Skinny jeans, characterized by their tight fit from hip to ankle, became the dominant denim style for both men and women in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Popularized by celebrities like Kate Moss and the indie rock scene, the style represented a departure from the baggy jeans of the 1990s and embraced a sleek, body-conscious silhouette. The skinny jean trend demonstrated the cyclical nature of fashion and the enduring versatility of denim.

The skinny jeans trend, with its emphasis on the body and silhouette, resonated with poets interested in the construction of identity and the politics of appearance. The style's association with indie music and alternative culture also connected it to the poetry scenes of the 2000s, which often overlapped with music and zine culture. The skinny jean, as a marker of a specific cultural moment, has been referenced in contemporary poetry as a symbol of the millennial generation's aesthetic concerns.