Alexa Chung Leads The Cropped Flare Trend At London Fashion Week

Cropped flares. Clares? Shunken flares. Shares? Mini flares. Mares? We may not be able to (yet) construct a suitably catchy abbreviation for the hot new denim shape in trouser town, but we do know that it looks really good. The 1970s are back with a whizz-bang but for the Great British climate a shorter variety of the classic bell-bottom jean is unsurprisingly more popular - sans soggy hem but all of the benefits of the disco decade’s signifying silhouette? That warrants a gratuitous use of the term jean-ius.

Aside from a Shrimps leopard coat breakout faction the mini flare is undeniably the forerunner in terms of FROW favourites. Scroll through the gallery below and you’ll see London chock full of the new denim shapes coming into stores via Alexa Chung’s AG Jeans collabo (of course, she’s been wearing the style on repeat like a truly worthy ambassador) but also H&M and Rachel Comey’s versions are selling like there will be no tomorrow. Comey’s are currently on re-order at both MatchesFashion.com and Avenue32.com – we’d suggest adding them to your wishlists stat.

New York kick (flare) started the trend on the streets earlier this month – Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine of course being an early adopter. They’re awkward looking, yes, but with the combination of a long boot (ankle or knee, just no flashing of flesh, please) as seen on the runways of Louis Vuitton and Gucci, they can be leg lengthening too. When high-waisted and scultped to skim over the hips but flare into a flattering A-line cut, these new jeans can be surprisingly flattering. Straight-leg styles are actually somewhat trickier than the wide ones. Would you dare to flare in either? So long skinny jeans…

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