California and jeans just go together—full stop. After all, denim is the official fabric of the West Coast state (remember that for your next trivia night!). It makes sense, then, that a brand like Jenni Kayne—whose DNA is intertwined with the relaxed, laid-back California lifestyle—would finally make denim.
With 25 years of designing clothes for a woman’s capsule wardrobe—one that almost certainly includes a pair of jeans—the time has come for Jenni Kayne to bring its touch of the California dream, one that evokes dreamy throws, lush and cozy knitwear, and a fluffy cloud couch, to the quintessential wardrobe staple. For the brand’s debut collection, Jenni Kayne is launching three silhouettes: the Malibu Canyon Crop, the Ojai Straight, and the Topanga Wide Leg. More notably, however, there’s no indigo dye in sight. (But don’t worry; that’ll be coming in 2027.)
The designer chose to forgo indigo for its first foray into the category as a means to see denim in its natural form. In the Seeded Natural colorway—which leans toward a natural, ivory hue with a bit of speckling throughout—Jenni Kayne presents its jeans in their natural form: unbleached, undyed, with no synthetic wash or manufactured wear. From my point of view, this allows you, the wearer, to give the jeans their own story. Not to mention, white jeans have been trending for fall—giving your cool-weather ensembles a relaxed, lighter feel to offset darker weights and heavier fabrics.
As ELLE’s resident denimhead, I was curious to see how a brand that’s perfected cozy knitwear, classic tops and dresses, and easy, tailored pants, among other wardrobe staples, would do with a category that can be so personal and specific to its wearer. Jenni Kayne makes pieces you always want to live in, so my expectations were high—and I’m happy to report its latest launch didn’t disappoint.
The Malibu Canyon Crop Jean
The first pair I slipped on was the Malibu Canyon Crop—a mid-rise straight-leg fit that hits right at the ankle. As someone who stands at 5’4”, these were perfect to throw on and go with a pair of flats or loafers (if you want my advice, they pair especially well with the brand’s Vale Loafer or the Ember Flat). Because of that, these will likely be what I pull on for any day I want to get dressed without thinking (weekend jaunts to the farmers market are what I have in mind).
Without tailoring, the other two styles required heeled shoes—but don’t let that deter you; the ease and comfort from the Malibu Canyon Crop is still very much in the Topanga Wide Leg and the Ojai Straight. Without looking at the tag, I thought the denim may have some stretch to it—I was delightfully wrong, given that it’s 100 percent cotton. Instead, Jenni Kayne has managed to find a cotton denim lightweight enough to provide a lived-in feel straight out of the box. Sure, they don’t have the same level of relaxed ease as sweatpant jeans (and personally, I’m fine with that), but these certainly feel comfortable enough to wear throughout the day without eliciting a thought to unbutton the fly, either.
The Topanga Wide-Leg Jean
The Topanga Wide-Leg Jean
The Topanga Wide Leg is what I’d reach for on the days when I need to feel more polished; though the high-rise silhouette feels more fitted from the waist to the hips, the legs have a slight flare, making my legs look miles long. Once again, I’m on the edge of petite sizing, so this is something I certainly can’t complain about. As for the Ojai Straight, this feels like a true mid-rise straight-leg, meaning there’s no taper towards the ankle—and in my opinion, that’s perfect for heeled ankle boots and classic pumps. This pair, which quickly became my favorite of the three, feels like the perfect balance of casual sophistication. Complete with a chunky-knit sweater, I’ll have my everyday uniform for the season.
As you so often do while shopping for jeans online, you’re probably wondering whether these are true to size. I’m happy to report that I had no issues with my regular size. Available in sizes 24 to 31, these jeans feel comfortable through the waist and hips—my main criteria for how true-to-size jeans are. I did notice that these get a touch looser as you wear them, so if you’re between sizes, you might want to size down.
The Ojai Straight Jean
Though it took 25 years before the brand decided to venture into denim, it’s clear that Jenni Kayne took its time to produce styles with intention. From the thoughtful approach to material to the fit and feel, I already know these will be some of the jeans I reach for most. And let’s be honest: Isn’t that the best way to get dressed?
Shop Jenni Kayne’s new denim styles below.
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