Ripped jeans have been with us for decades in various forms, and they don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. “Distressed jeans could be making a comeback in 2025, as we saw on the spring/summer runways, including Ralph Lauren,” says fashion expert and stylist Naina Singla. She continues: “This time around, the look feels more effortless and intentional rather than overly ripped and casual.” If you’ve never worn ripped, torn, whiskered, or frayed denim, it’s easier than you think to incorporate it into your collection.
The extremely damaged skinny jeans of the 2000s have been replaced by looser designs with more purposeful rips and tears that make them more comfortable to wear. If you want to try the trend for yourself or simply want to know how to style it, keep reading.
According to fashion historian Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, ripped jeans were not originally intended to be stylish. Jeans have traditionally been associated with the working class and poverty. It was frequently used as workwear in mines and farming, as well as prison outfits, because to its durability. So, damaged jeans were frequently worn by poor people who couldn’t afford to buy new ones.”
By the ’60s and ’70s, however, ripped jeans had evolved into a more artistic look, favored by the hippie and counterculture groups. “Ripped jeans became another statement of rebellion, mostly by the punk movement but also in the US as a rebellion against capitalism and consumer culture,” the historian says. Designer jeans were popular in the 1980s, with Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood, Diesel, and other premium companies incorporating damaged shorts into their sportswear collections.Rabinovitch-Fox explains that jeans became ‘fashion,’ and their rebellious connection was commercialized and converted into a luxury item. “Ripped jeans were now advertised as “distressed jeans.”‘ In the same decade, she claims that bands began to embrace the appearance, utilizing more dramatic rips and tears to represent an edgy approach. “Like any other fashion statement that started as part of a political statement, ripped jeans were co-opted into fashion and became a trend.”
In the early 2000s, torn jeans were typically ultra-low rise and severely frayed, along with large belts and crop tops. However, Singla claims that their evolution in the twenty-first century has been favorable. “In the 2010s, skinny jeans remained popular, although ripped designs got more refined, with carefully placed knee slits and frayed hems. By the 2020s, the rise of relaxed and wide-leg denim has changed the style once further, with distressing becoming more subtle and deliberate.” Singla describes the present incarnation of the appearance as “more refined and wearable” than in previous decades.
The modern frayed jean is a more conscious style choice, according to Rabinovitch-Fox. “It actually takes a lot of work to create distressed jeans or natural rips, as denim is a pretty sturdy fabric, and you need a lot of stonewashes and other treatments to make it soft.”
According to Stitch Fix stylist Anne Seghi, distressing techniques have improved over time. “Ripped jeans have evolved with stretch fabric and strengthened distressing, making them more comfortable and durable while still preserving their edgy appearance. Brands are now paying more attention to the placement of tears, ensuring they’re fashionable without sacrificing wearability.”
Singla frequently tells her clients that today’s ripped jeans are very different from the ones we’ve worn in previous decades. “Clients ask me if they can still wear their ripped or distressed jeans, and most of the time, they’re referring to skinny or low-rise styles from the 2000s,” she tells me. “My advice is always the same: if you love distressed denim, keep wearing it, but try to update your wardrobe with other shapes. “Wide leg, straight, or relaxed slouchy jeans feel much more contemporary.”
Ripped jeans can give complexity to your style, giving it a little chaotic and vintage feel. Singla recommends pairing them with more fitted things like coats or sleek footwear. “To wear the trend without looking sloppy, pair wide leg, relaxed distressed denim with something more polished, such as a cropped structured blazer and pointy toe mules.” The combination of casual and upscale items strikes the ideal balance, keeping the look current and polished without feeling excessive.” You can also keep the entire look informal with slouchy sweaters and sneakers, emphasizing the style’s low-key and large aspects, advises Seghi. “I love pairing distressed denim with a chambray top for a denim-on-denim look, embracing a Western-inspired vibe in line with one of Stitch Fix’s top trends for 2025: Ranch Revival.”
This may seem apparent, but keep in mind the situation in which you’re wearing your ripped jeans. “Ripped jeans are super versatile, but they might not fly at formal events or in corporate settings with strict dress codes,” Seghi explains. “If you’re aiming for a polished look, opt for dark wash denim with subtle distressing, or limit the rips completely and stick to a raw hem for a more refined take.” Singla adds, “Distressed jeans work best in casual or creative environments where a relaxed style is suitable. They’re ideal for weekends, breakfast, casual outings, and even a night out when paired with more refined pieces.” You may also choose the wash strategically: light with larger rips for casual daytime clothing, dark with more subtle deterioration for evening wear, suggests Seghi.
You’ll also want to consider what your jeans represent to you and how to appropriately acknowledge their materiality. “In the past, people spent a long time [distressing their jeans] or simply wore them until they became soft and ripped…A ‘naturally’ ripped jean was a badge of honor; it meant that your jeans had traveled a long distance with you; every tear had a story behind it, a memory, so people cherished their old, used, soft, ripped jeans. You can now buy the identical thing in a store, but it lacks the memories and experiences that come with it, so some of the magic is lost,” explains Rabinovitch-Fox.
To add significance to your denim, consider buying thrifted items (such as the pair in the above photo), which are authentically more worn-in. You can also invest in high-quality components and carefully wash them to keep the jeans in shape while minimizing rips and tears. Just be especially cautious with them, and they’ll last for a long time.
