Skinny fit jeans are cut to follow the natural shape of the leg closely, from the hip down through the thigh, knee and calf, ending in a narrow leg opening at the ankle. This close cut is the tightest of the common jeans fits.
Because the fit leaves little extra fabric, skinny jeans are very often made with stretch denim rather than fully rigid fabric, since some elastane makes it far more comfortable to sit, bend and walk in a close cut leg. Fully rigid skinny jeans exist but tend to feel more restrictive, particularly around the knee.
Skinny jeans pair naturally with footwear that has a slim profile, since a bulky shoe can look at odds with a narrow leg opening. See our jeans for body types guide and jeans and shoes guide for styling this fit, and the entry on slim fit for a slightly looser alternative.
