8 Skinny-Jean Mistakes to Give Up Once and for All

Skinny jeans may be the most popular denim style, but the general consensus is that they're also the most difficult to wear and shop for. The fit and length generally need to be close to perfect, and because of their formfitting nature, they don't work with just any top or pair of shoes. That said, when you keep a few key styling and shopping rules in mind, we can guarantee that your future will be filled with flawless skinny-jean outfits.
In recent seasons, the stylish street style set has been stepping out in more straight-leg, cropped-flare, and other directional styles. Throughout the most recent fashion month, however, we were somewhat surprised to find that there were more skinny jean–wearing show attendees than usual. While we could speculate why, we're thinking that the oversize blazers and slouchy boots that were everywhere (and happen to look the best with skinnies) may have had something to do with it. Whatever the reason, we seized the opportunity to reflect on what mistakes to avoid so you'll never have to question how to wear skinny jeans again.
Keep reading to find out the eight skinny-jean mistakes to give up once and for all, and then shop stylish pairs that will lead to many on-point outfits.
DON'T: Let a less-than-perfect fit elude you
DO: Throw on a cool belt
DON'T: Try to stuff them into too-tight boots
DO: Invest in the slouchy boot trend
DON'T: Get sloppy
DO: Add polish by tucking in a voluminous top
DON'T: Forgo cropped styles when wearing heels
DO: Elongate your legs by showing some ankle
DON'T: Opt for tight-fitting tops
DO: Play with oversize proportions
DON'T: Choose boring outerwear
DO: Show your personality with a cool coat
DON'T: Only wear them with a T-shirt
DO: Think outside the box in terms of layering
Related: The Skinny Jean Style I Would Never Wear With Ankle Boots
DON'T: Let skinny jeans bunch at the ankles
DO: Choose skinnies that skim the tops of your ankle boots
SHOP OUR SKINNY-JEAN PICKS
These are Cindy Crawford–approved.Available in sizes 23 to 32.
Related: The Sneakers That Look Best With Skinny Jeans
These wallet-friendly jeans have earned a cult following in Hollywood.Available in sizes 24 to 33.
This post was updated by Anna LaPlaca.

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 arts. 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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