In 2024 jeans have gone too far. And the viral 'barrel' trend proves it.

It seems we've hit a point in 2024 where someone, somewhere, thought we needed to spice up the jean scene a little bit. 

Skinny jeans are dead. Baggy jeans and wide-leg jeans are in. But apparently something was... missing.

For reasons that are unclear, someone decided it was... these.

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They're called 'barrel jeans' and they look like they're either a) worn to protect your legs while riding on horseback, b) a popular item seen in a saloon in 1865. 

Watch: Clare Stephens reviews the chaps festival trend, and it goes exactly how you'd expect. Post continues below.

For the unacquainted, barrel jeans, also known horseshoe jeans and balloon jeans, usually have a wide fit on the mid-legs, they're fitted at the waist and then tapered at the ankle. And look, there's not one bit of this sentence that sounds appealing to me and I cannot be convinced otherwise.

On a related note:

- When did this start

- Who decided it was okay to cross jeans with John Wayne and Buffalo Bill. 

- I don't like them. 

People have also started sharing photos of what they look like IRL and sweetie, where is your horse and wide-brimmed hat?

Politely, no x

No. But the more I look at them, the more ridiculous they become. 

THEY'RE SO SILLY.

Also, we've just learnt how to style boots with baggy jeans and we absolutely do NOT have the energy to learn what we're supposed to wear with... these. 

Like, I feel like it has to be cowboy boots and spurs? There's precisely no other option.

And over on Instagram, people have very strong feelings about them. Some comments were: 

"What in the bow-legged jeans is happening here?" 

"It's giving vitamin D deficiency."

"Stop trying to make barrel jeans happen. They're not going to happen"

"Rickets jeans."

"It's giving clown."

"As someone who spends their 5'5 life being delulu about their height and imagines they are much taller than they actually are…. these Oompa Loompa pants would check me so quick."

I'll give credit where credit is due, though — they do look like they could be VERY comfy on the legs.

Anyway. I'll be sticking to my straight leg jeans this winter, THANK YOU.

For more from Erin Docherty, you can follow her on Instagram.

What do you think of barrel jeans? Would you try them? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Instagram/@freepeople/@saradiane_.