The 4 Denim Trends Defining Fall in New York City
Take it from the city's It girls.
If I had to pick one denim trend to symbolize summer 2025, it would be the jort. The past few months will be remembered in fashion history as the time when style set stole big, baggy jean shorts from middle-aged dads and made them their own. But after weeks of seeing those salt-of-the-earth shorts on every Manhattan block, at the Marie Claire HQ, and at various fashion events I attended, I'm now noticing early signs of fall 2025’s denim trends.
The city's climate remains more like a humid Everglades swamp, with "feels like" temperatures staying in the high 80s, so denim Bermuda shorts wouldn't be out of place. Yet, stylish New Yorkers would rather spend the rest of August in a pair of slim, almost skinny jeans. (For the uninitiated, brands like Prada, Isabel Marant, and Khaite all showcased straight-leg denim on their Fall 2025 runways.) They prefer low-rise, baggy jeans and dark indigo denim with hems that touch the ground. It's a clear sign: NYC's fashion crowd has moved on from the jort's moment in the sun; now it’s time to determine fall 2025's key denim silhouette.
The jury is still out on exactly which silhouette that'll be, but I guarantee it's one of the four below that I've seen all over NYC, from SoHo to the Upper West Side and downtown Brooklyn. Keep scrolling for a preview and pick your favorite of fall's denim trends by adding one to your fall wardrobe early.
Indigo Denim
Without question, the only denim wash you want for this fall is dark blue, almost violet indigo. On my way to work from Brooklyn to midtown Manhattan, one of my fellow subway commuters was wearing a fantastic pair of wide-leg jeans in a shade so dark, the pants were nearly black. I'm personally considering adding Mother's barrel-leg jeans to my rotation, since the tapered silhouette is a consistent favorite among tastemakers.
Low-Rise and Loose
The baggy jeans trend continues, with this fall specifically emphasizing lower rises. Think: just below the belly button—a fit that, yes, might be outside your high-waist comfort zone but remains wearable in a way that the low-slung, hipbone-level bottoms from the early 2000s weren't.
Straight-Leg Jeans
Alternatively, if you've grown tired of the roomy and relaxed look, consider a slimmer, straighter leg. The fit doesn't have to be skin-tight—just make sure the pant legs don't blow in the breeze, and you'll align with fall's straight-leg denim style. I already own Alex Mill's Carla denim trouser (a tried and true capital-H Hero item in my fall rotation), but like the idea of a jet-black pair like Mother's.
Embellished Jeans
Just like crows, ravens, and magpies can't resist shiny objects, the fashion crowd can't either. Over the past week, I've seen women wearing denim decorated with crystals, sequins, and pearls. I also love Zara's version of the decorative denim trend that is more about decoration than sparkle: a pair of lighter wash, wide-leg jeans that already feature the It-girl-favorite scarf belt trend.
