The darkest shade of denim you need in your wardrobe.
Black Jeans
When you want the comfort of jeans but need the polished look of pants, black jeans are a lifesaver.
Blue jeans are more casual, so black jeans can be an excellent choice for business casual outfits. Ultimately, black is dressier and lets you get away with wearing jeans to work, bridal showers, holidays, or any other occasion when you just aren’t feeling a dress or pants.
The Trend
As you can see from many fashion trend reports, the current denim trend is light and faded but classic darker washes are still strong as well.
RELATED: 18 Best Black Ankle Boots for 2023
Style Tip: when to wear black jeans
Beyond versatile and comfortable, do yourself a favor and buy more than one pair—you’ll always have a style that works.
Style Variety
Black jeans aren’t just available in the same styles as your favorite blue jeans, there are even plenty of cuts that are more in line with your favorite work pants.
If you’re shopping for a business casual approved denim, opt for a solid black wash in a straight-leg silhouette.
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Vintage Style
If vintage is your style, there are ’70s flares and ’90s high-rises a plenty. You can also shop in the best “lived in” faded, ripped jeans to raw edge ankle-cropped denim. After all, you can’t have too many black jeans.
How to Shop
Finding just the right black jeans takes time and plenty of denim expertise. But we have good news! We’ve scoured the internet and found 14 pairs of black jeans (with helpful tips!) for you to add to your closet.
Our Top Picks
Best Black Straight Jeans
What We Love: A modern straight fit creates a pair of black denim you can wear anywhere. A timeless style with a high-rise, button fly with a slim straight cut throughout the leg.
Made with organic and recycled cotton, and created using water-saving techniques, this is an eco-friendly, sustainable pair of jeans you’ll love wearing.
Pros: Organic and recycled cotton
Cons: Runs big
Helpful Tip! Shopping for denim with little to no stretch can be a challenge, so we’ve taken the browsing out of the equation.
Best Black Boyfriend Jeans
What We Love: This tailored boyfriend style is all the more stylish in black. It sits low at the waist, and at the ankle you can roll up the cuff or keep it loose. It’s chic either way.
Super soft yet stretchy fabric, these will be your new favorite comfortable pair of jeans.
Pros: Premium denim
Cons: Oversized fit
Helpful Tip! If you love skinny jeans and want to try a trendier take without straying too far into wide leg silhouettes, opt for this tailored style. You can also size down for a more fitted look.
Best Black High Waist Jeans
What We Love: Black high-rise straight jeans are ultra trendy this season since it really embraces the ’90s style.
Built with stretch, this pair is comfortable, so you can do anything from weekend errands to dancing all night at a concert.
Vintage details like the frayed hem keep this from being super polished yet creates a cool vibe.
Pros: Full length
Cons: Frayed hem
Helpful Tip! Abercrombie makes their jeans in multiple lengths from 26.5” to 32.5” so you’re sure to find the right inseam, no hemming needed!
Best Black Ripped Jeans
What We Love: Deconstructed black jeans give that perfect lived-in appearance.
The knee holes also allow airflow, making these a great pair of black denim for summer. Zipper fly, frayed hem, and five pockets round out the details of a very wearable pair of jeans.
Pros: Knee holes
Cons: Casual appearance
Helpful Tip! Keep it casual, or balance the ripped jeans with heels and a silky top.
Best Black Jeggings
What We Love: There’s a reason why jeggings are still popular, they are cozy and offer a flexible fit.
With tunics, oversized sweaters, or swingy tanks; black jeggings feel like your go-to leggings with a bit more polish. Lightweight with a pull-on waistband, these will show off all your curves.
Customer Review: Reviewers rave about the thick material and practicality: “ORDER these immediately! They are so soft and comfortable, you forget you are not wearing sweatpants! I LOVE these pants for work. Ordered black, green, faded black, and blue. I love them all!”
Pros: Elastic waistband
Cons: Fake pockets
Best Faded Black Jeans
What We Love: Faded black washes deliver a vintage look that is as easy to wear as dark jet black.
This style from AG Jeans has a slouchy boyfriend fit with a slimmer leg and combines beautifully with the lighter shade. With an effortlessly cool vibe, these jeans will be your go-to for nights out.
Pros: Vintage look
Cons: Faded is more casual
Helpful Tip! Pair this with everything from a white bodysuit to a black hoodie. Just switch up your shoes to match the occasion.
Best Black Straight Cropped Jeans
What We Love: The Levi’s ribcage jeans are a classic cut of denim.
Their appeal is the wearable silhouette that sits above the waist and stays slim through the hip and thigh. Button fly helps define the waist while the ankle length creates a versatile look for you to make your own.
Customer Review: According to reviewers, they recommend sizing down since “they do stretch when you wear them. However, after having so many Levi’s I know they shrink over time. I know they will fit great for the long run!”
