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Style

I Wore Flared Jeans for the First Time in Ten Years, and It Feels So Good

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DePaul chapter.

This weekend I got to live in The Pants of 2009 Miley and every Disney Channel Star you could imagine: flared blue jeans. I mean Miley named her horse after them, so they need a little more praise in my opinion.

Books were written about “traveling pants”, and songs have been sung about “apple bottom jeans”—but I feel like these beyond-average blue jeans never got the love they deserve. “Oh, I love your flared jeans!” said no one, ever.

Photo Courtesy of Glamour UK

My best friend and I were at a consignment shop this past week and I was really just there looking for professional looking trousers, but you know how it is with thrift shopping. You just get sucked into the depths of racks of jeans and piles of Victoria Secret Pink track suits that you had always wanted, but could never afford.

I stumbled on a pair of flared blue jeans, just some basic, non-distressed, dark blue jeans. “Just try them on, they’d look cute on you,” my best friend insisted. What the heck.

My butt looks good.

I forgot how much flared jeans accentuate your bottom. My mind is changed, these jeans are perfect, and I’m going to bring these staples back in fashion. The last time I remember wearing a pair like these, I was in fifth grade, wearing blush suede vans, and a quilted purple Aeropostale hoodie that I never took off.  

This feeling wasn’t just nostalgic, because I didn’t feel like a kid when I put these on. Flared jeans, or any pair that doesn’t hug your calves, makes you look younger—more playful.

Photo Courtesy of Bustle

I’m not talking about Safiya Nygaard’s 9-foot-long Extendo Jeans, but there is a little feeling of youthfulness and free spirited fun. More like Joanna Gaines, embracing the “homebody” relaxed country girl feel. Who am I kidding, I am nowhere near a farm, but there’s a sudden feeling of freedom when your ankles are allowed to breathe.

The person I remember the most wearing these in the media, to carpet walks, and in television and film, is Miley Cyrus. Without a doubt, she was probably one of the most influential flared jeans wearers I can remember. She made them look so cool and casual, so all she needed was a pick up truck and muddy converse to get me convinced.

Photo Courtesy of Rachel Teodoro

The only thing is that I’m not entirely used to is the lower waist on these jeans, since I’m so used to having my jeans sucking in my muffin top—these jeans aren’t meant to make you feel sucked in. Oh well, who cares. 

They’re not just jeans.

Pair these babies with some heeled booties and a high ponytail and a girl can run the world.

Natalie is currently a junior studying Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Spanish and Event Planning. She is an avid beauty, interiors, and lifestyle enthusiast. When she's not doing yoga or obsessing over her golden retriever pup, you'll find her writing in the SAC, library, at the Stu, and basically, anywhere she can get good wifi connection at DePaul.