Ellena Galant explores 2026/27 jeans trends, recommending practical, stylish denim models and how to style them comfortably without heels.
Key Takeaways
- Barrel jeans remain a classic and versatile choice for most body types.
- Balloon jeans with exaggerated silhouettes are going out of trend.
- Avoid overly distressed, heavily washed, or zipper-heavy jeans for better wearability.
- Balance voluminous jeans with fitted tops and cropped outerwear for a stylish look.
- Comfort and practicality are prioritized over following every fleeting trend.
What the video covers
- Discussion on whether skinny jeans are a trend or anti-trend and their current relevance.
- Analysis of barrel-leg jeans, their classic status, and styling tips to balance their volume.
- Explanation of the difference between balloon jeans and barrel jeans with visual descriptions.
- Advice against wearing overly distressed, heavily washed, or zipper-heavy jeans for comfort and style.
- Recommendations for choosing solid-colored, simple denim without contrast stitching or patch pockets.
- Styling tips include pairing voluminous jeans with fitted tops and cropped jackets to balance silhouette.
- Emphasis on practical, wearable fashion without heels or uncomfortable clothes.
- Suggestions for autumn styling with cropped barrel jeans and layering with blazers or knit cardigans.
- Encouragement to adapt trends to personal style rather than blindly following them.
- Highlighting that some jeans trends may be outdated but classic styles like barrel jeans will remain relevant for years.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction: Are Skinny Jeans Back?
- 01:07Channel Introduction and Overview of Recommended Jeans
- 02:28Barrel Jeans: Characteristics and Styling Advice
- 05:27Difference Between Balloon and Barrel Jeans
- 06:40Jeans to Avoid and Why
- 08:22Styling Barrel Jeans for Autumn and Practical Looks
- 10:38Formal Look with Blazer and Jeans
- 12:18Slim Leg Jeans and Alternative Styles
- 14:32Color Trends and Wide Cuffs in Jeans
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
So, are skinny jeans a trend or an anti-trend after all? Have they actually returned or not? And those barrel-leg jeans that everyone wore so much last year, are they still relevant? What about those bootcuts—remember, everyone used to wear bootcuts before?
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Where did they go? Are we even wearing them, or how do we style them anyway?
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Where did they go? Are we even wearing them, or how do we style them anyway?
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Because it is one thing to understand what is trending and what isn't, but an entirely different thing to adapt these pieces to your own real, personal style . And as always on my channel, there are no heels, no uncomfortable clothes,
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What is going on? In today’s video, I’m answering all these questions. Most importantly, for each category, I will show which models are outdated and which ones I recommend wearing. And most importantly, how I recommend styling these particular denim models.
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And welcome to my fashion channel. So, today it’s my take on jeans. Which jeans I recommend and which I don’t.
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Because it is one thing to understand what is trending and what isn't, but an entirely different thing to adapt these pieces to your own real, personal style. And as always on my channel, there are no heels, no uncomfortable clothes,
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I’m going to make many people happy here. I know you’ve been waiting for this moment, when balloon jeans with that exaggerated horseshoe silhouette, let’s say, officially leave the trend lists. I’m showing you right now what I mean. These are the jeans with an
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and no abstract collages. So, today it's only practical outfits with jeans. Let’s go. Hi everyone. My name is Elena Galand.
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narrowing of the silhouette. And these jeans, even though they popped up everywhere on so many influencers and Instagram bloggers, this era is officially ending. And before you celebrate regarding all the jeans you think might fall under this category,
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And welcome to my fashion channel. So, today it’s my take on jeans. Which jeans I recommend and which I don’t.
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clear and understand visually that balloon jeans are the ones with an exaggerated rounded line, while barrel jeans are the ones that are shaped like a barrel. They are still relevant and they aren’t going anywhere, which is great news. Well, at least, let’s put
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We will refer a little bit to runway shows. And as always, there will be lots of real, wearable, practical fashion on how to make jeans look both stylish and comfortable at the same time. So, point number one. I’m sure
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Therefore, jeans that have a similar, slight curved line fit most figures perfectly. I won't say absolutely all female figures, but most of them. That is exactly why I believe these jeans— they are called, I'll repeat, barrel jeans in English—are a classic. Maybe
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I’m going to make many people happy here. I know you’ve been waiting for this moment, when balloon jeans with that exaggerated horseshoe silhouette, let’s say, officially leave the trend lists. I’m showing you right now what I mean. These are the jeans with an
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specifically in this category that you will enjoy. So, barrel jeans. By themselves, they have a heavy visual weight because of this shape and volume , so do not choose jeans in this style that also have a washed effect. Better
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exaggerated rounded shape that truly look like a horseshoe. They very often had darts on the inside near the knee to further enhance that rounded silhouette. They are often very narrow at the ankle, either because of an elastic band or just a very strong
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wear these jeans as often as possible, especially in autumn, choose this specific category in a cropped format, because for the same reason, these jeans weigh down our look. They add volume to the lower part of the body.
