In recent years I’ve become a convert to wide-leg jeans. If you go back 10 years ago, I was a skinny jeans girl through and through, and, being on the petite side, I never thought I’d pull off wide-leg jeans.
But, as the years progressed, so too have trend cycles and my jeans gradually expanded from skinny to straight-leg. Yet, I could not find a wide-leg jean that suited my frame.
I hunted Levis and Topshop, which were previously my go-to retailers for denim, but with no luck. That is until I set my sights on the M&S Collection Mid Rise Wide Leg Jeans. Marks and Spencer has long been known for the quality and reliability of its clothes, but in recent years the brand has really stepped things up a notch.
Since 2023, M&S has revamped its fashion offering, introducing new styles aimed to attract a new, younger audience, but still maintaining the same quality. A focus of the brand’s womenswear range has been transforming the selection of jeans on offer – including the introduction of fresh styles not traditionally sold by the retailer such as wide-leg or mom jeans.
From skinny to straight, cigarette jeans to jeggings, the brand has a huge range of denim to suit all styles. This past year, as summer turned to autumn, the M&S Collection Mid Rise Wide Leg Jeans seemed to be everywhere I looked online.
They were recommended as high-quality, low-cost jeans by fashion writers, and hailed by social media influencers for looking style while still being comfortable. But, to my despair, they kept selling out.
That is until recently when M&S restocked the jeans in both colour ways (Medium Indigo and Dark Indigo). And at £39.50, I couldn’t miss the opportunity.
Having ordered the jeans online, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. Given my petite height, more often than not, trousers, jeans, skirts and dresses all look great online and then arrive a tad too long for me.
Luckily, the M&S jeans come in three length sizes (short/petite, regular and long), meaning that when I opened the packing and popped them on they were the perfect fit. I didn’t even have to shell out extra to get them taken up.
While I usually opt for a high-waist when it comes to straight-leg jeans, the mid-rise is what makes this M&S pair so flattering.
The waistline sits just below your belly button, showing off a little more tummy than a high-waist pair, but not so low you’re heading into Y2K territory. It’s this slightly lower waistline which creates such a flattering silhouette.
One interesting feature of the jeans, which I’ll admit I’m still not sure about, is the addition of a white self-tie belt at the waist. The belt adds a casual element to the jeans, though does make you look a little bit like a 90s skateboarder. On days when I’m not quite feeling the shoelace-style belt look, I just pop the string ties into my waistband and hey presto, the jeans look a little more sophisticated.
Very rarely do I reach for my jeans when I want to be comfortable – you won’t find me hopping onto a long-haul flight or curling up on the sofa in my favourite denim. But the thing is, with these jeans, you actually can do that without feeling restricted. M&S describes the jeans as being “crafted from pure cotton denim with a touch of lightweight lyocell for extra comfort.”
This comfort, combined with versatility, means I’ve reached for them for a day out shopping in central London, for dinner with friends and even to work.
For a good pair of jeans, especially high-quality ones that you can reach for day after day, I don’t mind investing a little more. So, perhaps it goes without saying that one of the best and most surprising things about the M&S Collection Mid Rise Wide Leg Jeans is the price tag. Having spent closer to £100 the last time I invested in a new pair of jeans, I couldn’t believe the M&S price tag. At under £40 (£39.50 to be exact), it was a purchase I simply couldn’t refuse.
After years of searching, I’ve finally found my perfect wide-leg jeans. Of course, if you aren’t a fan of wide-leg jeans, there’s plenty of choice. You can shop the entire M&S jeans range here.
