Love jeans but finding them too tight or uncomfortable to move and sit in? Me too. I’ve been wearing wide linen pants all summer and my regular jeans now feel so much less easy to wear.
So, I’ve researched the new wide denim jeans looking for stylish, quality pants that will work well for the body shape of a woman over 50 or so. The link to the US site of the retailer appears under each image. For links to the UK site scroll down to the bottom of this article.
In my last post I showed myself trying on two styles of the new wider jeans which I bought locally in France. Take a look to decide if you think wide jeans suit my older, heavier figure.
No tight waists
I’ve chosen jeans with a mid or high rise that sit on, or slightly below, the waist. Importantly these are not curvy jeans which have a smaller ‘feminine’ waist because, if your waist has disappeared with age, a tight waistband will push fat up into a roll under your ribs!
Camouflage large thighs
Some of the best wide jeans for us are cut straight so they fall in a straight line from the hip. These can be dressed up to look smart. Others widen as they go down the leg. These are often best worn so they just crease over your footwear. These tend to give a slouchy relaxed look. Very on-trend in 2026!
Whether wide and straight, or wide and slightly flared, these jeans will camouflage heavy thighs. For years I’ve been noticing my standard width straight jeans are gripping my thighs. If I had well-toned slim thighs that would be wonderful. But I don’t. I’ve slowly put on weight everywhere except my arms in the last few years! So I’ve loved wearing these wider jeans and feel much more postive about my upper legs.
What to wear on top of wide denim jeans
A lot depends on how you style the jeans. Where a young person may wear them with a cropped or very short tight cardigan, half-buttoned, we, at well over 50, will look for a more conservative top and probably a jacket or long cardigan to minimize our mid-section and make us look taller.
Madewell’s Perfect Vintage Jean
Madewell makes a very good range of jeans and it’s worth clicking on the ‘You might also love’ panel below the item description which compares many of the new styles of jean very clearly.
These jeans show why the new wide jeans work so well for us older women. They don’t hug our rear in the way traditional jeans do. Of course if your rear is still both small yet perky, this design feature is not for you! But for the other 95% of us, the wide cut that hangs straight camouflages our lack of tone in our mid-section . It also means these jeans are very comfortable to wear all day.
Marks and Spencer High Waist Wide Jeans
These jeans are designed to make you look taller. You could wear them just hitting your sneakers or allow them to crease and fall a little lower. The more crease you allow, the more relaxed the jeans will look. The high waist gives a good shape to your mid-section without being tight around the backside. Ideal for tucking a striped shirt or a simple cashmere round neck sweater.
Boden High Rise Jeans
Boden’s high waist jeans come in three fittings and many colors. The darker colors look smarter whilst this vintage wash looks fashionably cool. A traditional jean that sits comfortably on the waist. Not overly wide, these pants look just as good with a tucked silk shirt as here, as with a ‘sloppy joe’ wide sweater tucked at the side to give movement and ‘slouch’!
Sezane’s Le New Jeans
Sezane is one of the retailers that is branching out from wide denim jeans in trditional blue to other autumn/winter colors. Their ‘Le New’ is shown here in washed black. It would look great with a leather jack nd bright sweater or scarf. Sezane has grown in popularity across the world from small independent beginnings. Why, when other fashion retailers are struggling? Because they do the best cool girl French chic styles bar none. (And being Parisians, they don’t think style stops at 40!)
Cos Wide Denim Paneled Pants
Although these wide pants are not denim jeans I wanted to include them because they are perfect for us. They are made from denim fabric and have a good weight and therefore hang well. Cos has also introduced the Dial wide leg jeans this year but they are cut too tight around the waist and tummy for most of us. In contrast these denim pants are made for ease and comfort with an elasticated waist but – according to reviews – not too much fullness. I love there are loops so we can cover the elastic with a smart belt.
Wide Denim Jeans on UK sites
Wide Denim Jeans on US sites
If you are thinking of buying new jeans take a look at my try-on of the wide but very straight and the wide and slightly flared styles of jeans. Even if your body shape is different from mine – I’m short and square – seeing an older woman in wide denim jeans may help you decide if they are right for you. The New Wider Jeans: My Try-on at 77.