We’ve now entered rainy Britain, and suddenly it's not ideal for our favourite trouser hems to be collecting puddles on the pavement. Thankfully, the fashion crowd has a solution, and we've decided to call it the ‘knuck’.
A portmanteau of knee and tuck (stay with me), the knuck is the art of tucking your best jeans into your winter boots, with just the right amount of fabric spilling over the top. It's a styling trick that has been around for a while - hello, 'apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur' – but for autumn/winter, designers are giving us a particularly good reason to revisit it.
Isabel Marant, Acne Studios and Dries Van Noten all embraced tucked-in denim on their autumn/winter ‘26 runways, pairing jeans with everything from leather boots to more relaxed, equestrian styles.
L: Dries Van Noten autumn/winter '26 | R: Isabel Marant autumn/winter '26
The appeal is twofold. Practically speaking, it keeps your hems away from the rain, mud and general misery of British autumn weather. Aesthetically, it gives denim a more considered silhouette, adding shape around the leg while letting your boots take centre stage. It's also an easy way to make the jeans you already own feel different, without buying into an entirely new trend.
But, as with most things in fashion, the secret is getting the proportions right. Too much denim and you'll look as though you've been wrestling with your wardrobe; too little, and you lose the rumpled effect that makes the knuck feel current. The sweet spot is a soft gather of fabric just above the boot shaft, rather than a perfectly smooth tuck or an enormous mound of material.
For jeans, boyfriend and straighter styles are your best starting points. They offer enough room to tuck without creating unnecessary bulk, while a slightly lived-in wash gives the look a more nonchalant feel. If you're working with a wider leg, check that the fabric can sit comfortably inside your boots without bunching awkwardly around the ankle. Spray-on skinny jeans can work, too, but they create a more Noughties-inspired result.
Boot choice matters just as much; classic riding boots give the knuck an equestrian feel, while slouchy suede ones make it look softer and more bohemian. A structured knee-high boot is ideal if you prefer something smarter, particularly in chocolate brown, burgundy or black.
Finish with a nice blazer, a knit or a nice jacket, and you've got an autumn outfit that feels both practical and fashion-minded.
Shop: Jeans And Boots
Massimo Dutti, High-waist Cropped Straight-leg Jeans
60
Vagabond, Elvina Tall Boots
280
GAP, Blue Low Rise '90s Loose Jeans
50
ASOS Design, Riven Premium Real Suede Wedge Slouch Boot
130
Weekday, Booty Bei Jeans
11 (was £34.99)
Bershka, Heeled Boots With Buckle Detail
Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..
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