Podcast Summary: The Who What Wear Podcast

Episode: Denim Expert Jane Herman on the 5 Jean Styles to Keep in Your Closet Year-Round, and Her Favorite Silhouette for 2026
Host: Hilary Kerr
Guest: Jane Herman (Denim Designer, Founder of The Only Jane, Editor in Residence at Who What Wear)
Date: January 28, 2026

Overview

This episode features Hilary Kerr in conversation with Jane Herman, a prominent denim designer and founder of The Only Jane. The discussion dives deep into Jane’s lifelong passion for denim, her extensive industry experience, and her essential recommendations for building a versatile, year-round jean wardrobe. Jane also shares insights into upcoming trends for 2026, styling advice, and her unique approach to both design and personal style.

Jane Herman’s Denim Background and POV

[00:10 – 03:36]

• Family Influence:
  Jane describes growing up with denim at the center of her world, heavily influenced by her father, Ron Herman, and his iconic LA retail stores. Working at the stores and, specifically, in the “Jean Bar,” she gained firsthand knowledge of brands and fits during the rise of premium denim.

  “My dad loved jeans and really instilled in me a deep appreciation for not just the way they look and the way they feel and the way they fit, but also what they mean and their role in culture and style and pop culture.” (Jane, 02:18)

• Editorial Career Turns Denim Specialty:
  At Vogue, Jane’s LA roots led her to write influential denim stories, cementing her role in shaping denim’s editorial voice and language.

  “Sally Singer sort of recognized in me what I could bring to a certain category in fashion, which was jeans.” (Jane, 04:23)

• Corporate Experience at Gap:
  Jane shares lessons learned from her tenure as Director of Concept, collaborating globally and understanding the mechanics of large-scale denim production.

  “Gap is a company that's so rooted in denim with a history of the most amazing campaigns. It was really fun.” (Jane, 05:57)

Founding The Only Jane & Design Philosophy

[07:06 – 10:45]

• Launching The Only Jane:
  Inspired by motherhood and a desire for a new challenge, Jane launched her brand with a single jumpsuit, focusing on attainable pieces for multifaceted women.

  “Who do I design for? I design for women like myself and women like you who are like, we've lived a little, we know ourselves and we have so many different aspects of our life…” (Jane, 08:28)

• Design Duality:
  Jane’s mood board juxtaposes intimate, life-driven imagery with iconic 90s supermodels, reflecting both her past solo ambition and current family-centric mindset.

Denim as an Emotional Wardrobe Anchor

[11:12 – 12:14]

• Memory and Sentimentality:
  Both Jane and Hilary acknowledge denim’s special place in personal history.

  “They're like timestamps for your life. You can pull them out and remember all the places you were when you wore them and all the people you were with.” (Jane, 12:00)

Current Denim Favorites & Shopping Advice

[12:46 – 15:18]

• Bootcut Jeans & the Buck Mason Roper:
  Jane praises the return of the bootcut, recommending the Buck Mason Roper as a modern alternative to Levi’s 517.

  “It's a really good interpretation of the Levi's 517. It's got a high waist and a gorgeous wash…It's a really good jean.” (Jane, 13:15)

• Classic Straights from New Brands:
  OSU’s “the Nun” — a classic, high-rise straight leg jean reminiscent of Valentino spring 2026 runway looks.

• Best-selling Styles:
  Notable continued demand for Levi’s 501s, especially the 90s version in selvage.

• Barrel Jeans:
  Jane remains selective but highlights the AG Hattie as a comfortable, weekend-friendly barrel style.

Evolving Trends: What’s Selling, What’s Next

[15:35 – 17:17]

• Movement Towards Slimmer Fits:
  Jane observes a shift from oversized silhouettes to more body-conscious shapes, citing the growing popularity of bootcuts and slimmer jeans.

  “Jeans have been like very anti shape for a long time. And Levi's has a wedgie boot cut style that's really good. They give you like a really sexy perky butt...” (Jane, 16:05)

• Return of the Skinny Jean:
  Citing Old Navy’s “vintage high rise slim” as a stellar, stretch skinny. Notes that multiple styles now coexist, appealing to all preferences.

Why There’s Freedom in Denim Now

[17:17 – 18:10]

• Style Multiplicity:
  Jane credits denim’s acceptance for nearly all occasions as the reason for today’s broad fit diversity.

  “You can have a very dressed up, tailored, trouser pocketed, wide leg jean…And then you can also have a really comfortable, relaxed barrel jean for the weekend.” (Jane, 17:55)

The 5 Essential Jeans for Every Wardrobe

[18:27 – 21:17]

Jane recommends building a “capsule” with five functional denim pieces, each chosen for a lifestyle scenario:

1. High-Rise Straight Leg: The archetype jean — classic, clean wash; “a very good foundation for almost anything.”
2. Relaxed/Sitting/Travel Jean: For comfort and movement, whether running errands or lounging.

   “A sitting jean? Yes, a sitting jean...or like a run after your kids in the playground jean.” (Hilary & Jane, 19:10)

3. Black ‘Night Jean’: Slight stretch is ideal; for evening dressing out and about.
4. Summery/Beach Jean: Cropped, light wash, possibly frayed edge; for warm weather and casual days.

