My Hunt for the Most Flattering Flared Jeans

When I heard the news that Addison Rae had teamed up with Lucky on these jeans, I was cautiously optimistic; pretty much everyone I’d seen wearing them (on TikTok, that is) looked great, and as a low-rise-curious, flared-jeans enthusiast, I was eager to try them on for myself. Sadly, I was not a fan of these. At all. In fact, I was so not a fan that I didn’t even snap a mirror selfie for inclusion in this article due to the overwhelming desire to get them off my body. The just-over seven-inch rise was far too exposing for me (the lowest I like to go is ten inches), and while the 100 percent cotton fabrication means these 2000s-inspired jeans should be on the sturdier side, they didn’t mold to my legs the way I’d like my perfect pair to.

Abercrombie’s denim is pretty widely liked, so I figured I should give its mid-rise bootcut jeans a try (which, despite the name, are much more similar to a flare). The rise on this pair — which isn’t available on the site, but I’d guess is around 11 inches — was appreciated compared to the high rise that seems to be dominating the flared-jeans market (with the exception of the Addison Rae jeans, of course). But the knee area — yes, thekneearea — was extremely constricting, while the rest of the leg was too big, resulting in a strangely uncomfortable fit.

On the hanger, this pair of Veronica Beard denim piqued my interest, despite the higher price point (if there’s one item I’m willing to spend on, it’s a solid pair of jeans). On my body was another story. While the jeans are as comfortable as a high-rise pair could possibly be, the 34-inch inseam was far too long, even with a heel, and the fit knee-down was closer to an elongated bootcut than the flare silhouette I’m looking for.

This was another pseudo-flare situation — even with a taller heel, the leg on this Good American pair wasn’t flaring the way I would’ve liked it to, instead bunching up and thus ruining any illusion of lengthened legs. And although I don’t mind a soft pair of jeans — which is good considering pretty much every pair of flares on the market are made from some sort of stretch denim, probably because an unintentional sag isn’t a great look — these took it too far and felt too close to a jegging.

Considering Reformation’sCary Wide Leg Jeansare my go-tos (I have the style in three different washes), I figured I’d give its lone flare style a try. Unfortunately, the only thing I liked about these jeans was the 10⅜-inch rise. There was a lot of gapping in the back (not the most flatting look), and the shape of the flare got lost amid the wide leg, which wasn’t really the fit I was looking for.

While the price is right on these Quince jeans and they are definitely flattering, I wouldn’t categorize this pair as flares, per say — they’re more like a boot cut. That being said, if you’re looking for a flexible-yet-sturdy boot-cut jean (this pair is made of 94 percent organic cotton), these are a solid option that come in every wash imaginable.

These Banana Republic mid-rise flare jeans were similar in look and feel to the Quince pair, though the flare was ever so slightly more pronounced. We’re getting closer! A warning for other bell-bottom hunters: Just because a pair of denim purports to be a flare does not actually make it one. If you, like me, are attempting to lessen your chance of accidentally purchasing a pair of boot-cut jeans, pay close attention to the leg opening. This number should be 20 inches, at least, to give you the flare look you desire.

Like many people, I’ve grown a renewed interest in J.Crew recently, so I stopped by one of its stores to check out its denim selection (most of which fall somewhere on the semi- to super-stretch spectrum and come in both petite and tall sizes). If you’re looking for a more vintage-inspired jean, this is the pair for you; while also a wider leg, in comparison to the Reformation pair, these featured a more apparent flare. My only wish is for these to come in a dark-wash option. But because I’m looking for a more tailored silhouette, I passed on this pair. (If you’re interested in trying them, I’d recommend sizing down one full size, at least.)

Madewell’s Vintage Flare Jeans were almost a winner for me; this pair had a higher cotton percentage than most, making them the most denim-y of the bunch (a welcome change). But while they photographed nicely, in real life, the waist, leg, and knee area were already losing some of that rigidity, and for my perfect pair I’m looking for something with more flare (literally).

As far as flattering goes, this Frame pair was leading the pack — another super-stretch option, these hugged everything up top, breaking into an, albeit subtle, flare around the knee. With a ten-inch rise, these were a nice alternative to the many high-rise options as well. The only issue was the length; if these had been a few inches longer, they would’ve been a top contender.

These J.Crew jeans were the first pair I tried on and proved hard to beat. As every good flare jean should, they hugged my thighs and waist, puddled around my boots, and elongated my legs. This pair is high waisted but not aggressively so, supremely comfortable (the material is 94 percent cotton, 4 percent polyester, and 2 percent Lycra spandex), and, despite the name, actually flared. I tried on both the lighter Henry Louie Wash and the darker Resin Rinse and loved both options.

By the time I tested out these Gap jeans, I’d tried on upward of 15 other sub-par options (excluding the J.Crew pair) and was beginning to lose hope that I’d be able to find a pair of flares that I’d actually wear. So, like any other Gen Z, I took to TikTok to see what pair people were recommending. This Gap pair came highly posted about, and lo and behold, these $79.95 (and often on sale) jeans blew competitors three times their price out of the water. These were the rare pair that worked just as well with heels as without, and given the short-, regular-, and long-inseam options, I’m assuming they’d work similarly well for people of all different heights. This pair came home with me, and I’m eagerly awaiting an occasion for them to make their debut.

These Paige flares were another winner for me. I panic ordered these when my in-store options were becoming increasingly underwhelming and was hoping not to love them as much as I did given their price tag. Alas, they feel like butter (so if you’re not into soft denim, skip these), are the perfect mid-rise, and feature the most apparent flare of the bunch with a leg opening of 24½ inches. The wash on this pair veers slightly too indigo for my liking, but the black colorway would be the perfect option for a night out, or an in-person office day (if your dress code allows them).