The most popular denim trend the year you were born

Jessica BoothMar 4, 2021, 22:20 IST

Jack Kay/Theo Wargo/Getty

Some denim trends never die. Jack Kay/Theo Wargo/Getty

Jeans have been around since the mid-1800s and they've undergone a lot of changes.
In the 1990s, big and baggy jeans were a popular trend.
In the 2000s, skinny jeans and colorful jeans began gaining popularity.

Fashion trends come and go, but denim jeans are one item of clothing that will always be a staple in many closets.

It's the particular style of denim that changes year after year, some decades seeing a rise in baggy jeans, others full of tight, low-rise moments.

Here is a glimpse at what jeans looked like the year you were born:

The mid-1800s - 1930: Jeans make their debut and are known for being durable and practical, not stylish.

A photograph of two miners outside of the Last Chance Mine while wearing Levi jeans in Placer County, California, circa 1882. Fotosearch/Getty Archives

1930 - 1953: Jeans were Western-inspired and just getting popular.

Marlon Brando wore jeans on screen and off. Hulton Archive

1954 - 1956: Boxy jeans were in style, and they were usually cuffed.

These were all the rage. Getty/Ron Case

1957 - 1959: Pairing jeans with a white T-shirt became a trend.

Brigitte Bardot also paired jeans with boots and sweaters. Sydney O'Meara

Early 1960s: Denim became more flared, more embellished, and more fitted.

They started getting hippie-inspired elements. AP/Kemp

1964 - 1965: Jeans were tight at the waist and flared at the bottom.

Fit and flare was the goal. AP/Jean Jacques Levy

1966 -1968: Boot-cut jeans took over.

In 1967, the flow of the boot-cut jean was perfect for any free spirit. Getty/ed West

1969: Flared jeans came back.

They weren't gone for long. AP

1970: Jeans were more ragged and embellished.

They got more and more embellished. AP

1971: They were more fitted in the waist.

It balanced off the boxy, flare bottoms. Getty/Jack Kay

1972: Bell bottoms made their way into the spotlight.

Their popularity grew. Getty/Central Press

1973 - 1974: Unfinished hems were on the most popular jeans.

An unfinished finish was in. Getty

1975 - 1976: Elephant bells became the new bell bottoms.

Even Elvis (left) rocked them. Getty/David Ashdown

1977: Slim, straight leg jeans had a punk-inspired vibe to them.

Slim jeans became a major trend. Getty/Aubrey Hart

1978: Jeans became darker and tighter.

Sassoon jeans were popular. AP

1979: Daisy Dukes took the place of jeans.

These became totally on-trend. Gene Trindl

1980: Jeans became much baggier.

They got baggier. AP/Ron Frehm

1981: Jeans became more sexy.

The ad was iconic. Calvin Klein

1982: Jordache jeans were the biggest trend.

Heidi Klum even launched a collection with them. Getty/Charley Galley

1983: Denim was high-waisted and cuffed.

The high waist is key.

1984: High-waisted jeans had a slightly tapered leg.

The bottoms were only tapered slightly. Getty/Jo Hale

1985: Jeans were tighter and cropped.

Jeans got tighter. Getty

1986: Faded, acid-wash jeans took over.

Acid wash was in. Getty/Ian Gavan

1987: The acid-wash jeans got a little more destroyed.

Destroyed jeans were in. Getty/Jon Kopaloff

1988: Denim-on-denim was a big thing.

Head to toe denim didn't stop in 1988. In 2001, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake brought it back for a red carpet. Mark J. Terrill/AP

1989: Stonewashed jeans still held on as one of the biggest trends.

The worn-in look was trending. Getty/Ben Gabbe

1990: Button-fly jeans were more popular than zipper-fly jeans.

These sorts of jeans relied on buttons. picture alliance / Contributor / Getty

1991: Overalls took the place of regular jeans.

Overalls were the new hit. NBC / Contributor / Getty

1992 - 1993: Simple, straight-leg jeans were all the rage.

Sometimes they had a cuff. Getty/Michael Buckner

1994: Low-rise jeans took hold.

The waistline sat just above the butt. Getty/Evan Agostini

1995 - 1996: Boot-cut jeans came back.

They were a bit straighter than previous boot-cuts. AP/Mike Fiala

1997: It was all about JNCO jeans.

They were all the rage. JNCO

1998: And then it was all about Tommy Hilfiger jeans.

They were typically a darker wash. Getty/Frazer Harrison

1999: Medium-wash, classic jeans became big.

They were even on the red carpet. Getty/Brenda Chase

2000: Blinged-out jeans were a trend.

Bling was a good thing. Getty/Scott Gries

2001: Lace-up jeans were the new thing.

It often was down the sides of the legs. Getty/George De Sota

2002: The belt loops got very large.

Belts were meant to be seen. Getty/George De Sota

2003: Super low-rise flares came back in style.

Sometimes they had a bit of bling. Getty/Chris Weeks

2004: Back pockets disappeared.

They briefly vanished. Getty/Chris Weeks

2005: Capri pants made a comeback.

The cut was popular. Getty/Sean Gallup

2006: Ombré jeans became popular.

Sometimes it was subtle. AP/William Sanjuan

2007: Jeans were low enough to allow your thong to peek out.

Sometimes it peeked through the front, too. Getty

2008: Denim was anything but blue.

Colors and patterns were on trend. Getty/Brendon Thorne

2009: Jeggings took over.

These stretchy jeans were all the rage. Getty/D Dipasupil

2010: Boyfriend jeans made their move.

This style is known to be loose. Christian Vierig / Contributor / Getty Images

2011: Dark-wash skinny jeans became the norm.

Kate Middleton's dark-wash skinny jeans. Samir Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

2012: Jeans became bright and colorful.

Colorful skinny jeans were so trendy. Getty/Evan Agostini

2013: Patchwork denim was popular.

Patches were trendy. David Crotty / Stringer / Getty Images

2014: Overalls made a comeback.

Some even had patterns. Getty/Carlos Alvarez /

2015: Jeans were still skinny, but also high-waisted.

The waistline moved up. Getty/Theo Wargo

2016: Denim was cropped and flared.

They combined two previous trends. Getty/Emma McIntyre

2017: Frayed hems were everywhere.

Jeans were more undone than usual. Georgie Hunter/Getty Images

2018: It was all about exciting new ideas and going viral.

These layered jeans were designed by Rihanna. Stuart C. Wilson/Stringer/Getty Images

2019: Denim jumpsuits and dresses were pretty popular.

These jumpsuits came in a bunch of different styles. Prodip Guha / Contributor / Getty

2020: Jeans weren't a huge trend, but baggy ones with a looser fit were favored.

Loose jeans were favored in 2020. Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

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