The 7 Best Non-Skinny Jeans to Buy this Fall

Are skinny jeans out? Kind of! But, if you love them, wear them! However, if you want to branch out, these are my favorite styles. I’m almost 40 and these are mom-approved.

For most of my adult life, I pretty much only wore skinny leg jeans and skinny-fit work trousers. And to be honest, I was hesitant to try other styles, but over the last few years my denim collection has shifted to 40 pairs of jeans with only TWO skinny jeans (note, you do NOT need that many pairs of jeans – I buy a lot to help you shop since it’s my job! I have a blog post dedicated to the best Abercrombie jeans and another post all about Madewell denim.)

Now that I’ve found a few different styles that are really flattering, I actually feel more comfortable in looser fitting jean styles and it’s pretty much all I wear these days.

Today, I’m sharing 7 different pairs of jeans (at a bunch of different price points) to help you dip your toe into the non-skinny jean world as fall approaches. And now is a great time to start your shopping because a ton of the jeans below are included in this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary sale.

The 7 Best Non-Skinny Jeans to Buy this Fall

I’m very petite — 5’1″ — so I was skeptical of some trends that I’ve seen look great on taller ladies, but I quickly found that I have been missing out on some really great pants that work even on my petite frame. I’m typically a size 27, so I noted sizing tips based on that, whether they are true-to-size (TTS), run large or run small.

1. Pistola Lennon High Waist Ankle Bootcut Jeans

First up is my new favorite style of jeans (from my new favorite brand), the Lennon High Waist Ankle Bootcut Jeans by Pistola. These are fitted through the leg and then flare around mid-shin to a baby kick flare, and they’re cropped a little short. They’re stretchy (but they don’t stretch out and look bad after hours of wear) and comfortable enough to wear for a full day. I also appreciate that they actually give me a butt, whereas some jeans sort of flatten everything back there.

The little kick flare at the bottom makes choosing the right shoes to wear with these really easy. I wear mine most often with sneakers, but you can easily style them with loafers, ballet flats, sandals, and heels. The cropped kick flare shows off your ankle and your shoes, which is super flattering.

The wash I’m wearing in the photos below is called the Caravan but the Milano wash is available (and on sale) at Nordstrom right now.

I wear a size 26 (they’re stretchy, so go down a size if you’re in-between sizes), and I’m 5’1″ so the crop will hit a little higher on most.

2. Abercrombie Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean

The Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jeans from Abercrombie are a little bit different than the Pistola pair above. They don’t have a kick flare, and they aren’t stretchy. If you like a more rigid “true” denim, then you’ll love these. They’re cropped and hit above the ankle, and the hips and thighs area is still fitted (and really flattering), but the jeans get more relaxed around the knee.

A nice perk of these jeans is that they’re always under $100, and they have pretty consistent sales that make them around $75. They look great with all shoes except tall boots. I wear them most often with loafers, sneakers, booties, and sandals.

I love this style so much that I own it in 4 (maybe 5?) washes. I have an entire review of the Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jeans linked here. I have a size 26 in these, but if you’re on the fence, size up. I like the Curve Love fit (which has a little more room in the hips and thighs)

3. MOTHER Insider Crop Step Jeans

The MOTHER Denim jeans I own are called the Insider Crop Step Fray and they remind me a lot of the Pistola pair linked above. The difference is the price tag (MOTHER is really expensive), but I can’t tell you how many compliments I get when I wear them. They have the most flattering bum of any jeans I own, and they’re comfortable, stretchy, and the washes are beautiful.

The Insider Crop Step jeans come with finished and raw hems, and I prefer the raw. The “Step” part of the name comes from the cut of the kick flare – it’s longer in the back than the front. This makes them look extra flattering from all angles. They’re significantly cropped (I’m 5’1″, so they hit at the perfect spot on my ankles), but they may feel too cropped for some. If you’re 5’6″ or taller, I recommend you try the MOTHER Hustler jean. It’s almost identical to the Insider, but it has a little more length (and the Hustler is included in the Nordstrom Anniversary sale).

Similarly to both pairs above, these jeans look great with any shoes (other than tall boots).

MOTHER denim sizing seems inconsistent. I have a size 25 in these, but the size 26 in a different wash that I tried on at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale was too small. So perhaps order two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit as well and be sure to read about each wash and fit as you browse.

4. Pistola Penny High Rise Wide Leg

Now for a non-blue pair of jeans. The Pistola Penny High Rise Wide Leg jeans are one of my favorite things to wear. Mine are in the Bluff color-way, which is such a nice change from my traditional blue jeans. They’re fitted through the bum and wide through the leg. And the high waisted fit (without front pockets) is super flattering. I love wearing these with platform heels to show off the shoe, or with sneakers for a more casual “cool” look.

I got my true size 27 in these since they’re not quite as stretchy as the Pistola Lennon pair above.

5. Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans

The Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans are a great first pair to try when branching into non-skinny jeans because they’re crazy affordable. As I’m writing this post, they are marked down to less than $40 on Amazon!

I bought these jeans when I was newly postpartum and sized up so that they’d fit well, and I felt so comfortable (and confident), which says a lot, since jeans and postpartum aren’t usually a dynamic duo. They have a rigid “true” denim feel, and the leg is relaxed throughout. They aren’t cropped on me, but they would be on someone taller (I’m 5’1″). I wear these most often with flat shoes like loafers, but they work well with sandals too! They’re also a good jean to wear with booties (if you’re taller than me), since they’ll hit right above your ankle and “kiss” the top of the booties, which is flattering.

Since these are so affordable, go ahead and order them just to try. Free shipping and returns from Amazon. The fit is TTS.

6. KUT from the Kloth Meg High Waist Raw Hem Ankle Wide Leg Jeans

I bought the KUT from the Kloth Meg High Waist Raw Hem Ankle Wide Leg Jeans during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year and WOW they are good (KUT was the only brand of jeans I bought from the sale because I liked them so much). They’re stretchy, flattering, a great everyday wash, and they are so affordable at under $100. I got a size 2, and the length I own is the regular, although I should try petite for length purposes (I’m 5’1″ so they’re a tad long on me, since they are meant to be cropped). I got a size 2 and they are TTS.

I also bought the same jeans in a patch pocket edition with a finished hem for a more polished look. I love both!

7. AGOLDE Harper Ankle Wide Jeans

The Harper Ankle Wide Jeans by AGOLDE feel like they were tailor-made for me. They fit in the waist perfectly and have room for my bum, but they’re also fitted and sort of “hug” my bum at the same time. I’m 5’1″, so they’re long (and I’ll likely have them hemmed to the right length), but with heels they are absolutely perfect. I own these in the Tempo wash which is a really pretty, classic wash. I love that it’s dark without feeling too dressy. I love that they are fitted in the thigh but then fall straight down into a relaxed leg; just SO, flattering.

I’d consider these a perfect truly straight jean. I wear a size 26.

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