Barrel-Legs Are Back — And They’re Not Here to Slim Down

BY STEPHANIE BRONKHORST
May 28
2 min read

The everyday trouser is evolving once again—this time with a sculptural twist.

From Cape Town’s effortless elegance to Johannesburg’s kinetic edge, a new silhouette is quietly claiming its place in wardrobes across the country. Skinny jeans may be staging a return, and wide-leg styles remain a firm favourite—but it’s the barrel-leg trouser that’s turning heads. A refreshing break from body-contouring norms, this silhouette offers a way of dressing that feels more architectural. More intentional.

What Is a Barrel-Leg Trouser?

Images: DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC & Hanna Lassen/Getty Images

The barrel-leg silhouette is instantly recognisable: voluminous through the thigh, gently curved along the leg, and tapering slightly at the ankle—often cropped just so, to frame an exciting shoe. It neither clings nor drowns. It strikes a balance between strength and fluidity—surprisingly flattering, and deeply modern.

Its rise feels impeccably timed. In a moment where fashion is recalibrating around comfort and individuality, the barrel-leg trouser speaks volumes—without needing to shout.

Volume With Intention

Images: courtesy of CR Fashion Book / Bottega Veneta FW23 & Christian Vierig/Getty Images

Although the silhouette was first championed by brands like Bottega Veneta in their FW23 Ready-to-Wear collections, recent interpretations by Lemaire, Toteme, Alaïa, and Citizens of Humanity have breathed new life into it, the silhouette’s emergence in South Africa feels less like imitation and more like reinvention.

Images: courtesy of South African Fashion Week, viviers-studio.co.za

At South African Fashion Week, Lezanne Viviers’ AW25 collection featured arched-leg trousers—sculptural yet wearable in mostly soft, delicate fabrics. Off the runway, local label Rethread offers a sustainable take with its Tokyo Trousers, a flattering bow-leg style made from natural fibres in small batches. In retail, Me & B champions the silhouette with inclusive sizing, while online, the silhouette continues to gain traction on platforms like TFG’s Bash and Superbalist—securing the barrel-leg as a modern wardrobe essential.

Why the Barrel-Leg, Why Now?

Photo: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

Its appeal lies in duality. The barrel-leg trouser has the polish of tailoring with the ease of everyday wear. Post-pandemic, where comfort reshaped our wardrobes but structure is making a quiet return, this silhouette bridges both.

In South Africa—where microclimates demand adaptable dressing and wardrobes often shift from desk to dinner—it just makes sense. It works across seasons, complements sneakers, boots, or heels, and pairs just as well with a crisp shirt as with a boxy knit or sharp-shouldered blazer.

More Than Just a Shape

But the barrel-leg is more than its outline. It gently rejects the idea that elegance must follow narrow lines. It celebrates space. It carves shape through construction, not stretch. It lets the body take up room—deliberately, unapologetically.

That nuance matters, especially here. South African style has always carried layers—political, cultural, personal. Clothes aren’t just aesthetic—they’re expressive. The barrel-leg trouser fits that rhythm. It’s practical yet expressive, restrained yet fluid.

A Silhouette With Substance

Whether tailored in nappa leather, softened in cotton-satin, or cut from utilitarian denim, the barrel-leg trouser signals more than a passing trend. It marks a shift—towards dressing with comfort, purpose, and individuality. Fashion that flatters without conforming. That makes an impression without insisting.

And right now, it’s a silhouette to watch.