Denim Forever

FROM WORKWEAR TO WEEKEND STAPLE, DENIM LEADS THE FASHION PACK AS A SARTORIAL SYMBOL THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. WHILE TRENDS COME AND GO, DENIM'S STAYING POWER-IN BOTH HIGH AND LOW BROW FASHION-SEEMS INFINITE

- JAMIE LEE

If fashion has a first love, it might very well be denim. The versatility of the fabric is demonstrated via its most essential form: a pair of denim jeans. This basic item can go skinny, wide or flared, or any other one of the endless permutations out there. Denim overalls, which were once deemed to be the uniform of working men, are now acceptable when donned as a form of relaxed weekend chic. A denim jacket, perfect for all seasons, can go oversized, cropped or even sleeveless - effortlessly versatile, universally loved. One thing's clear: Denim clothing dominates the realm of wardrobe staples.

"Denim is really one of the most versatile materials. You can wash it, colour it, print it, embroider it, it can be stretched and you can make it look so chic or understated by changing up accessories," shares Inside The Mood, an online fashion curator on Instagram (@insidethemood) whose content spotlights items from fashion archives. "It is an omnipresent example of trickle-up fashion trends. Nowadays, it is something that runs inside all classes and categories."

For FW'22, Bottega Veneta presented their rendition of denim with trompe l'oeil jeans made with leather. At Diesel, it was denim or nothing, from belts with denim fringes to denim "fur" coats to denim bras. Known for their long-standing denim heritage, Acne Studios' love for the washed fabric echoes throughout their collection and is seen in everything, from a wide-leg red denim skirt to denim gloves to trousers made of denim patches.