Last week we did a “good non-denim pants” post (you had two clear winners, these from the Gap and these from J.Crew), but we don’t want to enrage “big denim,” especially during the fall when a lot of new pants come on the market. I love good fall jeans. Some of these I already had, and then I tried a few new pairs that I thought were specifically good. If you are in the market for jeans right now, keep reading.

Fall Jeans: The Best And Most Affordable

Left Outfit: Sweater + Bandana + Jeans + Boots + Purse | Right Outfit: Zip Up Sweatshirt | Jeans | Slides | Necklace

These are the Quince Bella Stretch Wide Leg Jeans in washed black, and for $50 they are unbelievable. I wear these all the time, year-round. These are the pants that I reach for when I want to look kinda pulled together but dress really simply. Since they have stretch, they are super comfortable (even being relatively high-rise), and the length is great for most of my flats or low boots. I will say that I have these in the blue denim color:) I know you’ve seen them before, but they are so good that I figured they were worth talking about again. If you are in between sizes, size down. I’m wearing a 26 here.

Fall Jeans: New Madewell Barrel In A Vintage Wash

Top | Necklace | Jeans | Shoes

These are very similar to the darted barrel by Madewell, without the darts and in an extremely good vintage wash. The stitching and the fading are perfect and typically done better on really expensive brands (like R19 and Moussy), so I was super impressed with them. They are mid-rise but really flattering (more rigid up top and sit nicely on the hips and don’t cut in too much or bulge out). The rugby sweatshirt is from American Eagle and comes in a lot of colors (and I’ve been living it in at night).

Fall Jeans: Something Cool

Sweater | Necklace | Jeans (similar) | Sandals

I thought these were cool in the whole denim patchwork trend (I think these are probably a wee bit small for me now that I see them here). They are wide-leg but still fitted in the hips, which I find more flattering. Easy to dress up with a blazer and boots. I’m wearing them with an alpaca cardigan that is so soft (and thin, so it’s great to wear as a top, not layered over a shirt).

UPDATE: The patchwork version is no longer on their site, but these are the same cut!

Fall Jeans: My Perfect Low-Rise Jean

Sweater | Necklace | Jeans | Belt | Shoes

Now, these jeans I saw on a salesperson at Nordstrom’s (in blue denim), and I bee-lined over to ask her where they were from. They are the Tennessee boyfriend jean from Free People, and they are SO GOOD. They come in lots of colors but keep selling out. Low-waisted, super flattering in the butt, straight-legged on the slightly long but not too long side. They give the wide-leg Bellas a run for their money, but these are more low-waisted so fit me better (and are priced much higher, BTW). Also that Mongolian cashmere crewneck is so good, and I find that I pack it for many trips because it’s oversized and layers over easily but isn’t long (and thin enough you can still 1/2 tuck). So soft. 10/10.

Fall Jeans: Mama’s First JORTS

Top | Necklace | Jorts | Belt | Sandals

My 12-year-old gave me real side eye on this one; I fear he thinks I’m copping his style. Listen, these are everywhere, and I might be too old for them, but I wore this outfit out the night after the shoot to a dinner with friends, and I didn’t feel like a mid-40s suburban mom (I felt like I was Cosplaying Gen Z, but maybe that’s fun??). These aren’t too much of an investment since they are just from the Gap. I don’t think jorts are for everyone, but I don’t think they are going away any time soon, so if you want in on it, these are a good pair.

Fall Jean: A Cute Flare

Sweater | Necklace | Jeans | Sandals

The Hustler. Now these have such a fun flair but are cropped, so that might not be everyone’s jam. While my favorite jeans of the year are the Kick It High Waisted Mother Jeans for everyday wear, these were a bit too stretchy for me up top (I want more structure around the waist), but before I returned them, I figured they might be someone’s cup of tea. Same classic cashmere crew.

Fall Jeans: The “Butt-Flattering” Jean

Sweater | Necklace | Jeans | Boots

Ok, finally a pair of clean denim that is really flattering in the butt. Rag & Bone ain’t cheap, but for a super classic, clean, straight, high-quality denim with a lot of structure, these are great.

Fall Jeans: The Viral Jeans I Actually Love

Top | Jeans | Shoes

These are the viral Mother Jeans that are so popular. Comfortable, goes with everything. Dress em up or down (the length hits right above sneaker height for me, which is perfect). I wish there was an affordable dupe, but not yet. Happy almost-pant season folks 🙂

*Photos by Kaitlin Green