Bootcut or flare jeans? Here’s how to tell them apart

Bootcut or flare? These two denim cuts with retro accents are making a comeback, but it’s not always easy to tell them apart. 

When Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, one question sparked fashion discussions: What is the exact cut of his jeans? Designed by Celine, this model sowed seeds of doubt. Bootcut or flare? A style debate that deserves to be clarified.

Flare and bootcut jeans share one thing in common: their flared leg. But the similarity ends there. The flare is distinguished by a bold silhouette that widens markedly from the knee, creating a dramatic effect inspired by the 70s. Rehabilitated by designers like Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton , it embodies a decidedly retro and slender look.

The bootcut, on the other hand, is more discreet. Its flare starts lower, just after the calf, and remains subtle. Designed to be worn with boots (hence its name), it hugs the leg without claiming the spectacular volume of the flare. In the 2000s, it conquered icons like Beyoncé and Jennifer Aniston , and it is making a strong comeback, notably on Bella Hadid, a fan of the western style.

So, bootcut or flare? Faced with the debate, Celine decided: it was indeed a flare model. A decision that confirms the rise of this cut in current trends.

A wardrobe essential

Bootcut or flare, flared jeans have survived the decades without aging. Their lengthening and structuring power makes them a key piece in the wardrobe, worn by fans of the 70s style as well as those nostalgic for the 2000s.

Result: brands are constantly revisiting them, confirming their status as a must-have.There’s no escaping it: the flared jean is the star of the year. From Chloé to Celine, via Etro and Ganni, it comes in all cuts and washes, appealing well beyond seasoned fashionistas. Even men are adopting it, like Pharrell Williams and Kendrick Lamar. So, team bootcut or team flare?