Pros: Timeless style
Cons: Button fly
Best Black Cropped Jean
What We Love: Just in time for the ankle-exposing season, this pair of black cropped jeans will effortlessly work with any sandal, heeled or flat.
A vintage style mid-weight denim with a bit of stretch, keeps the fit comfortable as leggings. These black relaxed-fit jeans will pair nicely with crop tops since it’s high-waist.
Pros: Relaxed leg
Cons: Shorter length
Helpful Tip! A crop top doesn’t have to be itty bitty to be considered cropped. Opt for one that ends at your hip bones to stay on trend and within your comfort zone.
Best Tapered Leg Black Jean
What We Love: These jeans have over 58,000 five-star reviews on Amazon for a reason; they’re comfortable and flattering.
A tapered leg gives a natural and slim look without the tight or skinny. Contoured through hips and thighs with a high rise, these offer a streamlined and refined look.
Pros: Available in tall, plus, and short
Cons: Slimmer fit
Helpful Tip! Buying jeans in person is tricky enough, and online can be even harder. Reviewers used the “try it before you buy program.It eliminates the return process, which is so helpful.”
Best Skinny Crop Black Jean
What We Love: While it may not be the most popular leg shape, some women will never give up their skinnies. Why? They are flattering, like the B(AIR) from Seven.
These will highlight curves and keep your look polished. Ankle length also makes pairing the right shoes a breeze.
Pros: Extensive size range
Cons: Skinny jeans not trending
Helpful Tip!: Just because younger shoppers are moving away from skinnies doesn’t mean you have to. Opt for trending accessories, like chunky loafers or a claw clip, to keep you looking fashionable.
Best Black Palazzo Jeans
What We Love: The cropped, wide jean trend has made palazzo silhouettes a highly sought after look. Rock your ’70s vibes in this pair constructed of stretch denim with an easy fit.
Pros: Stretch fabric
Cons: Crop length
Helpful Tip! Balance the length and volume by tucking in your top. And finish off the look with loafers and a crossbody.
Best Affordable Black Jean
What We Love: There’s no reason to pay lots of money for a dressy pair of black jeans. Easy to purchase on Amazon, this skinny jean is extremely reasonably priced and comfortable with a mid-rise waistband.
Slim silhouettes always look elevated, so this pair are great jeans to have on hand.
Customer Review: Reviewers agree with us: “I’m back to order a few more pairs for the upcoming fall season! I wear them so often. They are my favorite jeans and go with everything.”
Pros: Mid-rise waistband
Cons: Snug fit
Trendiest Pair of Black Jeans
What We Love: Appropriately named the horseshoe jean after the curved shape, this bottom from Citizen of Humanity has a unique cut. The leg starts wide at the hip and then tapers slightly.
Finishing off the look is a cropped ankle with a fray that will pair nicely with mary janes, loafers, heels, and sandals.
Pros: Relaxed fit
Cons: Trendy silhouette
Helpful Tip! This oversized silhouette has a more relaxed fit, so if you’re looking for a closer—but still trendy—fit we recommend sizing down.
Best Black Coated Denim Jean
What We Love: The beauty of coated denim is that it lends the look of leather pants with more flexibility.
In particular, this pair is constructed with an innovative fabric that smooths, conforms, and lifts your booty. Unlike other jeans, this pair won’t lose its shape.
Wear it as much as you want, and it will look just as it did the first time you slipped them on.
Pros: Smooths and lifts
Cons: Fitted
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Black Jeans Outfits
Another highlight of black jeans is they can really take on different looks.
Black wide-leg denim feels retro especially when paired with platform loafers, while destroyed black denim and combat boots invokes an edgy rock-and-roll look. It can be a professional, office-appropriate piece when paired with a blouse and blazer.
And when you are looking for a go-to first date look, there’s nothing sexier than fitted black jeans and a silky camisole.
What to Look for
Material: While most denim is constructed of cotton, some styles have other fabric woven through to create some stretch.
Fit: The black shade doesn’t matter as much as having a few fits so you’ll be able to play around with different outfit looks.
Size: Stick to your typical denim size, just make sure to check the inseam length when browsing cropped and wide leg silhouettes.
Pro Tip 😎
Wash black jeans inside out to prevent fading.
FAQ
Are black jeans in style in 2023?
Because of their versatility, black jeans are always in style.
How to look classy in black jeans?
Consider black jeans a clean slate. What you pair them with can make all the difference. To keep the look classy: wear blazers, blouses, and sweaters on top and boots, heels, and flats on the bottom.
What shoes go best with black jeans?
Anything, as long as they work with the leg shape and length. Heels, loafers, and sandals—sky’s the limit.
Do black jeans look professional?
Black jeans are professional as long as they aren’t ripped or faded.
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