Some trends make you feel like you need an entirely new wardrobe. And then there are the ones that make you look at a pair of jeans you already own and think, “Wait… was that really all I had to do?”
The latest denim detail having a fashion moment is exactly that kind of trend: incredibly simple on paper, but surprisingly effective in real life.
I'm talking about turned-up jeans — denim with a deliberately visible cuff that's becoming increasingly relevant as we start shifting our wardrobes from late summer into autumn.
And my favourite part?
You don't necessarily need to buy anything to try it.
The look works less as a completely new denim silhouette and more as a styling trick that can be applied to jeans you already own, particularly straight, loose and wider cuts. The cuffed look has also appeared on recent runways and has been worn by names including Kristen Stewart, Kendall Jenner, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna.
And this is exactly the kind of fashion I'm increasingly interested in: not necessarily “buy something new,” but rather “look differently at what you already have.”
One cuff can completely change a basic pair of jeans
Think about it.
Straight jeans, a T-shirt and flats could be the most ordinary outfit imaginable.
But fold the hem into one large, deliberate cuff and suddenly the whole thing feels considered.
Not perfect. Not over-styled.
Intentional.
And there's a huge difference.
The cuff creates a graphic line near the ankle, changes the proportions of the jeans and immediately draws attention towards your shoes.
It's one of those tiny details that can make an outfit built entirely around basics suddenly feel interesting.
And maybe that's the secret behind so many of the looks we keep saving on Instagram and Pinterest. They're not always made up of spectacular clothes.
Sometimes they simply have one ordinary piece styled extraordinarily well.
The best part? You may already own the perfect pair
Vogue notes that the idea works particularly well on loose-fitting and straight-leg denim because there's more fabric available to create the cuff. And while brands are now selling jeans with exaggerated turn-ups built in, the easiest route into the trend is still DIY: simply cuff a pair you already own.
Personally, that's exactly where I'd start.
That pair of jeans that's always been slightly too long?
Perfect.
The oversized, almost menswear-inspired pair that you've never been completely sure how to style?
Even better.
In fact, I almost prefer creating the cuff yourself rather than buying denim that's already designed that way.
It feels less like “I bought the trend” and more like personal styling.
And that will always feel more chic to me.
It's not actually new — and that's what makes it interesting
One of the most nostalgic references mentioned by Vogue is Jennifer Aniston, who was already wearing rolled-up jeans with sandals around the late '90s and early 2000s. Those images are still circulating on social media today as effortless style inspiration.
And this is something I love about fashion: we constantly call things “new” when, in reality, they've simply been waiting for the right moment to return.
But the comeback is never identical.
What may once have looked casual and spontaneous is being reinterpreted now as a much more deliberate styling choice — often with larger, more visible, exaggerated cuffs.
Fashion rarely comes back exactly as it was. It comes back with a different intention.
How I'd style turned-up jeans
My rule would be simple: if the hem is already making a statement, let the rest of the outfit breathe.
1. With a white tee and ballet flats
Probably the easiest combination — and maybe the chicest.
Loose jeans. A strong cuff. A soft white T-shirt. Ballet flats.
Done.
I'd add a structured bag and sunglasses to make everything feel more polished without losing that effortless quality that makes the outfit work.
2. With an oversized shirt and sandals
For the last few weeks of summer, this might be my favourite version.
Oversized shirt, turned-up denim and minimal sandals.
The jeans keep everything relaxed while the cuff exposes enough of the ankle to let the shoes become part of the look.
It's also exactly the kind of combination that can carry you from late August into those first cooler days.
3. With a blazer and loafers
This is where the cuff almost starts feeling tailored.
A clean oversized blazer, simple tank, dark denim and loafers.
I love the contrast: something classic on top, something slightly playful underneath.
Vogue also notes that cuffed denim appeared across recent runway collections styled with pieces including cropped jackets, smaller cardigans, blazers and knitted tops.
4. With slingbacks or heels
Want to make the trend feel instantly more sophisticated?
Just change the shoes.
Wide jeans + exaggerated cuff + delicate slingbacks.
It's one of those combinations that works precisely because nothing is trying too hard to be polished.
The trick that makes the cuff look intentional
There's a difference between “I rolled my jeans because they're too long” and “the cuff is part of the outfit.”
That difference mostly comes down to proportion.
Instead of several tiny rolls, I'd go for one wider, cleaner fold, particularly with loose denim.
Then stand in front of a full-length mirror.
The cuff should look like part of the silhouette rather than something you added five seconds before leaving the house.
And pay attention to your shoes.
Because if there's one thing this trend does beautifully, it's put them in the spotlight.
Before buying another pair of jeans, try this
Maybe this is what I like most about the trend.
We live in a fashion cycle where every week seems to introduce another “must-have”. A new fit. A new length. A new colour. Another micro-trend waiting to replace the last one.
But sometimes styling is far more exciting than shopping.
There's something satisfying about taking jeans you've worn a hundred times and suddenly seeing them differently.
So before searching for a brand-new pair of turned-up jeans, experiment.
Open your wardrobe.
Take out your simplest denim.
Make one oversized cuff.
Change your shoes.
See what happens.
Because sometimes we don't need new clothes. We need new ways of looking at the clothes we already own.
And that, to me, is exactly the kind of trend worth saving.
Would you wear it? Tell me how you'd style turned-up jeans — and whether there's a slightly-too-long pair hiding in your wardrobe that's suddenly found its moment.
Sometimes all a pair of jeans needs is one good cuff.
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