Cheryl Shops

Like millions of Americans, I watched the Super Bowl a few weeks ago, mostly for Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance, which was incredibly powerful and layered. Also, like millions of Americans, I was transfixed by Kendrick's flare jeans, which, according to various sources, were the $1,200 Celine Marco jeans. When it comes to men's jeans, slim has been the dominant silhouette for close to 20 years now (even in the slouchy-slim variation that a lot of people in the hip-hop community tend to prefer), so when someone in the spotlight flips the denim script in such a dramatic fashion—particularly in jeans that fit as well as Kendrick's did—I pay attention. Did we just experience a major style zeitgeist moment or a flash in the pan? Are flare jeans in style again? Let's dive in. 

Are flare jeans back?

After so many years of the skinny versus wide-leg debate, all of a sudden the circa-2000 flare has entered the chat. And people have mixed feelings about this. I ran a poll on Instagram to see how people were feeling about them, and results were pretty much split down the middle. On one hand, there's a bit of nostalgia for the shape, which for most X-ennials and millennials was popular in our adolescence and young adulthood. On the other, we were tormented by the ultra-low-rise cuts of the aughts, the wriff-wriff sound that the flares make rubbing together while you walk, and, of course, the ring of dampness that appears around the hem when you wear them in the rain. If that last sentence is giving you PTSD, don't worry—denim has changed a lot in the last 20 years, and while there are certainly still trends (like the barrel jean), there is currently not one dominant silhouette. Straight leg, baggy, stovepipe, wide leg, and yes, even skinny are all options, as is the flare. While it's not the shape that everyone everywhere is wearing, it's widely available if you do. In other words, when it comes to denim, anything goes. 

The best flare jeans

If you're ready to dive back into flares, I am personally a fan of the Spanx EveryWear Flare jeans, which I've had for years—you can read my full review for more details. To be honest, it had been awhile since I'd worn these, but as soon as I put them on, I was like ohhh yes. As you can hopefully tell from these photos, flare jeans elongate the leg like no other, which maybe explains why Kendrick Lamar, a short king, chose to wear them. The biggest difference between this pair and the jeans of our youth is that they're much higher waisted (but not too high-waisted), and through some engineering wizardry, they have a concealed elastic waistband that stays put without digging. (For the mamas out there, I've been told these compare to maternity jeans in terms of comfort.) They come in several different washes and are available in up to size 3X (I'm in a medium). One thing to note: these jeans have functional belt loops and back pockets, but the zip fly and front pockets are faux. If you want a more traditional jean from Spanx, they now have the ReDefine jean. 

What to wear with flare jeans

If you decide to wear flare jeans again, the key is not to style them like you did 20 years ago, so leave your ruched A&F tanks and Old Navy flip-flops in storage where they belong. You're a grownup now. I went ultra-classic here with a blazer and turtleneck in basic black, accented with tan accessories for a little contrast. A belt is important here—I think it helps camouflage the elastic waistband/faux fly situation, and in my case, make sure my waist doesn't disappear into my boobs. Also, I hate to say this, but when it comes to flares, wear as high of a heel as you can tolerate—it amplifies the leg-lengthening effect to a satisfying degree and prevents your hem from dragging on the ground. Remember, these are not the flare jeans of your youth—these are grown-up flares, and I think they look damn good!

OUTFIT DETAILS: Zara blazer (on sale!) | Wolford Colorado bodysuit | Isabel Marant Lecce belt | Spanx EveryWear Flare jeans (c/o) | Carro Positano Sally bag | INEZ Caro boots (c/o; use code Cheryl15Fall24 for 15% off)