Blue jeans were originally designed for cowboys and miners, it wasn’t until the 1950s that jeans became popular in American culture as a protest against conformity. Many people still classify denim as being strictly for casual wear and consider it to be taboo when dressing to impress.
Wearing denim on casual Friday or out for cocktails after work can be done, especially if you wear the right wash and know how to coordinate your denim to look casual chic.
There are numerous ways you can dress up a classic pair of jeans for both men and women. When it comes to dressing up denim, I always go for a darker wash, I find light-wash and distressed jeans always look more casual. A pair of dark, fitted men’s jeans is the equivalent to a pair of chinos in terms of versatility for menswear.
Every man should own a khaki pair of chinos and a dark-wash blue jeans to wear on casual Fridays or to dress down a shirt and tie. Depending on the occasion, there are several ways you can dress up a pair of men’s jeans, the first way is to pair them with a collared dress shirt, tie and a classic blazer. If you accessorize this look with a belt, pocket square and a pair of loafers, you will look effortlessly dressed up without being pretentious. If it feels too dressy with a blazer, you can always swap the blazer for denim jacket or skip the tie. Either way, jeans don’t have to be worn strictly on Sunday afternoons with a T-shirt and sneakers.
Dressing up women’s denim can be more complicated because there are more choices when it comes to silhouettes and washes. Stick to dark-wash and a slim fit, or a fitted trouser style, depending on your body type. The key is to get a pair of jeans that fits your body.
It is really hard to find the perfect pair of jeans and when I find a style and cut that fits my body type, I tend to buy multiple pairs and washes in the same style. When I want to dress up my jeans I usually opt for a colourful printed silk blouse paired with a bold statement necklace. If I want to take my look up to the next level, I’ll complete it with a fitted blazer or cardigan on top. You can wear a T-shirt with jeans if you accessorize properly by adding a necklace, statement scarf and blazer.
The next time you’re thinking twice about wearing a pair of jeans, remember the darker the wash, the dressier – and don’t be afraid to pair it with a blazer and accessorize.
If you have any fashion questions email me at laurajaneatelier@gmail.com.