How I Wear Denim As Someone Who Hates Jeans
It's not that I hate jeans, it feels more like jeans hate me. They look great on everyone else. Classic, easy, effortless. But on me? Not so much. As my search for the perfect pair of jeans endures, I've found other ways to incorporate denim into my wardrobe. It's too great a wardrobe entity to give up just because it's most famous vehicle hasn't worked for me.
So often, headlines delivering the denim daily are reserved for jeans but there's much to be uncovered when you look a little further to understand its full potential. Denim, as is often best exemplified in that one pair of jeans, is a fantastic canvas for adding to, becoming the perfect vessel to allow other fabrics and colours to take centre stage. Its easy versatility can also mean that a newfound sense of boldness can take place. Indigo denim works brilliantly with a shock of vibrant yellow and acid wash can work excellently with neons.
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Denim jackets, of course, are a spring-through-to-summer favourite but a denim dress is also a brilliant choice that can be dressed up swiftly and comes with such structure that it can often cut a striking silhouette other fabrics can't quite keep up with. Plus, it's easy to look after and practical. Simply put, the joy of denim jeans can be found in other denim pieces, too. Ready to build your denim wardrobe? Here's my guide to starting out well.
The Denim Dress
The denim dress is a true unsung hero if you ask me. I have several and in several washes. For me, the benefits of a great denim dress abound. I love how they maintain a structure that falls voluminous and stiff, and when they cut close to the body they have something of an added shapewear-style solution that proves entirely flattering. I love layering them with bright cashmere in the winter and crisp white shirts as spring arrives.
Not all denim dresses are created equal, of course. Some are smart enough for the office but others are best reserved for the holiday wardrobe. This summer, the most covetable styles seem to have a retro energy about them, inspired by familiar vintage styles. Think this great Acne Studios style complete with frill details that's very Y2K or this Reformation dress that has a 1990s rom-com energy about it. Just add ballet pumps and a sweater thrown over the shoulders. Cute date not included.
How To Style It
Choosing how to style your denim dress is, of course, something that needs to be planned on a case-by-case basis. No two are the same and so styling plans will inevitably differ but one rule that works with all of them is playing with colour. Whether your denim dress is indigo or acid wash, a striking jolt of colour brings the blue alive. Try bold earrings and a stand-out handbag to elevate and upgrade the everyday ease of the fabric, especially if wearing your denim out for a late-night dinner. Another styling trick that works well with a denim dress is choosing pieces that are chunkier and larger to play up the proportion the fabric invites. Its stiffness and rigidness often means that its silhouette can be more dramatic than a cotton equivalent so continue this by wearing chunky wedges or carrying a larger-than-usual clutch bag.
The Denim Skirt
If one denim item is trending now it's the longer-length denim skirt. Beloved by Bella and her supermodel pals alike, the style has had a swift resurgence to become one of the season's must-have buys. I like the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy vibes from this elegant Theory style (wear with loafers and a simple T-shirt) or then there's this more fluid option from & Other Stories that would be a great alternative for a beach cover-up.
A denim midi-skirt is inherently cool, bringing in an air of nostalgia with new-season allure. This is not to say a denim mini-skirt is bad news, but right now a midi or maxi length skirt feels a little more in vogue.
What's great about the perfect denim skirt is that it has a seasonless appeal. Sure, it's trending now but they are equally at home in the summer wardrobe as they are the winter wardrobe paired with knee-high boots and a polo neck jumper. Chic.
Choosing a denim skirt comes with a little consideration. Are you willing to have one cut close to the body so that your step is shortened or is a full-skirt option more your vibe? Be sure to give it a good try on and take some strides before you make the commitment.
How To Style
I love the idea of pairing a mid-length denim skirt with pieces that usually call for more polish, like a ladylike pair of shoes or a neat twinset. The contrast feels fresh and modern, bringing together an easily assembled ensemble. Knee-high boots worn with denim skirts are big news now or there's the ballet pump option.
As already discussed, denim does have a vintage appeal, especially if you are shopping preloved, and so it's fun to consider that too. An old-school football shirt, perhaps? Conner Ives has recently launched some great ones.
Denim Jackets
As a proud owner of more denim jackets than I could count on one hand, I consider myself something of a super fan, if not an authority. I've worn them my whole life and they are essential in my wardrobe. At present, a boxy indigo style from Topshop remains my favourite, but I'm tempted by the new styles being ushered in where they're completely oversized or oppositely longer in length and then belted at the waist.
Wash is what matters here as it can take your chosen jacket from smart and neat to relaxed and casual. They really can do everything.
How To Style
Styling denim jackets is easy but does take some consideration. I'd suggest playing with proportion and contrast. Reserve your oversized, more mannish styles to be worn with feminine summer dresses and then enjoy a cropped style with louche tailoring. Should the moment allow, then a slightly battered and beat-up denim jacket can provide a stylish alternative for chilly summer evenings.
Denim Accessories
And finally, a quick note on denim accessories. Chanel is particularly good at these but by no means the only option. They can be a great way of adding a little ease to your look, especially if said accessory is a dainty evening bag more likely to be made up in something sparkly or an elegant kitten heel. The unexpected contrast is what makes it most appealing.
How to Style
Here, I'd suggest your denim accessory be the only piece of denim you choose. Allow it to be something of an outfit centrepiece no matter whether you're carrying a denim back or
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