For elevated basics, Reformation is the first port of call for style-conscious stars.
Out and about in Los Angeles, Selena Gomez is often spotted adorning the brand’s collection of casual staples, whether that’s the Jadey Oversized V-Neck Sweater or the Nylah Nappa Knee Boot. The same is true for Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss, Hailey Bieber and Taylor Hill who have all been papped wearing the label’s knitwear and signature ditsy floral dresses.
Off-duty at fashion week, Kendall Jenner brings her West Coast cool-girl aesthetic to the streets of Milan in the Cynthia High Rise Straight Jeans. The model demonstrates the infinite styling potential of these refined laidback silhouettes by pairing them with a crop of minimalistic yet sophisticated separates – a humble white tee, chunky belt and loafers or pumps. An effortlessly stylish aesthetic that calls on elements you likely already have in your wardrobe.
The key to pulling the look together? Why the jeans, of course. The workhorse in the smart-casual wardrobe, the right denim is an investment worth making. But there’s a reason why Jenner, as well as Katie Holmes, Gigi Hadid, Kate Bosworth, Emily Ratajkowski, Ashley Graham and Kaia Gerber, lean towards the LA label, eschewing high-end brands in the process.
Ref’s denim collections prove that it need not cost the earth or require a mortgage to tap into its vintage aesthetic. The sustainable fashion label is carbon neutral and aims to be fully climate-positive by 2025. When launching their jeans back in 2021, it was important to make them fully traceable and thus each piece is imbued with fibretrace technology so you can see its journey from fibre to finished piece. They are also made up of Good Earth Cotton and are entirely recyclable.
We have put the bestselling styles through their paces to find out if they’re worth the hype.
Reformation Cary High Rise Slouchy Wide Leg Cropped Jeans
I’m a sucker for high-rise jeans. They’re always more comfortable and complimentary for my hourglass figure. Cary is no different with a roomy fit and a good amount of stretch. The Cary High Rise Slouchy jeans come in straight and wide leg, the latter of which I put to the test. They have the miraculous ability to be baggy yet flattering and pair just as easily with trainers as they do heels.
I am 5ft4 and the jeans were so long they dragged on the floor. I exchanged these for the cropped iteration, which as a word of warning for fellow petite girls, are not very cropped. Instead, they drape over my feet - a sneaker with a stacked sole or a slight wedge shoe is needed.
There are 12 colourways. Galveston is a washed black hue, while Chesapeake has a studded design. Honourable mention goes to the deconstructed Cabo Reworked design and the brown Vintage Espresso that taps into one of this season’s most sought-after colourways.
Buy now £168.00, Reformation
Reformation Val 90s Mid Rise Straight Jeans
The straight-leg Val silhouette is made up of a more rigid construction than others in Reformation’s offering. When you compare them with the silky-smooth fabric of the rest of the collection, the texture is immediately more jean-like so they feel like they would be more hard-wearing.
Val is dubbed a 90s style but is not tapered or baggy. Instead, they have a boyish charm with a fitted mid-rise. They are also available with a wide leg – although there’s not a whole lot of flare so perhaps they’re more a semi-bootcut.
I stepped out of my comfort zone with the Oatmeal colourway and I’m actually a huge fan. I intend to wear these all through the summer, paired with a white t-shirt and oversized blazer for something a little different from my traditional all-black wardrobe.
Buy now £168.00, Reformation
Reformation Abby High Rise Straight Jeans
I wasn’t sold on The Abby at first glance. The design is very straight, and I wondered if they give a “dad jean” feel but not in a cool way. They are high waist and buttery soft though, which is appreciated and come in a vintage-inspired indigo wash which is an easy-to-style colourway. They are perhaps my least favourite of the bunch and require a buckled belt to give a more feminine feel. The Colorado Sparkle design with its all-over glitter rhinestone embellishment is made for festival season.
Buy now £168.00, Reformation
Reformation Cynthia High Rise Straight Jeans
As a curvy girl, I wasn't sure how Reformation's denim would fit on me. Though waistbands go up to 34, anyone who's ever shopped for jeans knows that sizing differs from brand to brand. Would Reformation's cut flatter or frustrate?
I tried the Cynthia, one of the brand's most beloved styles with a high rise and straight leg. Despite 'rigid denim' written on the label, these jeans were pleasingly soft, the sort of worn-in you get after you've put them through a few wash cycles.
They're nice enough for casual weekend wear but I probably wouldn't wear them for an evening out or to the office, and that's largely down to the colour. The Colorado wash is a retro 80s blue but luckily there's a darker indigo wash and black charcoal option to choose from.
Abha Shah, Deputy Shopping Editor
Buy now £168.00, Reformation
