My jeans usually take a backseat during summer, but as we enter autumn, I embark on the usual routine of introducing them back into my outfit rotation, only to find that there’s a disconnect. After months of loose, fluid trousers, my favourite pairs can feel heavy and unfamiliar. This is particularly prevalent with more statement styles, notably barrel-legs.

They dominated the conversation last year as a divisive silhouette, then settled into wardrobe staple status as we entered 2026 with the trend showing no sign of abating. They allowed us to experiment with volume in a way that was new and exciting, but after a summer hiatus we can find ourselves feeling a bit lost when it comes to styling them.