Short answer: you’re not being forced to ditch them – but fashion has definitely moved on. But are we really ready to go “clean”?

We have been to many denim previews these past months. And we have also checked out – and posted about – fashion shows and fashion events.

And let’s face it, most of the looks this fall and also this coming fall and winter season tend to look cleaner, slimmer, “more behaved”. But are we really ready to go there?

Well, personally, I go by – I wear what I feel good in and what I love, and if you don’t like it, then don’t look at me! So no, I am not really a fashion follower when it comes to my denim.

To make it easier for you to decide which way you want to go this coming summer and fall, we broke down some of the fashion “rules” for you.

And always remember, you don’t need to follow fashion, but rather create your own fashion 😉 – which we think is much more fun, anyway!

Heavily ripped jeans → basically on pause

“Overly ripped… completely outdated in 2026”
Big shredding and destruction now feel too chaotic
The shift is toward clean, finished denim

Translation:
You can still wear your beloved distressed bad boys – but they no longer look current

Extremely oversized and baggy jeans → losing momentum

Dramatically oversized cuts are beginning to feel outdated
Super baggy silhouettes are seen as overwhelming and less versatile

But there is an important nuance:

Extreme baggy is fading
Controlled volume is in

What’s replacing them

The tendency is towards balance and polish:

Straight-leg / stovepipe jeans
Tailored wide-leg (not huge)
Bootcut & mid-rise ’90s fits
Clean dark as well as clean light washes

Bottom line

Ripped jeans: outdated if heavily distressed
Oversized jeans: still around, but less extreme
New direction: polished, balanced, intentional denim

Some suggestions so that you don’t have to toss your favorites: Just update how you wear them. Like, instead of wearing your ripped, baggy jeans with a hoodie, try a structured blazer with a clean tee and a belt.

You can find some “moderately” ripped and “not so” baggy jeans below to help you refresh your denim closet!