The Most Popular Jeans for Women Over 40 Based on the Wardrobe Oxygen Community

I use a lot of different tools for Wardrobe Oxygen, like looking at metrics and seeing what works and doesn't, what is popular, and from it, how to tailor my future content. Jean styles have changed a lot in the past few years and a lot of new denim brands have come on the scene.

I regularly review denim on Wardrobe Oxygen and decided to tally what were the most popular jeans bought by the Wardrobe Oxygen community. With an audience of women who are primarily over 40 who love to share their thoughts, I felt this could be an excellent guide to finding great-fitting jeans in midlife. Also check out the best clothing retailers for women over 40.

The Most Popular Jeans for Women Over 40 Based on the Wardrobe Oxygen Community

These are currently the ten bestselling jeans on Wardrobe Oxygen. These jeans were recommended and reviewed by members of the Wardrobe Oxygen community: real women over 40 with different body types, heights, and style preferences. With the majority of the readers of Wardrobe Oxygen are women in midlife, this list may prove more helpful than bestelling jeans lists on trendy websites geared towards younger women.

It's a great range of styles, brands, sizes, and fits so there should be a great one for everyone! This post is updated regularly as our community shares new favorites. Thank you to all the reviews and recommendations received via comments, email, Instagram, Substack, and of course, the Facebook community!

Best Straight-Leg Jeans for Women Over 40

Quince Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jeans

While Quince is known for inconsistent fit, especially with many styles of denim, I and many of you have become instant fans of the brand's Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jeans, especially in the color Charcoal Black. Maybe it's the relaxed fit, but most of us are finding our regular denim size to work great with these. Available in sizes 24-33 with lengths 26-32.

I personally have them in Charcoal Black in 32×30 and they look expensive and cool with boots and chunkier winter shoes, these jeans don't stretch out, and are thicker than a lot of mall brand jeans while still being comfortable and flexible. The color feels of the moment and right now I'm loving them with shades of brown like this v-neck sweater in Classic Camel.

Best Jeans for Women Over 40 Available in Petite and Tall Up to 3X

SPANXshape Authentic 360 Barrel Leg Jeans

While I personally haven't tried these jeans, hundreds of you have bought the SPANXshape Authentic 360 Barrel Leg Jeans and only a handful have returned them. My petite plus size friend has them and says she never before bought a pair of jeans that had strangers ask her where she got them. And that is one of the greatest thing about these jeans: they are available in regular, petite, and tall in sizes XS-3X.

Not too horseshoe, but feeling like a modern silhouette, these look great cropped or full-length, have a comfortable waist height, and many of you have said you think they look great with ballet flats, sneakers, clogs, and loafers. Use the size chart and measure by your hip, not your waist. If these jeans feel a little snug in the waist but great everywhere else, they will stretch to mold to your body.

Best Trendy Jean for Women Over 40

Gap Mid Rise Easy Horseshoe Jeans

I own these, I positively adore these, which may be why the Gap Mid Rise Easy Horseshoe Jeans are such a statement jean but the third bestselling jeans right now for Wardrobe Oxygen! They're loose and weird and make every outfit a LOOK. Available in sizes XXS-XXL with petite and tall options, I got a Large Petite and have been happy with them, even after over a dozen washes and tumbles in the dryer.

Available in denim washes, the Gap Horseshoe Jeans also come in colors and prints. I think the Mojave Tan is a great alternative to twill pants, and while not a classic, the Navy Blue Floral calls to me to be styled with white button-front shirts, navy boatneck tees, black turtleneck sweaters, gray muscle shirts, and ribbed tanks in the summer.

Best Jeans for Women Over 40 Available in Plus Sizes

Universal Standard Bae Boyfriend Crop Jeans

Universal Standard denim in general is a bestseller year after year, but lately the most popular style was the Bae Boyfriend Crop Jeans. Available in nine different colors and prints, this 26″ inseam jean comes in sizes 00-40 and is popular because it looks good as a full-length jean for shorter folks, an ankle jean for average heights, and a hip cropped jean for taller people.

I own the Bae Boyfriend jeans and find they are a generous fit; if in doubt size down but know the darker colors and washes will fit a tad more snug. I think these are great warmer-weather jeans as they're not too heavy, look good with sandals and sneakers, and hold their shape from wear to wear.

Best Fitting Sustainable Jeans for Women Over 40

AYR The Secret Sauce Jeans

The bestselling ethically made jeans in the Wardrobe Oxygen community are the Secret Sauce Jeans from AYR. Crafted in California, these are a loose straight leg with a tailored waist and hips and y'all find them to really accentuate the positive, especially those with soft curves in the belly. Available in sizes 24-34 with three inseam lengths, all colors were popular but “Good Mood” were sold the most.

