Springing for some new jeans is a great way to begin the new season.
Although boyfriend and skinny jeans remain staples, denim dresses, jackets, skirts, hats and shoes are moving denim in more fashion forward directions.
Skinny bottoms are updated and remain a pivotal piece with which to start a denim wardrobe.
“The skinny jean is a strong trend with staying power that is updated with interesting details such as exposed selvage and zippers at the hem,” says Rod Van Straten, a Canadian Merchandise Manager for Levi Strauss & Co. " An extension of the skinny jean is the denim legging and we’re also carrying a zip legging with zippers on either side of the waist."
The hybrid crossover of jeans and leggings that some call jeggings appear in a variety of fabrics and weights ranging from denim with extra stretch, to stretchy, spandex and elastane- based fabrics that feel more like leggings than jeans, but feature a denim-like finish and colour.
“Jeggings are a spring wardrobe staple. Wear them with tunic tops and other great layering pieces. Accessorize them as you wish, with ballet flats or high heels,” says Nancy Cherniwchan, a Calgary-based spokesperson for Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
Indigo and black denim rock a dressier vibe, but ‘80’s-inspired acid wash, distressed and pale wash denims dance to a more casual beat.
White denim and coloured denim in solid or marbled shades of gray, green, turquoise, coral, berry and other bright shades may also start popping.
“There’s nothing like a skinny white jean for summer and there’ll also be lots of Skittle-like colour. We’re in Venice Beach, CA now, and the street kids here have unbelievable style with bright colour, tie-dye and all skinnys,” says Chip Foster, of Chip and Pepper.
Other denim trends that lean on a leggy look include Capri pants, shorts, jumpsuits, dresses and mini skirts.
“The denim dresses and mini skirts in my spring collection were partly inspired by the DIY feeling of taking a jean and reconstructing it to become a skirt and also partly inspired by a dressed up feeling to let denim go everywhere,” says Donald Johannesson, a creative and design director at Dish Jeans.
Tiered ruffles, overall style bib fronts, exposed zippers and bubble hem lines are popular elements on denim skirts and dresses which can stand alone or be paired with other denim pieces.
Although it’s still good form to mix and match denim garments with other clothing and to wear denim jackets and tops to dress down cocktail dresses and dressy separates, several designers, including Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and D&G are also experimenting with denim on denim.
“Denim just gets stronger and stronger. It’s no longer a faux pas to wear two denims together. Everywhere you look double and triple denim looks are being worn. It just makes a statement that this fabric has finally attained mass acceptance everywhere and highlights its versatility,” says Johanesson.
In addition to clothing, denim also makes a strong showing in accessories such as shoes, bags and caps.
