Barrel jeans are a style I’ve been a little hesitant to wear. I love relaxed denim, but some barrel-leg styles can feel like a lot of volume on my petite frame. Then I tried the Darted Barrel Jeans from Madewell. This pair feels balanced, has a slim tapered leg, and I love the length on me.
The dark wash is also perfect for transitioning into fall. For this post, I styled the jeans four ways for early fall, when I’m ready for darker colors and layers but the weather isn’t quite cool enough for sweaters and boots.
I wore all four outfits with Madewell’s Greta Glove Ballet Flats in a gorgeous dark brown with hints of burgundy. The rich color works beautifully with the dark denim and all of the fall shades in these outfits.
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My Sizing: I’m 4’10”, and my bust, waist, and hip measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″. My inseam is 25″ (the measurement from the inside of my leg to my ankle bone). The clothes shown are unaltered and show how they fit me right from the store. I list my sizing beside each item to help you compare when shopping online. When referencing my true size, that is often the smallest option available at a brand or petite xxs/00/24. I wear a size 5 shoe.
Madewell Darted Barrel Jeans Fit
Before getting into the outfits, here’s a closer look at the jeans. I’m wearing the Darted Barrel Jeans in petite sizing, and they’re true to size with a relaxed fit.
They have a 10 1/8″ rise and 24.5″ inseam in petite sizing. For me that’s a length that just touches the top of my foot which feels perfect for barrel jeans.
The denim is a lightweight stretch blend of 67% cotton/21% TENCEL™ Lyocell/11% polyester/1% elastane. They’re comfortable from the start and have a softer feel than rigid denim.
What makes this particular barrel jean work for me is the slimmer shape. You still get the curved barrel silhouette and darted detail, but the leg tapers toward the ankle without feeling overly exaggerated. If you’ve been curious about barrel jeans but aren’t sure about some of the wider styles, this pair is worth a try.
Outfit 1: Striped Boatneck T-Shirt + Olive Jacket
For the first outfit, I paired the barrel jeans with a striped boatneck T-shirt and an oversized olive jacket.
This is an easy outfit for those early fall days when it’s still warm during the afternoon but you want a layer for cooler mornings and evenings. The striped T-shirt keeps the outfit classic, while the olive jacket brings in a fall color without adding the weight of a sweater.
Since the jeans have a relaxed shape and the jacket is oversized, I like keeping the T-shirt underneath relatively slim.
Jeans Petite 24 | Jacket XXS | Top XXS | Shoes tts | Bag
Outfit 2: Printed Fall Top
For the second outfit, I kept it simple with a printed fall top and the dark brown ballet flats.
A lightweight printed top is one of my favorite ways to transition an outfit into fall before it’s actually cool outside. You can bring in deeper fall colors and prints while sticking with fabrics that are still comfortable on warmer days.
The dark wash of the jeans gives the outfit a richer look than a light or medium wash and pairs well with fall prints. With the cropped 24.5″ inseam, the jeans also work especially well with a simple flat.
Jeans Petite 24 | Top XXS | Shoes tts | Bag
Outfit 3: Chocolate Brown Top + Scarf
For this outfit, I paired the barrel jeans with a chocolate brown top and added a scarf.
Chocolate brown is an easy color to mix into an early fall wardrobe, and I love it paired with this dark denim wash. I added the scarf to bring a little more interest to the simple top and jeans combination without adding another layer.
The dark brown and burgundy tones in the Greta Glove Ballet Flats tie in beautifully with the top and scarf. This is an easy outfit formula to recreate with different solid tops and scarves throughout the season.
Top XXS | Jeans Petite 24 | Shoes tts | Bag | Scarf
Outfit 4: Denim on Denim + Neck Scarf
For the last outfit, I went with a denim-on-denim look by pairing the barrel jeans with a cropped denim top. I love this cropped denim top as a stand alone but it also looks nice as an open layer. I’m wearing it in XXS.
Top XXS | Scarf | Jeans Petite 24 | Shoes tts | Bag
