The Best Baggy Jeans for Men Are Taking Their Victory Lap
Wide-leg pants have been the reigning silhouette for the last few years. But the impending slimmification of menswear is right around the corner, but it will take a while to fully solidify. If that's news to you, then brace yourself for the fact that skinny jeans are actually coming back. So while you can certainly hang on to your tight dungarees until the time is ripe, we wouldn't tell you to skip the baggy jeans movement outright.
The way I see it, skinny jeans have far less staying power. They'll have their time in the sun, but their inherent physical limitations mean that they'll have a shorter shelf life. We'll see just how short soon enough.
Whether you're just getting into your first pair or you're adding to your enviable collection, baggy jeans aren't going anywhere. They accommodate a wider variety of body types and can look killer in any context, from schlubbing it to your cafe lazy style to bopping around town doing menial errands to showing out for a glitzy party. In other words, wearing the right men's baggy jeans expands your entire sartorial universe, and we've picked some of our favorite options on the market right now.
The Best Baggy Jeans, According to GQ
Alex Mill AM Relaxed Straight Jeans
Even if Alex Mill has already taken over your closet with its chore coats and chinos, you're going to want to clear some extra space for these. Made in L.A. and 100% cotton, these jeans feature a longer (note, not higher) rise that sits low on the hips. The cut? Straight through the thighs with a wide leg from the knee down, channeling all the effortless cool of '90s-era denim.
Abercrombie & Fitch Ultra Baggy Jeans
You're not supposed to be able to snag a pair of jeans this good for under $100, but Abercrombie & Fitch has the cheat codes. Its baggy jeans are old favorites of ours, but this specific wash looks like it's been aged to perfection—no iPhone launch keynote needed—while also moonlighting as a doppelgänger for that elusive late-night eBay score you always tell yourself is out there.
OrSlow Super Dad Straight-Leg Jeans
Orslow is no stranger to evocative names—their own is a play on ‘Or Slow’, a hint at the brand’s manufacturing approach. But these Super Dad jeans might be the best-named in the whole collection. They bring the perfect balance of roomy comfort with a straight cut and a rise so high it might just have its own observation deck. Made from a hefty 13 oz. denim, and treated with the label’s signature ‘one wash’ finish, they’re built to last, too—which means more money for the college fund.
Dickies Loose Fit Double-Knee Jeans
Dickies double-knee jeans are a bona fide workwear staple, equally adored by construction workers and content creators who may never have even touched a hammer. No matter: These jeans sit comfortably in the middle of the Venn diagram of style and function, thanks to their practical pockets, garment-washed lived-in vibe, and the fact that they won’t make your wallet cry.
Levi’s 578 Baggy Jeans
While we’re talking about heritage classics, the brand that’s been making jeans for over 150 years finally went all in on baggy with the 578s. These things are giving old CCS Skate magazine cover vibes—like you should be doing a kickflip in a church parking lot right now. The faded blue ones especially look like they saw the 1990s and lived to tell the tale.
Noah Stovepipe Jeans
Noah’s known for its one-of-a-kind collaborations—the streets won’t forget that pink Barbour—and graphic tees, which means sometimes the damn good denim gets overlooked. But its stovepipe jean—tailored to hug your waist just right and hover stylishly over your shoes—is made in the USA from full-cotton Japanese denim. There’s no wider pant in the Noah collection, but the fit is still totally controlled.
A.P.C. Aaron Jeans
The Parisian denim house that practically cornered the market on slim jeans has also realized the some folks just want to go wide—and its latest fit adjusts for that. Think of the Aaron as the classic A.P.C. selvedge jean you know and love, but with a smidge of stretch and some room to flow. The break-in period won’t feel like a medieval torture device, but those coveted fades will still show up over time. It’s a win-win, really.
Studio Nicholson Bridges Denim Pants
Nick Wakeman, founder of Studio Nicholson, designs unassuming clothes for those who appreciate the understated. Take these carpenter-inspired jeans, which sport a very full leg, deep pleats, and a curved shape. This iteration is made from rigid 13 oz. Italian denim, with a bold salt-and-pepper grain, and tobacco thread stitching at the seams. Plus, the back cinch lets you tighten them for a more tailored fit.
Jeanerica Vega Jeans
This similar, less predictable alternative to the Our Legacy Third Cut comes from Swedish denim brand Jeanerica, whose eco-friendly approach results in an enviable wash at the end. The Vega fit is a relaxed, straight-leg style crafted from a blend of recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and cotton. (This clay colorway is created with brown yarn-dyed denim, then finished off with a heavy stonewash effect—because sometimes, interesting jeans are the only thing an outfit needs.)
RS-100x Relaxed Straight Indigo Selvedge Jeans
The raw denim resurgence is going strong and 3sixteen remains toward the front of the pack, leading a new generation of selvedge enthusiasts to faded glory. Its RS fit is a high-rise, generously roomy silhouette that can fall cleanly with a slight crop or look even baggier with a healthy break. This particular version features a proprietary heavyweight Japanese selvedge denim that starts with an inky gray-cast indigo that patinas beautifully over time.
Stüssy Big Ol' Jean Denim
The Big Ol' Jean is among Stüssy's most popular products and has been for decades. Vintage pairs will still fetch a decent price, but the modern-day version is, dare we say, maybe even better. The denim has a substantial weight that feels as beefy as many esoteric Japanese jeans. It comes in a wide array of washes, each of which could pass for pre-worn pairs. And the baggy fit has a slight taper to give the silhouette a voluminous, but clean look.
Gap '90s Loose Jeans
Gap's '90s Loose jeans aren't even the brand's baggiest pair. But we like the fit for its not-overly-baggy silhouette which can easily be sized up for a properly oversized fit. The denim is surprisingly dense and the distressing is tastefully done without going overboard.
Uniqlo Wide Straight Jeans
We're not suggesting that Uniqlo is quiet luxury, but we can't help but think its longstanding relationship with Christophe Lemaire has rubbed off on the Japanese retailer. That means supremely wide pants and jeans that are decidely unsloppy. Uniqlo's wide-leg jeans have a mid-high rise with a roomy top block that falls to the slightest of tapers. The billowy fit along with the lightweight denim makes these a great pair to stock for the coming warrmer months.
Celine Wide-Leg Jeans
With Hedi Slimane's indelible imprint left on Celine, it's easy to associate the fashion house with skinny jeans. But it's actually the wide-leg jeans that have caught on with fashion snobs. They're made in Japan with high-end denim fabric that's been washed and distressed so well that they could more easily pass as vintage than new.
Carson Wach The Original 333 Jean
Indie label Carson Wach has made a name for himself among the in-the-know creatives. Each pair is made in the USA using premium cotton and cut into a relaxed, but not billowy cut.
Tender Type 136 Oxford Jeans
Tender's offbeat artisanal approach to clothing results in a bevy of hand-knit and hand-dyed menswear inspired by antique workwear. These Type 136 Oxford jeans are inspired by the Oxford bags, students of the famed university who were known to wear insanely baggy pants. The result is a pair of jeans that are equally esoteric as they are hardy.
