How to Wear Denim Now

Angharad Jones

Writer and expert / Posted on

Denim: the wardrobe staple that is so much more than a weekend casual option or mid-week filler. For Spring/Summer ’17, it’s more versatile than ever – ranging from smart and slightly tailored to old-school utilitarian, deconstructed and light summer washes. This season be experimental and go beyond the usual with our guide to how to wear denim now.

denim jacket breton top

Double Denim

The Canadian tuxedo has taken many guises over the years (let Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s matching red carpet looks in 2001 never be forgotten), but it’s become a lot cooler in recent seasons. Take a look at the AW17 collections for fresh new ways to wear double denim – from A.P.C.’s backwards denim jacket worn with matching jeans, or Raf Simons’ debut at Calvin Klein, with a roll neck worn under a 1970s-inspired denim shirt, jeans and leather cowboy boots.

Raw Hems

Starting off with the stepped style, for the past couple of seasons the hem has taken the spotlight. For SS17 it’s raw edges that have become the go-to style – look out for frayed or deconstructed, released hems for an elevated take on the classic jean or denim jacket.

Neutral Shades

White jeans are often given a bad rep, with their 1980s connotations and impractical nature. But this season they’ve been updated in more wearable neutral shades – off white and sand – as well as the usual bright white. If you’re going for a skinny jean, keep it cropped for a flattering fit, or opt for a wide, loose leg for those darker hues.

Workwear-Inspired

The workwear trend has been doing the rounds for the last decade or so, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere fast. Characterised by heavy-duty, durable fabrics and stripped-back, utilitarian details, workwear is all about the practicality – and denim is at the forefront. Keep fits loose yet slightly structured; think wide, straight leg jeans and boxy jackets.