Gen Jeans

The Gen jeans arrive as one of the most precise expressions of what Pepe Jeans London does best: building a silhouette that feels both effortless and intentional. Cut with a high rise and a relaxed straight leg, they carry that particular weight of mid-weight denim — around 11 oz — that sits firmly on the hip without restricting movement, draping cleanly down to a cropped ankle hem.

What sets the Gen jeans apart from the wider world of straight-leg denim is the way the fabric behaves across the thigh. The cotton-rich twill — typically a 98% cotton, 2% elastane blend — holds its structure through a full day of wear, resisting that gradual bagging at the knee that plagues softer constructions. The five-pocket layout is classical, but the coin pocket sits fractionally lower than standard, giving the front panel a cleaner, less interrupted look.

Pepe Jeans London has always understood that high-rise jeans live or die by their waistband construction. On the Gen jeans, the waistband is wide enough to stay flat under a tucked shirt without folding, which makes them particularly reliable for that mid-morning office-to-lunch transition. Pair them with a slim-ribbed knit and square-toed mules for a look that reads smart without trying, or layer a washed leather jacket over a white poplin shirt for something with more edge.

The relaxed straight cut of the Gen jeans works across multiple washes — from an almost raw indigo that deepens in certain light to a stone-washed mid-blue that already carries the memory of movement. Each wash changes the personality of the silhouette: the darker tone reads more tailored, while the stone-washed denim version feels looser in its references, closer to a weekend in East London than a Monday in Soho.

Fit, silhouette and the case for the relaxed straight leg

The Gen jeans are built around a silhouette that emerged from the London denim scene as a direct counter to the ultra-slim cuts that dominated the previous decade. The high-rise entry elongates the torso visually, while the straight-leg silhouette runs parallel from hip to ankle without flaring or tapering, making them one of the more versatile shapes in the current Pepe Jeans London women's collection. Chunky-soled trainers lengthen the leg further; heeled ankle boots give the same effect with a more polished finish.

Gen jeans and the art of the everyday look

There is something specifically useful about a pair of high-waisted straight-leg jeans that feel as considered at 8am as they do at 10pm. The Gen jeans slot into that category naturally. A cropped blazer in camel or chalk sits perfectly over the high waist, with the hem of the jacket just grazing the top of the denim. For evening, swapping the blazer for a satin slip top shifts the entire register without requiring a change of trousers.

The cotton-blend construction means the Gen jeans soften gradually with each wash cycle, developing micro-creases at the hip and inner thigh that map the shape of the body over time — the kind of detail that makes raw-indigo denim feel personal rather than generic. That slow evolution is part of what Pepe Jeans London has been building into its denim since the brand first opened on the King's Road in 1973.

Styling the Gen jeans across seasons

In autumn and winter, the Gen jeans layer naturally under long coats and oversized knitwear — the straight leg gives enough room to tuck in a thermal base layer without adding visible bulk at the ankle. Come spring, the same relaxed straight-leg denim works with a linen shirt left open over a fitted tee, or with a cropped crochet top for a market-day looseness that still feels put-together.

— A mid-wash pair with a boxy striped shirt and loafers: the classic Pepe Jeans London off-duty reference.
— Dark indigo Gen jeans with a black rollneck and pointed-toe flats: clean, minimal, London evening.
— Stone-washed blue with an oversized denim jacket in a contrasting wash: the double-denim read that only works when the fits are deliberately mismatched.

What to know about the Gen jeans before you shop

Sizing on the Gen jeans follows Pepe Jeans London's standard women's scale, but the high-rise construction means the waist sits at natural-waist level rather than at the hip — worth accounting for if you usually size up for comfort in the seat. The inseam runs long enough to wear flat with trainers or to stack slightly over a boot, which is exactly the kind of considered finish that stops a straight-leg silhouette from looking unresolved at the hem.

What is the fit of the Gen jeans from Pepe Jeans London?

The Gen jeans are cut with a high rise that sits at natural-waist level and a relaxed straight leg that runs parallel from hip to ankle without tapering. The cotton-rich twill construction holds its shape across the day, making this a silhouette that works equally well with heeled boots or flat chunky trainers. It is one of the more structured options in the Pepe Jeans London women's denim line-up, designed for versatility rather than trend.

How do the Gen jeans fit compared to other straight-leg jeans?

Compared to standard straight-leg cuts, the Gen jeans sit higher at the waist and have a slightly wider seat, giving a more relaxed drape through the hip and thigh. The waistband is wide enough to stay flat under tucked-in tops, which is a specific construction detail that sets them apart from narrower high-rise cuts. The result is a silhouette that feels more relaxed than tailored, without losing the clean line that defines the straight-leg shape.

What washes are available for the Gen jeans and how do they change the look?

The Gen jeans from Pepe Jeans London are available in a range of washes from near-raw indigo to stone-washed mid-blue, and each one shifts the character of the silhouette meaningfully. The darker indigo reads more structured and works well for evening or office contexts, while the stone-washed version has a looser, more worn-in energy suited to casual weekend dressing. Over time and with repeated washing, the cotton blend develops natural micro-creases that personalise the fit.

Can the Gen jeans be worn in a smart-casual office environment?