by Blake Herzog
Denim is about the only material out there that gets its own fashion category,
defined by the semi-casual and supremely confident vibe it confers on any outfit.
It’s deeply rooted in Greater Prescott’s Old West past and surging within 2023’s fashion world as everyone looks for versatile clothes that can travel to a work meeting, the grocery store and revelry on the same day. These are some of the most stylish ways to wear it!
Two or more tones
Yep, you don’t even have to decide between denim washes anymore. If you want to take your jeans-and-T-shirt look up a notch there are hundreds of pairs to choose from that incorporate two colors on alternate legs, front to back, inside to outside and in waves and more patterns. Patches are prime as well — choose leather to incorporate another time-tested texture that’s having a moment.
Flowy silhouettes
Don’t worry about skinny jeans coming back to the fore in the near future — everyone has been shifting from mom to dad jeans, boot cuts with flared legs or even puddle jeans that droop into little piles around your feet without a platform shoe to hold them up.
Cargo pant-styled jeans also are hot, offering functionality for the baggy look. Just remember to balance them with something more fitted on top.
Top to bottom
The term “Canadian tuxedo” has shot from epithet to fashion statement over the last couple of years as style gatekeepers noticed the beauty and utility of a denim jacket over a well-fitted pair of jeans, keeping them warm and coordinated over many a cool night.
It looks great on everyone and while it carries a few nuances that need to be worked out — the colors don’t need to be matchy-matchy but similar shades are a good idea — it carries the timeless ease of denim into any situation.
It’s easier than ever to find any other kind of garment in denim these days, too, starting with classic work shirts, moving into classic ‘80s and ‘90s bustiers and trenchcoats and all the way into boots, lingerie and more unexplored territory.
Split hems
These are spectacular whether we’re talking jeans or skirts, but they’re especially trendy right now in jeans, where a front slit a few inches up from your ankle can make you feel more relaxed and look more polished in the same instant. It will immediately improve your stylishness without costing you any of the other upsides of going with denim.
WHITE DENIM
Every hue of the denim rainbow is on fire this season, but it’s a great time to give some props to the “nocolor” option. White is even more versatile than blue denim for pairing with tops, shoes and accessories because it doesn’t tie you down to its outdoorsiest overtones. You can style any palette you desire around white jeans as well as any cut or length of skirt to create your unique color signature.
