorse. Goes with jeans, trousers, over dresses. A piece that doesn’t scream, but instantly makes any outfit better. Timeless, but not boring. That’s how I like it.
Fashion is like life, always changing
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there are no guarantees in fashion. What is considered “brave” today will be normal tomorrow. And what we all wore yesterday is now gathering dust in the back corner of the closet. Just think of the skinny jeans. For years it was the irrefutable law. Today? It almost seems like a relic from another time that is currently being predicted to make a comeback. And the same will happen to Barrel Jeans. Maybe she’ll stay. Maybe she’ll go. Doesn’t matter anyway.
In the end, only one thing counts
Whether your pants are tight, wide, flared, or barrel-shaped, that doesn’t determine good style. What matters is whether you carry her or whether she carries you. Clothing is best when it enhances personality and doesn’t try to hide it. When you realize that the person in it is simply themselves. And if that means wearing pants that look like a barrel, then please do so with full conviction.
And now you! Do you dare to stick to the barrel or do you stick with tried and tested cuts? Tell me in the comments! And since we’re already here together: Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter. It comes once a week, whenever a new post appears, and tells you a little more about what’s currently on my mind.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by here. That means a lot to me. Have a nice Sunday and a good week.
THANK YOU 🖤
Details – Advertising:
jeans
Levis – I haven’t seen my model anywhere – ahem – but I really like this one at the moment – via Breuni (affiliate link). This one from BonPrix (affiliate link) is cheaper. And in terms of price, these barrel jeans from COS (affiliate link) are right in the middle.
Turtleneck:
Esprit – shortly before the label finally launched, they released a really good knitwear collection. This is where the wheelchair comes from. I think it’s a shame that Esprit is gone. Probably no one is buying a turtleneck at the moment – but a great cardigan in orange is a great companion all year round – via & other stories (affiliate link).
Wool jacket and checked jacket
both come from collaborations with THE BRITISH SHOP – but the checked jacket is coming back this year and I recently showed you the wool jacket with this wonderful combination.
breakthrough
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