Skinny jeans on men is a look that constantly goes in and out of style. Here’s everything you need to know about this fit.
Nothing fueled the social media (read: TikTok) feud between Millennials and Gen Z like skinny jeans. There wasn’t a real feud, by the way. Just self-selectively loud folks on both sides.
As a member of the former generation, I’ve always associated men in skinny jeans with scene kids or emo kids. More on that later.
In every generation, rebellious youth swing their sartorial pendulum far. You can’t deny that this causes the sartorial middle-ground to shift even just a little, and even for the masses.
Perhaps you weren’t wearing skinny jeans in the aughts. But you were likely ditching baggy pants for slim ones. Even the Bond of the aughts ended up in unrealistically slim tailoring.
Despite your personal opinion on this tight fit, it made an impression. So, it’s worth exploring the hows and whys and whether or not you should wear them today.
Men in Skinny Jeans: A History
When flipping through vintage style, from a historical perspective, denim pants go as far back as the 1920s. Tightly fitting-pants, meanwhile, proliferated in the 1960s. At least, tight pants, as we know them today, did.
Working-class men wore denim as workwear. Teddy Boys, a rebel movement in the ‘50s, incorporated workwear into their style.
Then, Elvis wore “drainpipe” jeans, which were essentially that era’s skinny jeans. They weren’t nearly as tight as the ones in the aughts, and they were higher-waisted. However, the hems were higher, similar to the aughts fits.
It wasn’t until the ‘60s mod scene, which incorporated slim-fit trousers into their suits that slimmer pants became mainstream. Mod guys paired their slim trousers with a boxy jacket to create a more dynamic look.
Even when bell bottoms came into style, the non-flared thighs were pretty darn tight. Still, 1960s Western wear had much tighter jeans than their ‘50s counterparts.
Then, in the ‘70s, punk came along as a descendant of the Teddy Boys, ‘50s rock, and ‘60s garage bands. Punks made skinny jeans a hallmark of their fashion.
In the ‘80s, jeans were tighter than they were in the ‘90s, though they were more akin to the drainpipes Elvis wore. In the greater imagination, they were paired with high-top
However, the era’s rockers, think heavy metal and glam rock, wore skin-tight jeans — noticing a trend? (It’s the rebels and rockers). Acid-wash skinny jeans were a Metallica staple.
More History: The Term Skinny Jeans
In the 2010s, the phrase “skinny jeans” became official.
1960s and ‘70s revivalism in the 2000s brought flared jeans back, which brought the tight-in-the-thigh fit back. While women were wearing skinny jeans by 2005, it wasn’t until the onset of new young rockers that guys started.
Emo and scene, yet another rock movement with a whole new set of grievances, popularized skinny jeans. It eventually proliferated into mainstream pop, then the masses. This iteration of tight jeans featured the lowest rise in history while also maintaining a high hem.
And yet again, even if you weren’t emo or scene, you likely were wearing slimmer jeans than you did in the previous decade.
Next up: Are men’s skinny jeans still in style today?
Are Men’s Skinny Jeans Still in Style?
For men in the mid-2020s, the answer is technically no. Or rather, they aren’t the fashion trend of the day. Tastemakers are opting for more oversized fits these days, a pseudo-return to ‘90s fashion.
I say pseudo because baggy jeans back then were worn low, with the hems dragging on the floor. Oversized jeans today are higher in the waist with far less drag.
A skinny jean today is more like a slimmer, slim-fit jean.
But another thing about the 2020s is that very few things are shocking. We live in a far less monoculture-driven world, so there’s always someone wearing something.
There are ways to wear skin tight that aren’t necessarily in style but don’t make you look like you’re out of touch. Perhaps it’ll make you look like a fashion fortune teller.
How Do I Look Fashionable in Skinny Jeans?
This is actually a really easy answer. I’d say go for the iteration of skinny jeans prior to the last.
For example, in 2024, don’t wear the emo-style skinny jeans from the 2010s.
