The 24 Best Jeans for Women Over 50 in 2024

Why We Love It: If you haven’t tried the new Abercrombie, let this be your sign to give it a try. Its jeans are awesome: they come in five inseams, as well as a ton of sizes and colors, and they’re machine washable and dryer-friendly. As an obvious plus, the mix of cotton with a touch of elastane in the body of the jean makes it very comfortable and stretchy, according to reviews. This is a best-selling style that also comes in a curvy style. You may need to play around with sizing to find your perfect fit, and some reviewers note that they experienced some tearing in the back (so size up if your true size is tight, in other words). But the value here is extremely high.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 23.5, 25.5, 27.5, 29.5, 31.5 inches | Size: 23–37

Why We Love It: H&M is always a solid choice for the denim shopper on a budget, and it’s not just designed for the younger folks. This is a high waist style designed to be a relaxed fit (meaning it’s not designed to be tight or uncomfortable). We chose this mid-blue color that’s artfully faded in the thighs; that pattern can have an elongating, narrowing effect that you might not get with a jean that’s all one color. It’s a classic denim wash, in other words, but it’s not going to make you feel wider or bulky. Do note, of course, that these might not last as long as a splurge-y pair.

Material: Cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester | Colors: 4 | Inseam: 31 inches | Size: 0–20

Why We Love It: What’s wonderful about these L’Agence pants is that they come in two versions: subtle stretch and super stretch. Both of them are designed to hug your figure from waist to knee, but the stretchier option gives more breathing room without sacrificing shape or hold. With a flattering bootcut style and a bunch of colors to choose from, reviewers say the jeans feel incredibly soft. They’re slimming, they’re sleek, and they’re also extremely wearable for long periods. As the category implies, they’re an investment, but the price-per-wear is low. Do note, also, that the inseam is long, so you may need to have them hemmed.

Material: Cotton, Repreve polyester, spandex | Colors: 9 | Inseam: 34 inches | Size: 23–34

Why We Love It: Cole loves the brand; it has inclusive sizing, and it’s one-size-fits-four, meaning the jean can stretch to fit you if your size changes. If you’re a size 8, for example, you would buy the size 6–12, and it would fit you so long as you’re in that size range. Good American is also awesome with returns and exchanges, should you feel you need to go up or down a size once you’ve made your purchase. This classic slim style is designed to be fitted through the torso and upper legs, which gives a lifted, lengthening, curvy effect (reviewers say their butt looks great and their legs look long, in other words).

Material: Cotton, recycled cotton, Elasterel-P, recycled polyester, elastane | Colors: 2 | Inseam: 28 inches | Size: 00–32

Why We Love It: Non-stretch denim isn’t for everyone—but with a material that won’t get looser over time, you get a high-quality look and feel. If you’re dipping a toe into a rigid jean, choose a more relaxed fit like this one, and think about sizing up. The denim is very comfortable (I speak from experience) and high-quality, so once you find the size that fits, this pair will last you a long time. Also, Reformation does basic tailoring for free…which is great, because this inseam is long!

Material: Cotton, Tencel | Colors: 12 | Inseam: 32 inches | Size: 23–34

Why We Love It: For jeans that “celebrate your features,” snag a pair of these Levi’s shaping jeans. According to reviewers, they have great control, in the abdominal area especially, and they’re a softer version compared to some of their other styles. This also comes in medium- and high-stretch options, although the latter only has one color available; for a lot of reviewers, though, the medium stretch was perfect. This runs true to size, and the fact that you can machine wash it and throw it in the dryer (without it falling apart or changing shape) is a plus for the person who doesn’t have time to air-dry their jeans.

Material: Cotton, polyester, Ecovero, Lycra | Colors: 9 | Inseam: 30, 32, 34 inches | Size: 23–34

Why We Love It: Cole loves American Eagle jeans: “They have such great stretch and I love how they don’t have gapping in the back,” she says. If you’re unfamiliar with its “strigid” pants (made of stretchy material in the back and rigid material in the front), it’s a brilliant concept. It gives you the support and structure in the front, including a high waist style, but there’s still plenty of stretch—including in the waistband. The inseams range from extra-short to extra-long, and there’s also a curvy option. Reviewers say they last for years without losing their shape or degrading.

Material: Cotton, recycled cotton | Colors: 4 | Inseam: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 inches | Size: 000–24

Why We Love It: Mavi’s Feather Blue collection means that these jeans are mid-weight, stretchy, and extremely sustainable without sacrificing quality. While a lot of boyfriend jeans tend to hang lower on the body with a looser fit throughout, this has a higher rise (10 inches in front, 15.5 inches in back). This, plus a more tapered fit, means that it won’t look or feel saggy on your body but still give you the overall shape of a boyfriend jean. Mavi carries the Kathleen in a multitude of colors, so you can pick and choose the hue that best matches your aesthetic.

