The jeans and trousers to know for autumn/winter

The skinny jean

Still going strong, it remains one of the autumn/winter essentials when it comes to denim. Wear it raw, light, faded, worn or even frayed, black, coated, khaki or coloured... Team it with heels, boots, trainers or ankle boots... over to you: have fun with it.

So this autumn, will you be more of a biker skinny with boots, bootcut with heels, boyfriend with ankle boots, or jegging with boots? New season, new cuts: which trousers should go to the back of the wardrobe, which are still worth wearing, and what new pieces can you build lovely looks around? You've got it: we're talking clothes, jeans and trousers specifically. So here's a quick tour of the cuts that matter, and it's fair to say there's something for every taste and style.

Here, from left to right:

The light, slightly faded MIH Jeans pair: lovely cut, lovely colour, a true staple to wear with everything, at Net-a-Porter.

The biker-style skinny, with its knee seams, remains one of the cold-weather must-haves. Wear it with a feminine or rock-inspired look; this version is by La Redoute Création.

And skinny jeans go grey to make a change from black and blue, in dark or light grey. Here, a dark grey skinny with button detailing at the hem and leather trims on the pockets, Actuamode at 3 Suisses.

And in the skinny family, I give you the utility skinny, also known as the skinny cargo pant. A slim cut with cargo trouser pockets: the new arrival that has been quietly taking over the denim aisles in our shops for a while now. An army touch, then, on a very feminine trouser thanks to the close-fitting cut.

Here we have:

The utility skinny by Paul & Joe Sister, in khaki or navy.

Sand version at J Brand: this slim trouser is trimmed with pockets on the thighs, a zip at the hem and seams on the knees, at Net-a-Porter.

The straight-leg jean

Not far from the skinny, but not tapered at the ankle, the straight-leg jean offers a good compromise. Neither flared nor tapered, it's calmly carving out a place between our bootcuts and skinnies. The bonus? It sets off court shoes or ballet flats, works in a classic way if you choose a raw pair with a shirt and heels, or in a fashion-led way with low boots and a nice little top...

Here we have:

The raw straight-leg jean by J Brand, simple and effective, at Net-a-Porter.

The flashy style by Active Wear at La Redoute brightens up your outfit of the day.

The straight-leg jean in classic blue, worn rolled up over a lovely pair of ankle boots, from 3 Suisses for the full look.

The jegging

Half jean, half legging, the jegging looks like denim and combines the comfort of a legging with slightly thicker fabric. Comfortable, figure-hugging and stylish, it works especially well with a rock look, but teams with almost anything: tunics, T-shirts, biker jackets, blouses, boots, ankle boots and even ballet flats... It's been around for a few seasons already, and it's still going strong.

Here:

The black jegging, which calls for a rock look, by Citizens of Humanity, at Net-a-Porter.

The faded black jegging by J Brand.

And the Free People style at ASOS, with no pockets or button fastening but a successful slim cut.

The bootcut jean

Timeless despite the enthusiasm for skinny jeans and the arrival of the jegging, the bootcut jean remains much loved and therefore on-trend. Ideal with a pair of heels, it streamlines the silhouette and lengthens the legs better than any other jean.

Faded, high-waisted for a slightly retro touch: this is the bootcut bordering on a flare by Actuamode at 3 Suisses.

Dark version at ASOS with raw denim, a double button fastening at the waist and lovely ultra-feminine lines.

The boyfriend jean

Yes, it's still in play and still worn with a pair of ankle boots or heels: contradiction personified, in short.

Here we have:

The faded boyfriend jean by Soft Grey at La Redoute.

Levi's slightly oversized 501, for lovers of the boyfriend cut.

And the faded, worn boyfriend jean by G-Star, to shop at ASOS.

Budget

Price depends on the fabric and brand. For a pair of jeans or trousers from a high-street retailer, expect around £25 to £60; for branded denim — J Brand, MIH, Levi's, Paul & Joe Sister — the range rises more like £85 to £215. The price varies according to denim quality, where it was made and the finishing, and it's not unusual to find good pieces in end-of-line sales or second-hand.