Fashion has always been about creativity—and sometimes that means making do with what you’ve got. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, before skinny jeans or slim-straight cuts were widely available, a clever little styling hack swept through schools and malls everywhere: the tight roll.
The Tight Roll Trend
If you grew up in that era, you probably remember it. Jeans back then were cut looser through the leg, so if you wanted a slimmer fit at the ankle, you’d fold the fabric inward at the hem and roll it tightly 1–2 times. Voilà—your own DIY tapered leg!
The look became so popular it even had nicknames:
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Pegged jeans
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Tight rolled jeans
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Or simply “cuffed”
It was the perfect way to show off your Reeboks, Converse, or pumps—and it gave baggier denim a sleeker, fashion-forward vibe.
But Cigarette Jeans Came First
Here’s the twist: the idea of a slim, ankle-grazing pant didn’t start in the ’80s. “Cigarette pants” were already famous in the 1950s and ’60s, worn by icons like Audrey Hepburn. They were sleek, tailored trousers that skimmed the leg and ended just above the ankle.
The ’80s tight roll, however, showed denim brands that people still craved that clean, tapered line—so instead of everyone folding and rolling their jeans, designers started cutting them that way.
The Evolution Into Cigarette Jeans
By the 1990s, denim labels began producing straight, slim, ankle-length jeans that mimicked the tight-rolled look—no cuffing required. Over the years, this evolved into what we now know as the cigarette jean:
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Slim but not skin-tight
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Straight through the thigh and calf
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Cropped or ankle length
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Designed to show off your shoes
Why They’re Back Today
Fast forward to 2025, and cigarette jeans are trending again. Fashion is moving away from extremes—no more super skinnies or ultra-wide legs for most women. Instead, the cigarette jean hits that “just right” spot in between: polished, versatile, and easy to style with boots, loafers, or sneakers.
At The Rowe Boutique, we carry several styles that nod to this silhouette—like the Tyrell High Rise Ankle Straight Jean, Tessa High Rise Straight Leg, and Drake High Rise Straight Leg. Each one gives you that throwback tapered look with a modern fit and fabric.
A Fun Question for You
Did you ever tight roll your jeans back in the day? Or is this “new” to you? Drop your stories in the comments—we love hearing them!