As your style is constantly changing, denim is one timeless classic that you can always count on. Through your edgy phase, your Jackie Kennedy obsession, your questionable early aughts, and throwback vintage loves, the heavy cotton weave has always been there—every step of the way. Denim is one of the few fabrics in your closet that you’re always sure of, whether you’re headed to the office, evening cocktails, or brunch with your best friends on a Sunday morning. You’ve dressed your favorite flares up with heels, added a blazer and loafers to your skinnies, and own an embarrassing amount of vintage cut-offs for hot summer days.
Timeless as denim might be (trust us: don’t go tossing any of those old loves just yet!), trends come and go; silhouettes morph and popular pieces change. We’ve run the gamut on fits over the years and roll with the punches when it comes to the most daring of denim trends from season to season. This summer, we’re overhauling our collection, paying specific mind to the most popular styles of the past as well as the new class—the up-and-comers for the months ahead. From our beloved denim shorts to jumpsuits, here is the ultimate denim guide for summer.
Blue Jean Baby
We love a one-and-done, and denim is no exception to the rule. Whether it’s a classic pair of overalls that you layer over everything from boxy tees to silk blouses or a more covered-up utility jumpsuit, this ‘90s trend is alive and well in 2018.
We’re throwing it back to the early aughts with this one, but in more sophisticated ways. While previous summers might have brought with them the ‘70s button-front minis of our mothers’ childhoods, this summer is all about the more casual cut-off mini that boasts a more dressed-down 5-pocket style.
Ankle crops are nothing new, but they’ve become a little more elegant in silhouette this summer. Gone are the oversized culottes and gauchos, but we’re still opting for a style that’s slightly more tailored than a stretchy pair of skinny jeans. Think: Levi’s at its best, with a higher waist, straight leg fit and crop just short enough to show off your ankles, but long enough to cover the near entirety of your long legs.
Distressed denim is coming back after a long hiatus (largely due to the fact that it was beginning to look as though our pets used our pants as a chew toy). This summer’s ripped-up look is more vintage in nature, with a natural wear-and-tear that shows off ease-of-dressing, yet still looks polished with a silk camisole and blazer.
Yes, you read that right. Denim trends have migrated from head to toe, manifesting themselves in new and interesting ways when it comes to your accessories. We’re particular fans of the denim flats, from loafers to ballet flats, as their masculine-meets-feminine vibe is hard to match.
With all-over embellishment fading into the distance, this summer has given rise to a more tailored denim trend with a similar appliqué feel. Whether tonal or in a bright pop of color, the borrowed-from-the-boys tuxedo look has made its way into the world of denim.
The bright hues of the ‘80s are coming back, by way of denim. Even for those wary of anything too bright, the ease of blue jeans makes the colorful trends of the seasons all that much more wearable. Try a head-to-toe monochromatic look like those popularized on the runway, or simply use your denim as a little pop of color with an otherwise subdued look.
If there’s one forever trend, it’s the vintage-inspired denim cutoffs (both raw-hem and cuffed-leg). Whether you DIY a style from a long-since-retired pair of blue jeans, shop your mom’s closet for a pant she actually wore when she was your age or shop a brand new pair of Levi’s that has that fresh feel, you can’t go wrong. You'll be hard-pressed to wear anything else at all, once you slip on that second skin.