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narrowing of the silhouette. And these jeans, even though they popped up everywhere on so many influencers and Instagram bloggers, this era is officially ending. And before you celebrate regarding all the jeans you think might fall under this category,
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autumn in mind. And my own example is white, solid-colored, slightly cropped jeans. So, let me show you my look. I pair the jeans with a top that fits relatively closely to the body, precisely to balance out the voluminous
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let’s figure it out. The difference between balloon jeans and barrel jeans is very simple, because one is a balloon, a ball, and the second is a barrel. And let’s just look at a ball and a barrel. And we are now perfectly
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voluminous itself. It doesn't look like a blazer that adds a lot of volume to the upper body. It fits relatively closely to the figure. And that is exactly what I like about it. And, of course, I wouldn't be myself if this
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clear and understand visually that balloon jeans are the ones with an exaggerated rounded line, while barrel jeans are the ones that are shaped like a barrel. They are still relevant and they aren’t going anywhere, which is great news. Well, at least, let’s put
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If you want to balance out the volume on the bottom even more, choose jackets or coats that are slightly, at least slightly, cropped. Then you can add volume around the shoulders. But in any case, I really like this look. I think
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it this way, I personally consider them a classic. If we take the female body, the average female body, there is this difference between the waist and the hips. This figurative, light arc, let's say, is present in the female body.
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wouldn't recommend investing in these kinds of jeans, and not because they’re an anti-trend. In fact, some fashion houses have showcased very unusual design solutions in the jeans category. I don’t recommend them because you won’t get any pleasure out of wearing them. They are very
Speaker A
Therefore, jeans that have a similar, slight curved line fit most figures perfectly. I won't say absolutely all female figures, but most of them. That is exactly why I believe these jeans— they are called, I'll repeat, barrel jeans in English—are a classic. Maybe
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zippers. Oh my god, when they add zippers everywhere, it's just, ah, no, no, once again, no. Dirty jeans. I understand that you’re probably thinking of the iconic jeans from Acne Studios. We will come back to that later, but if you ask me which jeans I
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in 100 years we won't be wearing them, but believe me, for the next 10 years we will. Definitely. In reality, marketing names just change slightly, but the essence remains the same. My advice number one: how to choose jeans
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just classic wide-leg jeans, just classic wide-leg jeans, or you can choose gray jeans. I think that's the perfect option for autumn. And for this category, I chose loose, maximally relaxed jeans, but in gray. They are perfect for autumn weather. And yes, I
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specifically in this category that you will enjoy. So, barrel jeans. By themselves, they have a heavy visual weight because of this shape and volume, so do not choose jeans in this style that also have a washed effect. Better
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Actually, I had planned to wear other sneakers, but I couldn't get them clean . Something happened to them after the summer. Anyway, my favorite Reebok Classics—yes, maximum comfort, just as I promised—and I’m adding this winter knit zip-up cardigan. I love it
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to choose smooth denim. Do not choose contrast stitching or patch pockets for the same reason. Better to choose simple, solid-colored denim. And likewise, do not choose washed-out distressed areas. Better to choose relatively solid-colored denim. And the second piece of advice. If you want to
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comfortable as it gets. I don't even know what could be more comfortable than this combination of items. But because of the interesting color combination and the balanced silhouette , our look appears very stylish. I wouldn't say it's elegant. No, when
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wear these jeans as often as possible, especially in autumn, choose this specific category in a cropped format, because for the same reason, these jeans weigh down our look. They add volume to the lower part of the body.