However, if you love workwear, you can go for the punk rock rendition of skinny jeans. It has a higher waist; it might have a small rip, or several big ones, with a high folded hem. With a leather motorcycle jacket or a utility shirt, the jeans will look totally intentional.
Perhaps you like a retro-cool vibe. Go for ‘80s acid wash jeans and wear them with your digital Casio watch. You can also go for a pre-bell-bottom skinny jeans look, though you’d technically go for a slim pant.
Skinny vs Slim Jeans for Men
When it comes to skinny vs slim jeans for men, the technical difference is easy. However, the cut makes a huge difference when it comes to how the jeans are visually received.
A slim-fit pant follows the natural lines of your legs while still leaving space between them and the garment. Meanwhile, all sides of a skinny pant hug your leg in all places — technically.
Different brands draw the line at different places, though. Meanwhile, your body type may make a big difference when it comes to how the pants look on you. Arguably, this is the most important thing.
For example, a high-waisted skinny pant with a low-folded hem might not look as skinny as one that’s low-waisted and high-hemmed. This has more to do with the fact that we associate the “skinny jean” with the 2000s iteration.
Meanwhile, a slim fit with higher hems looks more skinny.
Are you going for a classic, slim but not tight aesthetic? Then, how the pants look on you matters more than what the brand categorizes it as.
Men Over 30 in Skinny Jeans
Though it isn’t my style, I don’t have any qualms with men over 30 in skinny jeans. They either just continued to dress in the way that was popular in their youth or they’re being intentionally anti-trend.
Dressing in your 30s is interesting. You can still incorporate youthful looks, but you have to be intentional about it. It’s all about context.
So, if you’re going to go for a skinny look, again, consider your body type.
It’s possible that skinny jeans make your legs look too skinny. Or perhaps your thighs are proportionally bigger than your calves. In this case, go for a super slim fit with a higher hem instead. It’ll be more complimentary and give the impression of skinny jeans.
You could also go for a dynamic, mod-esque silhouette. Pair your skinny jeans with an on-trend oversized jacket.
I think that as long as you’re anchoring the jeans in something classic or something sartorially relevant, you give it sensible context.
Men Over 40 in Skinny Jeans
If you’re closer to 40 than 50, then everything I mentioned above applies to you. If you’re in the middle or closer to 50, then here’s what I think about men over 40 in skinny jeans.
Again, consider the context and the fit. Always.
Men in their ‘40s and ‘50s, particularly you gents with graying beards, look excellent in workwear. It just looks so natural.
Plus, Gen Xers have a legitimate claim to a lot of skinny jeans in history: The mods, the punks, and the ‘80s metal rockers. As long as the calves aren’t overly restricted, men in their 40s, 50s, and even early 60s look fine in skinny and extra-slim jeans.
But, since you’re not in your ‘20s and ‘30s anymore, maybe you can find grown-up expressions of these looks.
Instead of skinny jeans, a leather jacket, and a ripped graphic tee, maybe you replace the tee with a button-down. You can also go for a turtleneck, utility jacket or, motorcycle jacket, high-waisted skinny jeans, and boots.
Older Men in Skinny Jeans
My thoughts on older men in skinny jeans? Well, first of all, you should wear whatever makes you happy. Far be it for me to tell my elders how they should dress in the back half of their lives.
But, if you’re over 70 and you want to try the skinny look, I personally think the classic drainpipe aesthetic works beautifully on older men. Heck, you might have even seen Elvis’s television debut when he sported drainpipe jeans.
Conclusion: Guys in Skinny Jeans
When it comes to men in skinny jeans, remember your body type and the cut are even more important than how skinny it actually is.
Secondly, it’s all about context. It doesn’t matter whether or not skinny fits are in style as long as you make it look intentional.
And ultimately, you should wear what makes you happy!
Are you a fan of skinny jeans? Tell us why or why not in the comments!
