Bootcut's Back (Alright!)
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Yep, it’s happening. The thing you thought would never happen. Bootcut jeans are here again. But there’s no need to panic. This is a kinder, gentler bootcut than those bell-bottomed, bedazzled disasters from back in the day. In classic washes with a subtle flare at the ankle, these jeans aren't too far off from your favorite straight-leg denim but still different enough to give any outfit a little oomph.
The Cleanup
Pairing a blazer and jeans is a standard move at this point, so safe that it sometimes feels like a snooze. But when you throw bootcut jeans and pointy boots in the mix? It’s a wake-up call, a jolt of energy that transforms the snoozy into something, well, kinda sexy. Sure, you could wear the combo to the office and notice the Blazer and Jeans 1.0 guys hiding their legs under the conference table in shame. But it’d work even better on date night, when it can be properly appreciated by your partner in crime.
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The Chill-Out
If you’re looking to ease in, start here. The beefier shape of the sneakers downplays the flare of the jeans. You don’t lose the bootcut entirely—where’s the fun in that?—but it reads as more subtle, more familiar for folks transitioning away from slim or straight-leg styles. A washed-out black balances relaxation and refinement, and a (slightly) oversize crewneck sweater with a bold graphic brings that balancing act all the way home.
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The Throwback
Sensing a late-’60s/early-’70s vibe here? That’s no mistake. Channeling the best fashion impulses of the era—like, say, pairing light denim with brown suede—is an easy way to bring the bootcut into your own rotation. Of course, seeing as you’re not swapping your Spotify subscription for an eight-track player, you’ll want to inject some modernity with the fit (slim, not tight) and the rest of the look’s elements, like an exaggerated V-neck and architectural, angular shoes.
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STYLING: RASHAD MINNICK. GROOMING: ROBERTO ALVARADO JR. USING DIOR SAUVAGE. MODELS: OMAR DIONGUE AT MARILYN-NYC; JEAN LAFON AND KHRIS JASPER AT NEXT MODELS.
This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of Esquire Magazine
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