THE AUTUMN TRENDS EDIT

Denim has a habit of coming back around, but AW26 is bringing more than just one familiar favourite with it. This season, the focus is on the details: the shapes we’re wearing, the proportions we’re playing with and the washes that are starting to feel fresh again. From the return of the skinny jean to barrel legs, bootcuts and straight fits with a little more room, there are plenty of ways to find your next go-to.

And, as ever, the best clues are coming from the wardrobes we’re watching. From Lila Moss to Kaia Gerber, Burna Boy to Charli XCX, some of fashion’s biggest names are doing denim their own way. Whether it’s a shift in silhouette, a change of colour or simply a new way of styling an old favourite, there’s plenty to take note of.

So, if your denim rotation is feeling ready for a rethink, consider this your starting point. Ten trends, ten very different ways to wear them, and plenty of inspiration for the new season.

If the skinny jean has taught us anything, it’s that denim trends are cyclical - and Lila Moss is proving that some comebacks are worth getting behind. Just when we thought skinny jeans were destined to remain buried beneath a pile of wide-leg and barrel-leg denim, fashion had other plans.

And when your mum is the original supermodel skinny-jean devotee, perhaps it was only a matter of time. Following in Kate Moss’s denim footsteps, Lila is bringing the once-beloved, then controversial silhouette back into focus - proving that some trends really do have staying power.

Don’t worry, you needn’t go straight back to spray-on territory (unless you want to). This time around, the skinny comes in more considered forms, from true skinnies to cigarette and slim-straight cuts. Either way, the message for AW26 is clear: skinny denim is back on the agenda.

There’s a new shape in town, and it’s got curves. Kaia Gerber is bringing barrel-leg denim into focus, with the silhouette adding a little more volume - and a lot more personality - to your everyday jeans.

The appeal is all in the proportions: relaxed through the thigh, curved through the leg and tapered at the ankle. It’s not quite oversized, not quite straight, and all the better for it. And if you really want to lean into the look, extra points if you choose yours in this season’s deep indigo. For AW26, we’re swapping predictable proportions for something with a little more shape.

There’s something about double denim that always finds its way back into the conversation. This time, Burna Boy is giving it a decidedly more dressed-up spin. After bringing his signature style to the FLANNELS stage at O Beach Ibiza this summer in denim jorts and a tank, he stepped out in double denim ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, where he joined Shakira for Dai Dai.

It’s safe to say he doubled down with a little added drama. The lightly washed denim jacket and jeans are both finished with cascading rhinestone embellishments that catch the light, taking the look firmly out of everyday territory. Consider this your cue to double up - and make it count.

Bella Hadid has a way of making even the most familiar denim feel worth looking at again. Here, the straight-leg jean gets a decidedly retro treatment, paired with a fur-trimmed cardigan, pointed boots and oversized sunglasses. The result has all the hallmarks of ’70s dressing, reminding us that straight-leg denim never really went anywhere. For AW26, consider this your cue to revisit the classics. Mid-wash denim, an easy leg and a few well-chosen layers are all it takes to give the everyday jean a little more character.

A little flare goes a long way. Kylie Jenner has been putting bootcut denim back on the radar, pairing a dark-wash pair with a simple white tank and an oversized bag for a courtside appearance in LA. Naturally, beau Timothée Chalamet isn’t far behind, opting for a baggier pair. The internet’s favourite couple have become regulars on the street-style circuit, switching between red-carpet dressing and decidedly more casual outings. It’s a look that feels low-key, slightly retro and very Kylie - exactly the kind of denim formula worth taking into AW26. Consider the bootcut’s return officially sanctioned.

When it comes to denim, bigger can be better. Dua Lipa taps into the ’90s with a slouchier take on the everyday jean, proving that baggy denim doesn’t have to mean shapeless. There’s something deliberately off duty about the look, but the proportions feel decidedly now. For AW26, it’s a case of giving your jeans a little more room to move. The trick? Don’t overthink it. This is denim at its most relaxed.

It’s been quite the year for Zendaya. Between returning to the big screen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day alongside now-husband Tom Holland and continuing to turn heads off-screen, her wardrobe has been keeping pace. Now, she’s putting a decidedly relaxed spin on denim with the slouchy folded hem.

The jeans sit low and loose through the leg, finished with an exaggerated fold at the ankle that gives the silhouette its undone feel. It’s a small styling detail with a surprisingly big impact - proof that sometimes, it’s the way you style your denim that makes the look.

Charli XCX is in a new era, and her wardrobe has followed suit. Since Brat, her style has shifted towards something darker and more polished, with Saint Laurent, leather and sharper silhouettes becoming part of the new mood. With Music, Fashion, Film and The Moment also blurring the lines between music, fashion and film, the shift goes beyond the wardrobe.

Her latest denim look keeps that same energy going. Paired with an oversized puffer, the deep indigo wash gives the look a richer feel than your usual faded denim. For AW26, it’s all about going deeper. Indigo is having its moment.

Julia Garner may be making moves at LOEWE, but her latest denim look is all about keeping things relaxed. Since being named the house’s first global brand ambassador, she’s been having a bit of a fashion run lately. This time, she’s taking things down a notch.

Super-baggy through the leg with a softly washed finish, these jeans look like a pair you’ve had on heavy rotation. Paired with an oversized tee, a roomy shoulder bag and statement aviators, the proportions are deliberately kept loose from head to toe. The goal? Jeans that look like they’ve been yours for years.

When it comes to denim, A$AP Rocky has never been one to play by the rules. Fresh from his Don’t Be Dumb world tour and another run of headline-making looks alongside Rihanna; he’s giving the straight-leg jean a little more breathing room. With his work shaping campaigns for Ray-Ban and PUMA adding another string to his bow, Rocky’s influence stretches well beyond music - and his approach to getting dressed has become part of that too.

His latest denim move is no different. Taking the straight-leg jean and loosening things up, the silhouette gives you more room through the leg without going full baggy. It’s a little looser, a little easier, and just enough of a departure from the classic straight leg to make it feel fresh again.