I’m in My 40s, and I Can’t Stop Wearing These Citizens of Humanity Jeans

When baggy jeans first experienced a major resurgence in 2023, I refused to tap into the trend. For close to 15 years, I was a skinny jean-devotee, rotating between multiple of my go-to Rag & Bone Nina pairs. However, I recently decided to take a walk on the wide-leg side and try a pair of Rihanna-worn boyfriend style jeans, the Citizens of Humanity Ayla—and now I can’t stop wearing them. 

Rihanna was spotted wearing the cool and cuffed denim in 2023 while pregnant with her second child. Now a sellout style, the vintage-inspired slouchy jeans come in nine washes, including a new distressed wash with destroyed knees that I am majorly crushing on. You can snag them in sizes 23 to 34 at Free People, though select washes are majorly out of stock, so I recommend adding a pair to your cart ASAP.

When I first tried the cool-girl jeans on, I was pleasantly surprised by how such a baggy style could somehow flatter my figure. The silhouette, a narrow waist that blooms into a wider leg and slightly tapers at the bottom, actually offers a slendering effect. Mid-rise with a button-fly, the waistline falls right under the belly button. The fabric, a soft rigid denim, ensures that the relaxed fit doesn’t look lazy or sloppy, but intentionally relaxed. While they are meant to be worn cuffed, the untacked leg can also be folded down into a straight leg. 

I wear my Citizens of Humanity Ayla Jeans with everything from sandals and strappy heels to Nike Air Jordans and Adidas Stan Smiths. They look great with tucked in button-down shirts, T-shirts, and bodysuits—and you can’t go wrong flashing a hint of your midriff in a crop top. Despite my love for skinny jeans, the wide-leg pants have definitely converted me to the throwback baggy jean look for the foreseeable future; it is truly one of the most versatile denim styles in my closet. 

Free People shoppers love the Citizens of Humanity jeans, too. “The wash, length, bagginess—it’s all perfect,” one customer wrote, while another raved that they’re “so cute and perfectly baggy.” Reviewers also note that they’re supremely comfortable. “The denim is standard for Citizens of Humanity—super soft cotton that both feels and looks vintage,” a final shopper wrote.

If you aren’t into the cuffed look or the price tag is a little outside of your budget, check out similar alternatives from Madewell, Amazon, and Nordstrom, below.

Edikted Vesper Cuffed Wide-Leg Jeans

HDLTE High Waist Baggy Jeans

Mother The Half Pipe Flood High Waist Barrel Jeans

Madewell Superwide-Leg Jeans