   “A beach jean. Thank you. Yes, it's a jean that you wear in the summer that's like really lightweight...” (Jane, 20:24)

5. Personality/Embellished Jean: Statement or novelty details (e.g., corduroy inserts, studs, embroidery).

Hilary summarizes:

“A classic jean, a sitting slash travel play jean, a night jean, a beach jean, and a personality jean.” (Hilary, 21:17)

Shoes: Pairing by Jean Style

[21:28 – 26:15]

Jane offers nuanced advice for styling shoes with jeans:

• Boot-cut: Requires a hard-soled shoe (leather-soled boot or heel); no sneakers or rubber soles.

  “Anything with a heel. And also it has to be a hard soled shoe, meaning no sneakers, no flip flops...” (Jane, 22:01)

• Wide Leg:
  • Long and full: needs a pointed toe shoe to avoid losing the foot inside the jean.
  • Cropped: Chelsea boots or clogs work, so long as the shoe shape is visible.
• Skinny/Slim:

  “You can wear any shoe almost with a skinny or slim jean because you can see the shoe.” (Jane, 24:01) Sneakers and embellished shoes encouraged.

• Flare:
  Hilary prefers a platform or chunky heel for height and silhouette clarity.

  “I always liked more of a disco shoe with it. Something that felt like there was a little platform…” (Hilary, 24:36)

• Barrel:
  Jane enjoys loafers, often with fancy socks, and prefers longer lengths for herself — adds surprise and polish.

Favorite Denim Pairings & Everyday Essentials

[26:15 – 28:58]

• Must-Have White T-shirt:
  Jane swears by a specific short-length, boxy white tee from Maid Revival for balancing denim looks.

  “It's such a good T shirt…it's great because you don't have to tuck it in, but it hits the top of your waistband…” (Jane, 26:41)

• Sweaters & Accessories:
  Ann Daughter sweaters (“so uncomplicated…do so much without making a scene”), Violet FR lip nectar (“like a raspberry lip with denim”), blazers (leaning toward tunic shapes as jeans get slimmer).

Denim Hacks & Personalization

[28:58 – 32:31]

• Bandana Belt Hack:
  Jane describes threading a bandana through select belt loops as a creative solution for baggy jeans, adding a personalized, one-of-a-kind feel.

  “I put it through the three loops that you have on one side of your jeans…then tied it in a bow, and I could get the full cinch, but it wasn’t too much fabric.” (Jane, 30:01)

• DIY Jean Shorts:
  Jane’s tip: cut your jeans on a subtle upward angle at the outseam for a more flattering, leg-lengthening short.

Looking Ahead: Trends for 2026

[32:31 – 33:53]

• Anticipated Styles:
  Jane looks forward to the Brandon Maxwell jeans (with distressed knees) and neutral-colored jeans for spring/summer 2026.

  “Some distressing is going to be nice...A lot of colored jeans out there right now. Not brightly colored, but like neutral colored jeans that are really nice…” (Jane, 32:48)

• Personal Style:
  Hilary prioritizes flattering black jeans (favorites: Kate’s wide-leg for evening, Mason for travel), dressing for her body over chasing trends.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On sentimental denim:

  “They're like timestamps for your life. You can pull them out and remember all the places you were when you wore them and all the people you were with.” (Jane, 12:00)

• On evolving fits:

  “It's a bit of a movement away from the barrels and the baggies and the slouchies that we've been seeing for the last couple years towards a little bit more fit around the body…” (Jane, 16:05)

• On capsule denim wardrobes:

  “It's like what you do in the jean, not what the style of the jean is necessarily.” (Hilary, 21:28)

• On her white T-shirt essential:

  “It's such a good T shirt... I have seven of them for every day of the week.” (Jane, 26:41)

• On denim's freedom:

  “I think, as you said, anything goes…jeans are now an acceptable thing to wear for all occasions of our lives.” (Jane, 17:40)

Key Timestamps

• [02:18] — Jane’s family denim legacy
• [04:23] — Early editorial focus at Vogue; Gap experience
• [07:57] — Founding The Only Jane and her design ethos
• [12:46] — Current jeans Jane loves (boot cut, OSU, Levi’s)
• [15:35] — Trends: shift to slimmer fits, top recommendations
• [18:27] — The 5 foundational jean styles explained
• [21:28] — Shoe pairing advice by jean style
• [26:29] — Everyday favorite pairings (T-shirt, sweaters, lip color)
• [28:58] — Bandana-as-belt hack and DIY short tutorial
• [32:31] — Upcoming trends for 2026

Conclusion

This episode is an authoritative, engaging masterclass in both the emotional significance and wearable versatility of denim. Jane’s recommendations—rooted in personal experience, trend forecasting, and a passion for making clothes “for women who’ve lived a little”—offer actionable advice and inspiration for denim lovers at every stage. Whether you want to update your collection, reinterpret beloved pairs, or anticipate future trends, Jane’s insights are essential listening.