Every fashion week, designers amaze us with their ability to bring fresh interpretations to fabrics that have been iterated on and reworked a thousand times before. This season, it was denim that got the reboot treatment. Since denim has long been associated with a more casual approach to dressing, it’s fair to say that “elevated” is not a word you would typically associate with it, yet from Saint Lauren’t crisp tailored blazers to Rejina Pyo’s polished co-ords, the new-season spin on this iconic fabric was what can only be described as polished.
From trench coats and blazers to midi skirts and shirt dresses, no item of clothing was safe from denim’s blue-hued influence. What made said items elevated varied from piece to piece. For example, dark denim has become a shortcut to a more polished denim look and is typically rendered in a more rigid fabric to create that crisp, tailored finish. Other designers, meanwhile, turned to smarter silhouettes to bring new life to their denim designs. Case in point: Sustainable denim brand Seventy + Mochi has created a number of elegant, ruffle-neck jackets in a variety of denim shades. The finer fabric allows the jacket to be shaped to create a softer, more sculptural finish.
If it isn’t immediately obvious from the inspiration images I’ve included here, the elevated denim trend lends itself perfectly to double-denim dressing. You would be forgiven for feeling intimidated by the look (lest we forget the infamous Britney and Justin outfits c.2001), but it’s all about getting the styling right. Try sticking to darker denim if you’re feeling tentative, and you can always throw in some polished accessories (think heels or chunky jewellery) as an easy way to add an elevated twist. To get you on your way to elevated-denim success, I’ve compiled an edit of my favourite polished denim buys below. Scroll down to see and shop my edit.
Renia Jaz might’ve gone casual with her bleached-denim pairing, but her colour-pop accessories instantly make it feel 10 times more polished.
A perfect example of how a darker shade can make a double-denim outfit look more elevated.
I’ve seen quite a few denim trenches around this season, and they make a fun alternative to the classic beige iterations.
I like the simplicity of this outfit, which is casual yet still feels smart thanks to the pointed boots and boxy finish.
Such a cute set.
My dream SS22 jacket.
Just add a pair of cowboy boots.
A sustainable brand to know.
I love the high neckline on this mini dress.
The quilted trend gets the denim treatment.
I love how the brand styles the top here with white jeans.
This is my favourite denim coat out of the edit.
Wear alone or throw over colour-match jeans.
I love the collar on this denim shacket.
How cool is this denim trench.
Such a cool statement piece.
Just add the matching shirt.
Style with knee high boots.
Layer over a white roll neck.
These come with matching jeans.
Jeans but oh so elevated.
These would look so good with platform boots.
Yes please.
Up Next: Spring/Summer 2022 Trends: The Only 17 Looks You Need to Know About