I Tried a Pair of Polarizing Barrel Jeans from Madewell, and I’m Surprised by How Well They Flatter My Wide Hips

My Review of the Madewell Darted Barrel-Leg Jeans

Because I’ve seen barrel jeans styled on a lot of thin, narrower shaped bodies, I wanted to see how they would lay on my wide hips and thicker thighs. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised with the fit of Madewell’s version. They have a five-button closure and hit above my waist, plus they’re made from the brand’s 100 percent cotton, old-school denim. While there isn’t much stretch, they already feel broken in right out of the gate and are super soft, so I don’t feel uncomfortable when I sit down.

Now, when it comes to the most controversial part of these jeans (the leg shape), I can confidently say that I do like it on my body. The brand notes that the pants run a little large—I got my regular size, so they have a bit of bagginess to them, but not too much. The darts at the knees also add some more shape to them.

Because these jeans have a more subtle barrel effect on the sides of the legs, I do think that, combined with thicker thighs, the shape appears less dramatic. I usually opt for jeans with more structure that fit tighter (like a nice pair of straight-leg jeans) and was worried with the width of the leg shape of these ones that it would make my hips look wider. To my surprise, because of the fitted waist and space before the side seams barrel out, it actually does the opposite, making my waist and hips look narrower with the width of the legs.

Overall, I do love the jeans, but I think they look the best when styled with a fitted top in order to add some contrast to their silhouette. This pair is a bit cropped, which I like, and I think makes them more suited for a casual ensemble versus a dressier one, though I will say the length shortens me a bit. (For reference, I’m 5-foot, 8-inches tall.) There is also a little bit of gapping at the waist, but I prefer that to jeans that are totally fitted to my tummy.