The birds are chirping, the snow is starting to melt—a new season is around the corner, and there’s no better way to greet it than with a fresh crop of denim trends. The spring 2026 denim trends might pick up where we left off for fall, highlighting plenty of styles that we’ve seen grown traction on the runway—think bootcut, skinny, and baggy—alongside those favored by celebrities, and the ones that made a serious social impact on our feeds. To get the scoop on what’s trickling in for spring/summer 2026, we went straight to denim experts from our favorite brands, such as Frame, Levi’s, Still Here, and Agolde—hitting all the notes on cut, proportion, and washes.
The Experts’ Guide to Spring’s Top Denim Trends:
A nostalgic mood within the denim market is still going strong, but there is no one-size-fits-all silhouette here. You’ll find low-rise baggy styles with wide-legs and a Y2K attitude in the mix, alongside slim cigarette silhouettes nodding to the ‘80s. Bootcut jeans are also back for another round, proving that having an array of styles is your best move for spring 2026, not just focusing on one distinct silhouette. However, what surprised us most was the variety in washes—everything from deep indigo rinses to soft grays (no surprise with the groutfit hype), warm browns, and colored denim in sunset shades of yellow and pinks—something we haven’t seen in awhile.
Ahead, the top denim trends for spring 2026—each with expert-approved commentary and the styles to get the look now.
Indigo Rising
Across the spring/summer 2026 runways, we couldn’t help but notice that indigo washes reigned supreme. Khaite featured a slimmer cigarette style in a deep rinse (slightly more straight-leg than skinny), whereas Victoria Beckham went for full volume with wide-legs in an inky hue. “We are seeing washes really clean up: rinse and dark, bright blues with minimal sanding or dry processing feel most relevant,” says Kate Keyes, chief marketing officer of Frame. “Ultimately, it is about creating a chic, clean jean that complements the complexity of a woman’s life.” Many heritage denim brands are leaning into this philosophy, offering bestselling styles in darker washes. “We’re continuing to see strong response to our classic Slim Lasso, the style we built the brand on,” says Claire Lampert, co-founder and creative director of B Sides, whose relaxed barrel-leg shape gets an inky treatment for spring. Shop all our favorites, from updated stovepipes to trouser jeans—and, of course, classic straight-legs.
The Low-Rise Effect
Low-rise is a heavy hitter in the trends playbook again this season. “We are seeing the rise drop again naturally—girls are already wearing denim hip-slung and sizing up for that oversized look—so we designed new silhouettes with a true low-rise built in, across both slim and wide-legs, to meet her where she already is,” says Meredith Kahn, head of design at Re/Done. Across the board, “low-rise is still very much here and it is not going anywhere anytime soon,” Keyes adds. From a trouser-leg jean at Citizens of Humanity with a “clean, leg-lengthening line and effortless wearability,” says the brand’s creative director Marianne Gallagher McDonald, to “relaxed silhouettes that keep ‘90s nostalgia alive,” says Jill Guenza, vice president of women’s apparel design at Levi Strauss & Co. (their introduction of the Loose Boot is the brand’s latest iteration in the baggy trend), take your pick from a variety of leg shapes. Luckily, that doesn’t mean just baggy anymore. “For us, it is proof that when the proportions are right, low-rise reads modern, and sleek, not nostalgic,” says Gallager McDonald.
Bootcut and Beyond
“Bootcut will be the move in 2026”, says Keyes. “It feels like the natural evolution of the wide-leg moment and offers a bit more polish while still feeling effortless.” Many brands are aiming to blend different decades, resulting in fresh iterations of the trend. Still Here is leaning into pure nostalgia with their new boot shape. “We’re introducing a new wash and an updated fit of our first-ever skinny-leg, low-rise bootcut jean: the Tomorrow jean—a style that feels especially relevant again,” says Sonia Mosseri, co-founder and creative director of Still Here. Blending ’70s and early 2000s nostalgia seamlessly, the jean was already spotted on Jennifer Lawrence in the fall—one to grab quickly. Alternatively, Mother worked with longtime friend Paige Reifler to create her dream jeans, a mid-rise straight-leg with a bit of a kick. “The fit is designed around her personal style and vintage preferences, pulling inspiration from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” says Tim Kaeding, creative director and co-founder of Mother. Here, it’s all about a mix of references to create modernity.
Cigarette and Slim-Legs
“Leg shapes are getting straighter, slimmer, and more elongated as we look toward spring 2026,” says Kahn. These slimmer cuts allow the natural figure to take center stage, rather than concealing it underneath volume. “There’s a growing appetite for lower-rise denim paired with more tailored legs—silhouettes that allow the body’s natural form to take focus, rather than hiding it,” adds Karen Phelps, creative director of Agolde. The key is to keep things from feeling or looking to Saran Wrap like. “Slim silhouettes from cigarette legs (like our Wedgie Slim) to skinny bootcuts (like our Low Slim Boot) are emerging as key new shapes; they provide the perfect counterbalance to the ’80s rounded and strong-shouldered silhouettes happening in tops,” Gueza says. Denim weight matters: “We’re seeing a return to a slimmer leg profile—from stovepipe to refined skinny—realized in heavier-weight, low-stretch denim with pronounced surface texture,” says Jac Cameron, founder of Rùadh. Look to the edit below for inspiration to get started.
Alternative Washes
Colored denim might just be the wild card of the season. “Color plays a transformative role, lifting the everyday and reframing the familiar—soft neutrals, earthy tones, and unexpected hues that shift mood and perception,” say Nina Khosla and Talia Shuvalov, the creative directors of Ossou. “The result is a wardrobe that feels grounded yet poetic, where ease becomes expressive and the ordinary is elevated through craft and subtle beauty.” Some brands are experimenting with sun-drenched color, such as Still Here, who will include light pink and burnt orange hues this season, “bringing a fresh, sun-faded energy to the collectsion,” Mosseri says. Whereas Agolde’s Phelps is focusing on “saturated reds, oranges, yellows, and more, that can be styled as a statement or paired back with another monochromatic piece.” And at Citizens of Humanity, “grey is the focus,” says Gallagher McDonald. “After a season dominated by saturated washes, the mood is turning cooler and more refined. Grey wears like a neutral, but reads decidedly directional, bringing polish and edge in equal measure.” Color is most definitely in—but keep to muted shades to nail the trend.
The Modern Tailored Trouser
“We’re excited to see a return to more fitted silhouettes—trouser-like cuts that skim the body—bringing back a sense of femininity and intention in contrast to the dominance of the barrel-leg,” say Khosla and Shuvalov. The modern trouser jean keeps to the slimmer-cut that is trending overall, rather than the ultra-wide legs of yesteryear. “For spring 2026, there’s a clear move toward tailoring within denim,” says Phelps. “We’re seeing strong interest in slimmer-leg jeans, structured shirting, and denim that feels designed rather than distressed. It’s about precision—pieces that are cut to flatter and hold their shape, rather than overwhelm it.” Creases and pleats add even more tailored detailing that feels more of-the-moment, along with crisp hemlines. “More broadly, we’re leaning into tailored, refined silhouettes with finished hems, pieces that blur the line between denim and tailoring and bring a more polished attitude to everyday dressing,” says Gallagher McDonald. Look for these specific details while shopping for this trend.