Material: Cotton, Tencel, polyester, recycled cotton, elastane | Colors: 8 | Inseam: 28, 30 inches | Size: 24–32

Why We Love It: An investment? Certainly, but if you like cropped jeans, this is a quality purchase in a classic color. A cropped pant works well particularly if you have longer legs or a shorter waist (although you don’t need either of those things to like a cropped pant. Sometimes you might just want to show off a great shoe!). Reviewers, including those over 50, rave about the softness and comfort—they’re not too heavyweight for warmer weather, and don’t have uncomfortable seams or pocket placement. Apparently, they run large and stretch a bit with time, so keep that in mind when selecting your size.

Material: Cotton, spandex| Colors: 1 | Inseam: 26 inches | Size: 23–34

Why We Love It: If you want a really cropped style that hits just below the knee, this Lyssé pair has a truly short inseam. They also have a smoothing waistband for a body-hugging fit, and four-way stretch: think of these as basically jean leggings. But, unlike a lot of jeggings, these won’t stretch beyond recognition within a few wears; they’re designed to be resilient (and the high percentage of cotton helps it retain its shape). Fewer seams and pockets also make for greater comfort.

Material: Cotton, spandex | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 21 inches | Size: XS–XL

Why We Love It: Stitch Fix stylist Heather Rohm loves this affordable pair “for a variety of occasions, but especially when you want an elevated look. I love pairing a bootcut jean with a heel—so chic!” she explains. If you’re unfamiliar, a dark, pretty indigo color like this is flattering on many bodies because it makes legs look longer and leaner. The boot cut (so named because it’s not as wide as a true flare but has enough of an opening at the bottom to fit a boot underneath it) hugs through the hips and knees for a flattering shape regardless of body type.

Material: Cotton, polyester, rayon, spandex | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 29 inches | Size: 0–16

Why We Love It: This is a wider flare that still isn’t too intense, which means you still look taller without the style overwhelming your frame. This comes in a bunch of colors; the darker rinses will make you look especially long and lean, while the lighter styles give off that “classic” vibe of a traditional jean. The medium denim is a nice compromise between the lighter and darker styles, and the scissor-cut hem is a nice modern touch. The brand notes that they will soon have extended sizing on this pair, too.

Material: Cotton, polyester, spandex | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 32 inches | Size: 24–32

Why We Love It: Like other heritage brands on this list, True Religion went through a design revamp of their denim—resulting in a more modern version of its classic jean. They’re designed to be lifting and shaping in a super-chic way, but from my experience they were just snug, comfortable, and extremely flattering (they basically felt like leggings with a bit heavier material). There’s extended sizing for those who want it and a gap-proof waist for a smoother fit. It’s a mid-rise style, meaning it’s not as high of a rise as others on this list, but the hold and fit are top-notch.

Material: Cotton, polyester, viscose, elastane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 29 inches | Size: 22–24

Why We Love It: Citing this pair as a perfect example, Nordstrom’s Associate Fashion Director Linda Cui Zhang explains, “The wide-leg cropped jean is a universally figure-flattering and forgiving silhouette. The timeless style looks modern paired with an essential tee and strappy flat sandal for summer, and transitions to cooler months with a favorite knit and a city boot.” COS does high-quality basics well, at a lower price point than other good denim. This is a loose trouser style (so the seams won’t be digging into your body), but the darker wash means the wide legs won’t look too overwhelming on even a short person.

Material: Cotton, linen | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 31 inches | Size: 2–14

Why We Love It: Madewell does high-quality jeans extremely well, and that includes a style that you might not normally gravitate to (i.e., a lower rise and wider style). The material is extremely soft and drapey for added comfort, but there’s no stretch—which means that it’s not going to slide off your hips like a lot of low-rise pants do. This comes in a petite, tall, and curvy option, too, if a straight, standard style isn’t going to work for you. You can customize the look and feel of this pant to make it work for you, essentially.

Material: Regenerative cotton | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 30 inches | Size: 23–33

Why We Love It: Agolde’s straight-leg jeans are beloved for their sturdy construction and ultra-classic appeal, even when they’re lightly worn. If you go with a distressed pair of denim, you want to make sure it’s a well-made brand (holes in your jeans can mean the pair won’t last as long or hold up as well, especially with repeated washes). Because they’re made with regenerative cotton, the jeans get softer as you wash them. It’s not a stretchy material, but it is designed to fit loose, so you can take your true size. The distressing is primarily at the knees, and it will look more “weathered” with time but won’t split or ruin the garment if you wear and wash it regularly. Note: if you’re short, the distressing might not hit exactly at the knees.

