I Tried a Pair of Polarizing Barrel Jeans from Madewell, and I’m Surprised by How Well They Flatter My Wide Hips

Finally, a jean trend I can get behind

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Published Aug 1, 2024

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madewell darted barrel-jeans review univ

Olivia Dubyak for PureWow/Madewell

Aesthetic: 18/20
Fit: 19/20
Quality: 20/20
Value: 18/20
Comfort: 20/20

TOTAL: 95/100

I'm not one to fall into short-term trends, especially when it comes to denim, but when I saw that Madewell released their own version of those controversial barrel jeans, I knew I had to test them out for myself. In case you didn't know, this denim trend is causing quite the style debate on social media due to the, shall we say, unique silhouette, which features a flare at the thigh and tapering towards the bottom, essentially creating a "horseshoe," or bow-legged, shape.

If I was going to try this trend, I knew I had to do it right by testing a pair by a brand who rarely (if at all) does denim wrong. Madewell is by far my favorite jean brand, and the Darted Barrel-Leg jeans ($148) are my favorite version of the style I've seen so far. They have more of a straight-leg shape to them, making them less baggy and more contoured, which instantly caught my attention when I saw them online. But do they actually flatter my mid-size figure? Here are my thoughts after taking them for a whirl IRL.

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What Are Barrel-Leg Jeans?

The barrel jean silhouette consists of baggier legs with outer seams that bow out to the side for a more structured, curved look. (They're also known as horseshoe or balloon jeans.) The inner seam is similar to that of a straight-leg style, and they can be cropped or full-length. Most barrel jeans on the market have clean hems and no rips in them.

Madewell

My Review of the Madewell Darted Barrel-Leg Jeans

Because I've seen barrel jeans styled on a lot of thin, narrower shaped bodies, I wanted to see how they would lay on my wide hips and thicker thighs. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised with the fit of Madewell's version. They have a five-button closure and hit above my waist, plus they're made from the brand's 100 percent cotton, old-school denim. While there isn't much stretch, they already feel broken in right out of the gate and are super soft, so I don't feel uncomfortable when I sit down.

Now, when it comes to the most controversial part of these jeans (the leg shape), I can confidently say that I do like it on my body. The brand notes that the pants run a little large—I got my regular size, so they have a bit of bagginess to them, but not too much. The darts at the knees also add some more shape to them.

Because these jeans have a more subtle barrel effect on the sides of the legs, I do think that, combined with thicker thighs, the shape appears less dramatic. I usually opt for jeans with more structure that fit tighter (like a nice pair of straight-leg jeans) and was worried with the width of the leg shape of these ones that it would make my hips look wider. To my surprise, because of the fitted waist and space before the side seams barrel out, it actually does the opposite, making my waist and hips look narrower with the width of the legs.

Overall, I do love the jeans, but I think they look the best when styled with a fitted top in order to add some contrast to their silhouette. This pair is a bit cropped, which I like, and I think makes them more suited for a casual ensemble versus a dressier one, though I will say the length shortens me a bit. (For reference, I'm 5-foot, 8-inches tall.) There is also a little bit of gapping at the waist, but I prefer that to jeans that are totally fitted to my tummy.

Olivia Dubyak for PureWow

Are Barrel-Leg Jeans the Same as Mom Jeans?

Barrel-leg jeans can be a hybrid of either straight-leg jeans and/or mom jeans with a twist. The outer legs curve outward on the trendy style, but if they were angled straight down, they would basically be the same as either jean. Some of the barrel-leg styles have a baggier shape like mom jeans, while others are a little more contoured to the leg like straight-leg ones.

Olivia Dubyak for PureWow

What Body Type Are Barrel-Leg Jeans For?

This is definitely subjective, and depends on your own taste and what you feel comfortable in. While I haven't seen many videos or photos of barrel-leg jeans styled on mid- to plus-size bodies, as a mid-sized, postpartum girlie, I had to see them on myself to decide if I liked the style on me. And, as I reported above, I do love the way this specific Madewell pair complements my shape, though that might not be the case with other versions.

Bottom Line

These jeans are not going to be everyone's cup of tea, and I can't foresee them being a trend that ends up sticking around like oversized blazers or even straight-leg jeans, but if you opt for a more subtle pair of barrel-leg jeans like this darted style from Madewell, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much wear you get out of them—I know I am.

$148 at Madewell

Olivia Dubyak

Commerce Editor

Covers commerce content, including personal and collaborative reviews and product roundups across beauty, home, fashion and family verticals
More than 5 years of professional experience in journalism
Studied journalism at Duquesne University

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