Julia Roberts proves "modern cowgirl" jeans have replaced barrel-leg this autumn - how to copy the look

Roping cattle and pulling on a pair of spurs are certainly no longer requirements for wearing cowgirl jeans. Western-inspired denim has been a fashion staple for decades, making the journey from ranches to runways and wardrobes around the world. But while bootcut jeans have had their high-fashion moment, they're not necessarily the easiest style for everyone to embrace. Like marmite, you either love the silhouette or you're not quite convinced, and the shape can be surprisingly tricky to style.

Barrel-leg jeans, sometimes referred to as horseshoe jeans, can also feel a little dramatic thanks to their voluminous shape. Yet their popularity shows no sign of slowing down, with the silhouette continuing to crop up across the streets of London, New York and Paris. If you're looking for something a little more wearable that sits somewhere between a classic straight leg and a statement shape, Julia Roberts may have just found the answer.

While out for dinner in Paris last week, the Oscar-winning actress wore the 'Agnes' jeans from NYC-based denim brand Rùadh. The brand describes the style as "streamlined, elongating and with subtle vintage character", but we'd call them a modern take on the cowgirl jean.

Unlike the exaggerated barrel-leg styles we've been seeing everywhere, the Agnes jeans have a more streamlined fit through the leg. They retain that subtle Western influence, with sculptural shaping around the waist before gently loosening through the leg. The result skims rather than clings, giving the jeans a relaxed but polished finish.

Roberts wore hers sitting just above the hip, giving the outfit an effortless borrowed-from-the-boys feel without looking scruffy. Add a heeled boot or kitten heel and they could easily work for the office, too. Roberts opted for heeled boots, proving once again that jeans and boots are one of the easiest combinations to turn to as the weather gets cooler.

Timeless but with enough of a twist to feel current, the Agnes jeans offer the everyday versatility of a classic straight-leg pair with just enough shape and drama to make an outfit feel more considered.