Material: Regenerative cotton | Colors: 9 | Inseam: 29 inches | Size: 22–34

Why We Love It: The shape of this might feel a tiny bit intimidating when you look at it: tight at the waist, then curved outwards towards the knee and curved in towards the ankle (hence its “barrel” moniker). But it’s actually more subtle than it looks, and it makes for an excellent shape—particularly if you carry weight in your waist or hips. Unlike other Everlane jeans, this one actually does have some stretch in it, which is great for an easier, more comfy fit. This even comes in regular and tall options if you need a different inseam.

Material: Regenerative cotton, elastane | Colors: 5 | Inseam: 26.5, 28.5 inches | Size: 23–33

Why We Love It: As the name implies, a denim trouser is just a pair of jeans that’s designed to look and feel like a tailored pant. Karen Millen makes great trousers—so it stands to reason that its denim version is just as well-made and tailored. This one nips in tight at the waist, so it doesn’t look too overwhelmingly wide even in a lighter color like this. It also has cool details at the waist for some visual interest, and a deeper blue color if you like a more classic denim look.

Material: Cotton, viscose/rayon, polyester | Colors: 2 | Inseam: Not listed (total length 45 inches) | Size: 2–12

Why We Love It: If you want the look of denim but the feel of a pajama, choose a chambray pant. Splendid is known for its highly comfortable clothing, and it’s no surprise this is a best seller: it has a drawstring waist and a loose and flowy feel (perfect for the warmer months!). It’s made of 100 percent Lyocell, so it’s lighter than cotton, but it still has that classic denim color. If jeans make you uncomfortable—even the more worn, stretchy ones—this is your best bet.

Material: Lyocell | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 25 inches | Size: XS–XL

Why We Love It: NYDJ is short for Not Your Daughter’s Jeans—which means the brand makes denim with moms and more mature women in mind! They have “lift tuck” technology to flatten at the waist and support in the back; this pull-on style means you don’t have to worry about buttons or a zipper in the front (which can cause chafing). There’s a bit of stretch here but not so much that you’ll lose the shape; it runs large, so you may want to size it down when you order. In my experience, these are some of the most comfortable jeans you could put on.

Material: Tencel Lyocell matte, cotton, Elastomultiester, Lycra elastane | Colors: 3 | Inseam: 27 inches | Size: XS–XXL

Why We Love It: This comes in petite and tall as well as the traditional classic style. It fits slim and has a small crop “kick” (meaning it flares out slightly towards the ankle). As with all J. Crew items, it’s thoughtfully made, with gold buttons, two small and pretty pockets in front, and a straight shape. White denim can be tricky, requiring a lot of trial and error, so it’s a good choice to invest in a pair like this that gives a streamlined shape and looks even pricier than it is. Reviewers say it’s comfy as heck and not transparent, meaning you can’t see your underwear through it.

Material: Regenagri-certified cotton | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 27 inches | Size: 24–37

Why We Love It: The key with black denim is quality: you want to make sure the dye is deep and resilient to multiple washes (and throwing it in the dryer, if need be). This Jones New York pair has all those qualities, plus it has black studs and buttons so that the whole garment looks black. FYI, the inseam is long, so this might need a little tailoring; reviewers love how soft and comfortable the pair is, but do note that the sizing runs a bit big—so size down, especially if you like your pants to fit tighter in the leg.

Material: Cotton, polyester, Lyocell, rayon, spandex | Colors: 6 | Inseam: 31 inches | Size: 2–16

Why We Love It: I find it difficult to describe just how comfortable these pants are. The material is outlandishly soft and light (so despite the darker color, you can wear this in summer). They’re a wide-leg but conservative cut, so it doesn’t feel like your lower half is wide and/or stumpy. Because it’s non-stretch, you feel incredibly supported when they’re on your body, but not in such a way that they feel constricting. And the pair is incredibly flattering, even on a short person. Five stars!

Material: Organic cotton, recycled cotton | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 29.1 inches | Size: XS–L

Why We Love It: When nothing but the classics will do, choose a pair that’s a bit more weathered (the fabric will be softer and require less breaking in). AG makes great denim, and this pair has some soft but strategic weathering and fading to make it look long and streamlined despite the lighter color. Reviewers love this pair—literally some say they’re as comfortable as leggings—and say they’re especially flattering compared to other pairs they own. This does run large, so keep that in mind when you order.

Material: Cotton, polyurethane | Colors: 1 | Inseam: 27.5 inches | Size: 24–32