The Most Stylish Skinny-Jean Outfits of the Past Decade
There's been lots of evolution over the past decade when it comes to denim trends. But one style that's remained constant (especially among celebrities) is skinny jeans. The waists may have gotten higher and the washes may have gotten darker, but the most popular style of the decade was pretty consistent. Skinny jeans were fully embraced by everyone from trendsetters like Gigi Hadid to classic-leaning celebs like Kate Middleton, and there are lots of outfits between 2010 and 2019 to prove it.
When you scroll through the 13 outfits below, you may think I wouldn't wear this now, but that's kind of the point. Many of these outfits represent a moment in time during the past decade, like when Chrissy Teigen wore an off-the-shoulder sweater, fedora, and sock boots. Keep on scrolling to see which skinny-jean outfits made the cut, and shop some of our favorite current skinny jeans along the way.
Why It's Great: You can't talk about fashion in the 2000s without talking about Millennial Pink. Kerry Washington expertly embraced the trend by pairing it with sleek black skinny jeans.
On Kerry Washington: Mansur Gavriel coat; Tanya Taylor sweater; J Brand jeans; Stuart Weitzman boots
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Why It's Great: This is the exact outfit we'd go with when wearing skinny jeans out at night in the winter. The dressy coat and heels are the perfect complements.
On Alexa Chung: Staud Marcel Coat ($165); Shrimps Antonia Bag ($550); Miu Miu shoes
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Why It's Great: Wearing something oversize with tight skinny jeans is always what we suggest if you want to look fresh and forward. Bonus points for the throwback MTV reference.
On Gigi Hadid: Marc Jacobs sweatshirt
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Why It's Great: No one knows better than Kate Middleton how to make skinny jeans look polished and appropriate. This outfit is the perfect example of that.
On Kate Middleton: Smthye blazer; Russell & Bromley Fallon Dry Mid Zip Chelsea Boots($389)
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Why It's Great: Kate Bosworth had a hand in making airport style a thing over the past decade, and this perfect skinny-jean travel outfit shows why.
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Why It's Great: This combination of pieces—from the printed Isabel Marant topper to the suede heeled ankle boots—is as perfectly mid-2010s as it gets.
On Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: Isabel Marant coat and belt; Paige jeans; Chloé bag; Saint Laurent boots
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Why It's Great: EmRata took the concept of "jeans and a cute top" and made it even better with the addition of a few statement accessories.
On Emily Ratajkowski: Andy Wolf sunglasses; Manolo Blahnik shoes
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Why It's Great: Ashley Graham is the perfect example that all you need to look chic in the winter is skinny jeans, a white tee, a faux-fur coat, and ankle boots.
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Why It's Great: Raise your hand if you wore a moto jacket, white tee, and skinny jeans at some point during the 2010s. Exactly.
On Karlie Kloss: Saint Laurent sunglasses; Breaking Hearts & Burning Rubber Karla Jacket ($398); Hanes x Karla The Crew Tee ($30); J Brand Maria Jeans in Vanity ($189); Christian Louboutin shoes
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Why It's Great: Leave it to J.Lo to turn skinny jeans into a pretty outfit the entire internet would be talking about (including us).
On Jennifer Lopez: Jennifer Fisher Maeve Hoops ($950); Balmain blazer; Christian Louboutin shoes
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Why It's Great: This comfortable outfit, complete with off-the-shoulder sweater, sock boots, and fedora is a popular look that the 2010s will be remembered for.
On Chrissy Teigen: Rails sweater; Aerin bag; Tony Bianco shoes
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Why It's Great: Remember earlier in the decade when everyone was wearing Alexander McQueen scarves and very high heels with their skinny jeans? Now you do, thanks to Miranda Kerr and this perfect example of early-2010s style.
On Miranda Kerr: Alexander McQueen scarf; Balenciaga jacket; Prada bag; Nobody Denim jeans; Tabitha Simmons boots
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Why It's Great: Brigitte Macron just about broke the internet when she appeared in this cute skinny-jean outfit with Rihanna in Paris. It was as polished as it was cool.
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Next up, the shoes we hardly ever see celebs wear with skinny jeans anymore.
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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