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here. I am replacing the top layer. I am replacing the cardigan with a classic blazer. I am even keeping all the same accessories. And we end up with a more formal look that is suitable for the office, provided, of
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Accordingly, if you also choose very long jeans that hit the floor, our look will appear even heavier. An exposed ankle always makes a look feel more airy. Therefore, for this specific category, I would recommend choosing slightly cropped jeans, especially with
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And here, perhaps, it would be more appropriate to use the word elegant for the look. And I want to emphasize here, the lesson of this category is that these very same jeans...With the right styling, we change just one single top
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autumn in mind. And my own example is white, solid-colored, slightly cropped jeans. So, let me show you my look. I pair the jeans with a top that fits relatively closely to the body, precisely to balance out the voluminous
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unconventional jeans, then choose gray and just pick a modern, relaxed silhouette. No hypertrophied darts, volume, and so on. And here is where we'll have some fun, because we are moving on to the skinny jeans category —probably the most problematic
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bottom. And I add my favorite suede blazer or jacket, which you have seen many times on my channel. I think I’ve been wearing it for the third or fourth year now. I really like this combination. It is, by the way, not
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not a trend, I disagree. And yes, now you're thinking of the runway shows. I'm showing you the shows, well, tautology, please forgive me. For example, Celine. Celine immediately comes to mind here. Skinny jeans. Well, I just don't even know how this model
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voluminous itself. It doesn't look like a blazer that adds a lot of volume to the upper body. It fits relatively closely to the figure. And that is exactly what I like about it. And, of course, I wouldn't be myself if this
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thing for fashion houses to showcase this look on the runways. And it is quite another for the fashion community to actually adopt it. So far, I see that the fashion community isn't ready to give up comfortable, easy clothing.
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look wasn't built around an interesting color combination. Yes, as always, all links are in the info box. I really like this look both in terms of the silhouette and the color combination.
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officially still call it an anti-trend. But if you tell me, "Lena, I still prefer more fitted clothing." Then choose jeans that are called Slim Leg.
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If you want to balance out the volume on the bottom even more, choose jackets or coats that are slightly, at least slightly, cropped. Then you can add volume around the shoulders. But in any case, I really like this look. I think
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that’s what they are actually called. They are looser throughout the entire leg. You get that feeling of airiness almost everywhere along the length of the jeans. They can be slightly cropped or full-length. It all depends on your personal preference. And by the way, in
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it’s absolutely wearable. Yes, I will have looks with dark jeans as well. Don't worry. As I promised, the looks are very wearable, even when considering the fickle, unpredictable autumn weather. The next category is jeans as a fashion statement. I
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These jeans have an energy almost like dress trousers. They have a refinement that is missing in all other denim models. So, let me show you my outfit.
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wouldn't recommend investing in these kinds of jeans, and not because they’re an anti-trend. In fact, some fashion houses have showcased very unusual design solutions in the jeans category. I don’t recommend them because you won’t get any pleasure out of wearing them. They are very
Speaker A
The pants match the shoes, and I’m pairing them with a classic T-shirt. Next, I’m adding that dark green cardigan you saw in previous videos.
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difficult to style, even harder than just some unusual trousers. So, what do I not recommend buying for the 2026-2027 cold season, let's call it that. So, deliberately exaggeratedly oversized, voluminous jeans or jeans with patch pockets, pleats, voluminous distressed elements, stripes, or
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Now these are pieces that carry a personal style. Then, if I need outerwear, I add a slightly cropped jacket. This is, by the way, H&M.
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zippers. Oh my god, when they add zippers everywhere, it's just, ah, no, no, once again, no. Dirty jeans. I understand that you’re probably thinking of the iconic jeans from Acne Studios. We will come back to that later, but if you ask me which jeans I
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outdoors and indoors. It doesn’t matter what the layers are. You can add the jacket, take it off, or remove the glasses. Inside, this look has the same energy as it does outdoors. And those are exactly the kind of looks I love to
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recommend buying for yourself or styling for everyday wear, all these jeans are personally—and I don't claim to be an absolute god in this category—but personally, these are all anti-examples for me. If you want jeans with character, choose either
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don't understand those kinds of stylings. And the second option with the same jeans and the same base layer is adding a more classic scarf.
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just classic wide-leg jeans, just classic wide-leg jeans, or you can choose gray jeans. I think that's the perfect option for autumn. And for this category, I chose loose, maximally relaxed jeans, but in gray. They are perfect for autumn weather. And yes, I
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Slimmer, yes, I’m stuttering a bit today for some reason. And this is a more formal look, let's say, for the office. It has loafers, so I think it’s perfect for a Friday office outfit. The only thing I changed here
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am styling them with a soft, flowing shirt that you have already seen many times on my channel. It doesn't add volume because it's a soft, flowing fabric. And I'm adding sneakers.
