Creased Jeans Are Actually On Trend For 2024

From the beginning, jeans were meant to be a very casual take on trousers and slacks. Originally designed for miners and those in similar lines of work, denim was created to withstand the rough and tumble environment that accompanies intense manual labor. But, eventually (and like many things), the rest of the world caught on to just how great jeans are. Once that happened, it didn't take long for them to be embraced by both trendsetters and anyone else who just wanted a comfy and reliable pant. Realizing that jeans had a broader appeal than what they initially intended them for, in 1934 Levi Strauss & Co. introduced the Lady Levi's jeans. It was at that moment that jeans were solidified in fashion history. 

"Jeans are the ultimate wardrobe building block," writer, stylist, and brand consultant, Laurel Pantin, told Marie Claire. "The best jeans are versatile and classic — you can wear denim casually or dressily — and if you care for them properly, you'll have a great pair for years."

Ready to get in on the 2024 denim trends of the moment? Sure you are. Here's all the inspiration you need to embrace creases, pleats, and pintucks in your jeans. 

Who would've thought that denim could be so, well, uptown? Well, it turns out that when you throw in a couple of pleats, a button-down shirt, and a blazer, you actually exceed business casual. In fact, you're dressed to the nines and could even rock this 'fit at a rehearsal dinner for your BFF's wedding. This entire look becomes even more elevated if you add a couple of your favorite pieces from your capsule jewelry collection. 

The fun thing about pleated jeans is that even when you dress them down, so to speak, by wearing them with a t-shirt and sneakers, they still look relatively dressed up. "Denim has become a wardrobe celebrity the past couple of years, and people are wearing denim for everything — the office, date night, and even a night out," professional fashion stylist, Audree Kate López, told Byrdie. "The pleated denim trend is a nod to '90s trousers and makes ultra-baggy denim feel more refined. It adds a little tailoring to the overall silhouette and allows you [to] dress up the denim a little more." In other words, no matter what you pair with your pleated jeans, you'll always look more put together than if you donned pleatless denim.

Another way to quickly add sophistication to a pair of jeans is to iron a crease into them. Even your oldest, baggiest jeans can be given new life with a crease. It will immediately elevate the jeans to the point where they can be worn everywhere and anywhere. It doesn't matter if you wear a tee or a button-down shirt; if your jeans have a crease right down the center, you automatically look cleaned up and ready to impress. 

Pintucks are the easiest way to spruce up anything from shirts to dresses and, yes, even jeans. Pintucks give jeans a polished, put-together look. Wear your pintuck jeans with one of the hottest shoe trends of 2024 like jelly shoes or kitten heels and a chic blouse, or keep the vibe low-key with a pair of sneakers and a tank top. Either way, as long as pintuck jeans are part of the equation, you'll be a total knockout. 

Fun fact: hard-creased jeans were a trend that started with cowboys. In an effort to keep their denim free of dirt and other grime to minimize the need to wash them all the time, cowboys starched their jeans. In doing so, a crease was created down the center of each leg, also called a traveler's crease, which meant the jeans could be transported and the crease would stay intact. With that in mind, if you want to keep things classic with your creased denim, then the obvious choice to pair them with is cowboy boots, and maybe even a cowboy-inspired shirt. Even if you don't wrangle horses for a living, it doesn't mean you can't embrace the style of those who do.