At Dia & Co, we know you love denim for any and all occasions. From bootcut to skinny jeans and chambray shirts to denim jackets, there are so many ways to add denim to your closet, whether you want to layer during winter or create the perfect summer look

We dove into a year’s worth of Google search data to round up the hottest styles and silhouettes that shoppers across the country are adding to their wardrobes. Get ready for some serious outfit inspiration (and a little denim education) — and find out how Dia & Co can help you discover your favorite denim trends.

Key Findings

  • The top three trending jean styles are cargo jeans (+33%), baggy jeans (+18%), and bootcut jeans (+15%). 
  • The three most popular styles across the U.S. are classic straight leg jeans, mom jeans, and flare jeans. 
  • Jeans aside, denim shorts, denim-on-denim, and denim jackets are the three most popular denim styles in the U.S.

Trending Jeans Styles in 2022

Exaggerated silhouettes are in this year. People across America are loving styles like cargo jeans, which have generated the most searches (+33%). Baggy jeans (think slouchy, ‘90s styles) are the runner up (+18%). Other classic, relaxed fits like bootcut (+15%), wide leg (+15%) and flare jeans (+14%) are also in the top five trending styles.

We know looser styles are breezier denim options for hot temperatures and summertime humidity, but where are these trends taking off? We found cargo jeans are most popular in Georgia and Louisiana, and flares are also taking the South by storm. They’re most popular in:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Mississippi
  • Tennessee
  • South Carolina
  • North Dakota

With their laid-back aesthetic, West Coasters are more likely to search for baggy jeans. This style is most popular in:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Hawaii
  • Nevada

Given their Western flair, it’s no surprise bootcut jeans are most popular in Wyoming and New Mexico.  Wide leg jeans are most popular in Delaware.

The Top Jeans Style by State

Some denim simply never goes out of style. Across the U.S., classic straight leg jeans are the most popular choice—they’re the most-searched style in a third of all states. Retro mom jeans (tapered leg jeans with a high waist) and Y2K-inspired flares rank second and third, respectively.

Americans’ Favorite Features

Of course, you know that what makes a good pair of jeans is more than a trendy cut or funky silhouette. With so many trends coming and going, we wanted to find out what Americans are actually interested in. To do this, we analyzed Google Search trends for different rises (high, mid, and low), washes (dark and light), and other designs like color and distressing. Here’s what we found.

Favorite Fit: High-Waisted

On average, Americans are searching for high-waisted jeans more than other rises, but New Yorkers like to play with both extremes: both high-waisted and low-rise jeans are most popular in New York.

Favorite Wash: Light

On average, more Americans prefer lighter washes. They tend to be more popular in the southern states, while darker washes are more popular on the coasts.

Light-wash jeans are most popular in: 

  • Utah 
  • Mississippi 
  • South Carolina 
  • New York 
  • Alabama

Dark-wash jeans are most popular in: 

  • Oregon 
  • New York 
  • Illinois 
  • California 
  • Maryland 

Favorite Design: White

Jeans don’t always have to be basic blue denim. Here are the other design features Americans like the most, ranked by popularity:

  1. White
  2. Distressing
  3. Patchwork 
  4. Prints
  5. Embellishment 

We found white jeans are the most popular alternative to traditional blue among Americans. White styles are most popular in: 

  • Mississippi
  • Louisiana 
  • New York
  • Washington, D.C. 
  • Alabama 

Distressed denim deserves a shoutout, too. The second-most popular alternative to basic blues, distressed denim is a favorite in: 

  • Mississippi
  • New York 
  • Maryland 
  • Kentucky
  • Alabama

Other Denim Fashion Americans Love

If the popularity of the Canadian tuxedo is any indication, denim isn’t just for jeans. To find out which other denim fashions Americans are loving right now, we looked at the Google search volume for trending styles, from outerwear to accessories

Here are the top denim styles Americans are after, ranked by popularity:

  1. Jean shorts
  2. Denim-on-denim
  3. Denim jackets
  4. Denim dresses 
  5. Denim overalls

Jean shorts are obviously a summertime staple, but the specific style matters. We found classic jean shorts are four times as popular as trending dad shorts—a wider-leg Bermuda style. Jean shorts are most popular in: 

  • Louisiana 
  • Nebraska
  • Missouri
  • Delaware 
  • Vermont 

In general, Americans seem to agree: the more denim, the better. The denim-on-denim trend is another favorite style among the fashion crowd, and denim clothes are generally more popular than accessories. The denim-on-denim style is most popular in: 

  • Oklahoma
  • Washington, D.C. 
  • West Virginia
  • New York 
  • Connecticut 

We can’t forget another all-American classic: the denim jacket. Whether you’re pairing them with jeans or throwing them over a dress, denim jackets add a cool factor to any outfit. They’re most popular in: 

  • New York 
  • California 
  • New Jersey 
  • Washington, D.C. 
  • Alabama

Ultimately, with so many trends to choose from, the key is finding the right style of denim that works for you. If you’re not sure where to start, browse dia.com for a vast selection of denim styles, or take our Style Quiz to help you find the perfect denim fit.

Shop Trending Denim


Methodology

To capture the top trending jean styles, we conducted a Google search trends analysis for the following types of jeans:

  1. Baggy jeans
  2. Balloon jeans
  3. Bootcut jeans
  4. Boyfriend jeans
  5. Cargo jeans
  6. Dad jeans
  7. Flare jeans
  8. Mom jeans
  9. Skinny jeans
  10. Straight leg jeans 
  11. Wide leg jeans 

Then, we analyzed that data to measure the top jeans style by state, Americans’ favorite jeans fit and designs, and the popularity of other denim clothing and accessories.