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case, they’re a little bit looser. By the way, these jeans have been with me for three years now; they're from COS, and they still have them in their basic collection. I’ll leave a link to them . And we are moving on to the fourth
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Actually, I had planned to wear other sneakers, but I couldn't get them clean. Something happened to them after the summer. Anyway, my favorite Reebok Classics—yes, maximum comfort, just as I promised—and I’m adding this winter knit zip-up cardigan. I love it
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a tricky model that sits right at the intersection of trends, anti-trends, and classics. It all depends on how you style these jeans, because it’s very, very easy to turn them into an anti-look. Well, let’s put it abstractly. So, how do I not recommend
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so much. This is a maximally comfortable, cozy piece, but in the context of this contrast between something more formal, namely a white shirt, and something very relaxed and cozy, namely this zip-up cardigan, jeans, and sneakers, the look is as
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stuck in the last decade. A morally outdated look. But if we take the exact same jeans and add a classic, modern white turtleneck to brighten the face area, add a modern leather jacket with a relaxed silhouette, say a bomber,
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comfortable as it gets. I don't even know what could be more comfortable than this combination of items. But because of the interesting color combination and the balanced silhouette, our look appears very stylish. I wouldn't say it's elegant. No, when
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Only the styling around them has changed, but look how much the message has changed. And the main idea here is that bootcut jeans are very sensitive to styling. Be very careful with them.
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we're talking about jeans, it's hard to use that word, but it looks very stylish while being maximally comfortable. And the second direct
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briefly. I do not recommend choosing these kinds of dirty-looking jeans with a blurred effect or what we used to call acid wash. Remember, those jeans were very popular, I think it was the 2010s. Yes, I believe it was the 2010s.
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All those complex wash patterns. And now you're probably thinking, "But what about that?" The Acne Studios show.
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They had those exact kinds of jeans there. The thing is, that has more to do with the brand's own DNA than with trends as a broad phenomenon. Whatever we might be talking about, at any moment in fashion history we can say, "
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Ah, but there was a show, and those items were there." That doesn't mean that just because a show featured those items, it's a trend in the broad sense of the word. No, these fashion houses make these jeans because it is their
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style DNA. So, classics always remain classics. That’s dark indigo, dark denim. Denim...why did I suddenly say denim? Or a medium wash, or light-washed, or perhaps gray jeans.
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These four options will always give you a win-win result. Or if you tell me right now, "All that is fine, but I'm bored, I'm missing color," then I will tell you. Red jeans are the answer to your question. Because choosing jeans
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in an interesting solid color, let's say red or pastel yellow, is also a trend for the current year and not just for this year, but in a broader sense as well. And I'm showing you my look with my red jeans. Only because you've
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seen them before and I just wanted to show a new way of styling these same jeans. So, I'll show you the previous look first, which was bolder and more unconventional. I showed it to you in that very video about the main trending
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colors of autumn. For this video, I’ve prepared a more low-key styling to show you that even the brightest red jeans can be worn every day if you style them with something more grounded . For example, a regular polo sweater,
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a black bag, and the same white sneakers. And the look we get is more casual, more relaxed, simply because the items themselves have a more neutral cut and a more neutral color palette. And this is the look I've
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ended up with. These are red jeans, sure, but because everything else around them grounds the styling, the outfit looks completely wearable.
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It’s just one red element. And you probably have questions here: what about wide cuffs on jeans? Yes, this is also a trend in a sense, a broad trend, meaning not just for this autumn, but in the wider sense of the word. The
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only small but important warning as a stylist: if you are petite or plus-size , I don’t recommend choosing contrasting wide cuffs, because as we know, any contrasting horizontal line, especially at the very bottom of our outfit, really grounds the look. And if
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you're petite or plus-size, I do not recommend contrasting cuffs. But these neutral cuffs that match the color of the leg don’t actually shorten our height that much. So, I hope you watched the video to the end. Well, if
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you're listening to me, then yes, you have watched the video all the way to the end. I hope you’ve gained some interesting new knowledge. If not, then at the very least, I hope I’ve inspired you to look at jeans as more
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than just classic blue denim with a straight cut. I’ll remind you that all links are waiting for you in the info box. And we will see each other in exactly one week. Bye-bye.
Topics:jeans trends 2026barrel jeansballoon jeansskinny jeansdenim stylingfashion tipscomfortable fashionautumn outfitscasual jeansEllena Galant











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