Best wide leg jeans on the high street are £35 and 'fit like a dream'
With TikTok declaring skinny jeans as ‘out’, much to the despair of millennials - not that mine fit me anymore - I’ve been on the look out for a pair of to replace my leg-strangling skinnys to bring my wardrobe up to date.
Wide leg jeans are one of the cooler styles at the moment, typically fitting slim at the hips and loose through the leg for an on-trend silhouette that’s not quite as dramatic as flares or bootcut jeans, but offer a more interesting look than straight leg or slim fit designs.
To help you find where to buy your next denim wardrobe essential, I visited some of the most popular high street stores and tried on size 10 wide leg jeans in each of them - bar one which didn’t seem to be stocking any. I trudged around , Primark, and and rated their jeans on price, quality and fit. The prices ranged from £18 up to almost £50 - and I don’t think I’ll ever spend over £100 on Levi’s again.
Mirror Choice Best High Street Wide Leg Jeans - Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer’s , cheaper than , and more than or Primark, but still very affordable and most importantly, good value.
Clearly popular among shoppers, there were limited sizes in store in the which I’d probably get a lot more wear out of anyway. Online, there are seven shades to choose from, including more ‘out-there’ colours like soft green and a daring beige, both of which are a great way to inject some interest into your daily outfits. What I most like about the black, though, is that it’s a dark black rather than that kind of grey colour you often find with denim.
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The jeans come in short, petite and long, ranging from sizes 6-24When it came to fit, I had read some reviews that said they are on the smaller side, with some people sizing up for added comfort. I found the size 10 to button up fairly easily, and as they’re made of a responsibly sourced cotton that creates an authentic stretch denim, meaning that they will stretch as you wear them - however, you could size up for that extra room, if you wanted to. It’s important to remember that your clothes are supposed to fit you, not you ‘fitting’ into your clothes, so choose the size that feels the best regardless of what the label may say.
The and appeared to give me something of a ‘bum lift’ making my behind look better than it ever has. The material was soft to touch and they were incredibly comfortable to wear as I strutted up and down my fitting room like I was on the London Fashion Week catwalk. I really liked how they hug the hips in a figure-flattering way before they widen, giving a really stylish silhouette. What’s more is that they have a five-pocket design with fairly deep pockets, being deep enough to fit my iPhone 11, but not quite wide enough to tuck it all the way in, leaving one corner peeking out.
Marks and Spencer's £35 wide leg jeans are my top pick from the high streetOther shoppers agree that are ‘beautifully cool’ and ‘super comfy’, with the style having more than 1,400 reviews on the M&S website. While some people had issues finding their perfect size, many have praised their ‘great fit’ and ‘flattering’ design, with some saying they’re far better than bigger name brands.
One said: “Better than Boden and Mint Velvet. Great fit, flattering and on trend. Have in nearly every colour and get so many comments asking where they are from.”
Another wrote: “Having worn tight jeans for years I was rather sceptical about these … I’m only 5’2 and thought I might look awful. But they fit close to the hip and the wide leg was beautifully cool. Really love them.”
With a third adding: “These are super comfy and flattering, but they really stretch - so much so that I’ve exchanged them for a smaller size. Good quality denim at an amazing price - I was inspired to get this style as my daughter has a similar style from Abercrombie, which cost £75.”
For me, they’re the perfect balance of affordability, quality and fit, ticking all of the boxes on what a great pair of jeans should be. You can buy the
High Street Wide Leg Alternatives
How do you find the best jeans on the high street? Try them all on, of course! Yes, I did an 18.5 mile round trip to a shopping centre and two retail parks to do so as I’m nothing if not dedicated to the cause.
Close second behind was which cost just £24.99, so are a great alternative if you’re looking to spend a little less. I had expected them to be more expensive because they feel very premium, so I was pleasantly surprised when I turned the price tag around and they were under £25.
H&M's Wide High jeans are £24.99The come in a washed cotton denim and five pocket design that pulled on effortlessly but took a bit of faffing to button up. Once on they didn’t feel at all tight, fitting great on the hips and offered a really flattering shape, with a stiffer denim for a more structured feel. The pockets are also some of the deepest I found during my research, so great if you’re someone who likes to stuff their phone into their pocket. You can .
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The most expensive pair I tried on were from River Island, whose , however, I am always happy to invest in denim so long as it will last and wash well.
Trying on the size 10 jeans, they were a little snug around the waist and took a bit of wangling to button up. I could blame high street sizing or I could blame the fact I haven’t been in the gym this week, but other pairs from different retailers were much easier to button up in comparison.
River Island's jeans were the most expensive on the list at £48Made from ‘comfort stretch denim’ River Island does explain: “Our are crafted in our Comfort Stretch denim, which means they might feel snug at first, but the more you wear these, the more comfortable they become.”
I enjoyed the slight distressed look of the denim, with a ripped effect on one of the thighs. It’s subtle, giving it a vintage vibe circa 90s/00s style. Buy the
At the other end of the price scale was Primark, who actually surprised me the most. I’d never previously considered buying denim at the budget retailer, however, their sizing will make you feel really good about yourself. I pulled on a pair of in a size 10 and they were incredibly roomy, I probably could have sized down.
Primark's £18 pleat front wide leg jeans had a generous fitThe pleated detail was a nice touch, the sizing was generous and the wash was very on trend. I did find them a bit baggy around the crotch area, unlike the other wide leg jeans in this list, which were more fitted before widening at the thigh. That said, they were the cheapest on the list at £18, so an affordable option if you are on a budget. Find out
The only retailer where I couldn’t find a pair of wide leg jeans for love nor money was New Look - and I visited not one, but two branches. Instead I went for the closest alternative in the , which come in cheaper than both M&S and River Island at £29.99,
New Look didn't have any wide leg jeans in store so these straigh legs alternativesThe cropped design wasn’t my favourite with the trainers I was wearing, but I imagine they’d pair beautifully with a heeled boot - the raw hem is also a very cool detail. Also made of comfort stretch denim, they boasted a five pocket design and though not quite as soft as M&S’s, were still easy to wear. I think offers a decent mid-priced jean but I would like to see a wide leg style more widely available in store. Shop the
Will you be switching out your skinny jeans for a wide leg pair? Or have you already got a pair you love? Let us know in the comments below.
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