Community member Carina shared, “These jeans have that nineties fit that is popular but doesn't make my Mombod look like a Mombod. I bought a second pair and thought you should know these jeans make me like jeans again!” Carina, consider me influenced!

Best Budget Jeans Women Over 40 Love

Old Navy High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans

Old Navy is always a bestseller in the Wardrobe Oxygen community when it comes to jeans, but it's also one of the most returned brand. That being said, MANY of you bought the High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans from Old Navy and liked them so much you not only kept them, but bought additional pairs. Available in sizes 00-30 in three inseams and tall sizes 4-18, these jeans come in several different washes and are often on sale for less than $20.

While called high-waisted, these hit right at the belly button so they're not too high and work well with a tummy and soft curves on the lower half. From 63% cotton, 30% recycled polyester, 6% recycled cotton, and 1% spandex these jeans are stretchy but y'all find they don't stretch out as much as other Old Navy jeans.

Best Barrel Jeans for Women Over 40 (and they come in petite!)

Ruti The Ultimate Barrel Leg Jeans 2.0

Color me influenced by my friend Susan Blakey at Une Femme, who first told me about Ruti jeans. But honestly, no other brand of jeans has the Wardrobe Oxygen community reached out more to have me try and review! I got a pair of The Ultimate Barrel Leg Jeans 2.0 from Ruti and understand the hype. These jeans are available in sizes 0-16 in standard and petite fits in a couple of different washes. I got a 14 petite and they fit very comfortably.

A lot of trendy jeans can feel try-hard when you're a grown woman, but these feel sophisticated, elevated, and just plain cool. In fact, I think these jeans wouldn't look as cool on a person in their 20s as they do on us. Not too full and from a refined denim, these can work with a sweatshirt and sneakers, a silk blouse and ballet flats, or a blazer and loafers.

Best Stretch & Comfort Jeans for Women in Midlife

Judy Blue Lila Mid Rise Vintage Bootcut Jeans

I have never tried Judy Blue jeans, but that doesn't mean you folks didn't take my link and run with it. I sold a LOT of Judy Blue jeans, but the most popular style was the Judy Blue Lila Mid Rise Vintage Bootcut Jeans, which is one of the brand's exclusively plus size jean styles available in sizes 14W-24W with a 32″ inseam. Judy Blue also carries Misses and Petite-friendly styles.

Made from 93% cotton, 6% polyester, and 1% Spandex, Judy Blue jeans are known for being super comfortable, super stretchy, and molding to your body for a great all-day fit. Know these jeans run big; customer service at Judy Blue is great and I recommend contacting them and using the size chart to get the proper size.

Best Fitting Ankle Jeans for Women Over 40

Chico's Girlfriend Slim Ankle Jeans

While many different SKUs of Chico's jeans were sold this year, the majority of them were a variation of the Girlfriend Slim Ankle Jeans which is a style Chico's has carried for years. I own this jean, and can attest it's a pretty fantastic classic denim shape, great fit, and great quality. Jean styles come and go, but for an ankle-length jean, this is one I have worn for almost a decade and it has never looked dated. The Chico's Girlfriend Ankle Jean is available in sizes 0-20 and different styles are available in lengths and some are available in a Petite cut.

Community member Talisa shared with me, “I always hated shopping for jeans but need to wear them for work. I'm 48 and have an apple shape with a belly but not much of a booty. Once I tried Chico's girlfriend jeans I stopped hating jeans and stopped having to look for more styles. Every time I need a new pair I know my size and I know they will fit and look great.”

The pair I own is closest to this wash, which is the one in the photograph above. However, I linked to the style name because Chico's carries dozens of different SKUs of this same jean, and I have found the fit consistent regardless of wash, color, or embellishment. With a mid rise and slim but not tight leg, this jean is a great style for tucked and untucked tops and looks great with blazers and long sweaters.

Best Wide Leg Jeans for Women in Midlife (and they come in petite, tall and plus sizes!)

Lands' End High Rise Wide Leg Denim Jeans

The Lands' End High Rise Wide Leg Denim Jeans have been a Wardrobe Oxygen Community favorite for three years now, and a personal favorite of mine as well. Available in two inseams for regular, but also petite, tall, and plus size options in two inseams, the jeans come in a range of washes and colors and waist sizes 2-26.

I personally have these in size 14 regular with the 30″ inseam and they are a good length with flat shoes and sneakers. They've been thrown in the wash with towels and bedding, dried in industrial dryers and on the railings of beach houses, and these jeans still fit and look stellar. I get their popularity, and just writing about them makes me consider getting a pair in Natural to replace some off-white jeans I got from another retailer that didn't survive the year; these I know will.

Were your favorite jeans mentioned? If not, do share in the comments! Jeans are so tough to shop for, especially as a grown woman, and your favorite may be exactly the pair another community member has been looking for!