Designers keep going back to denim season after season, and there’s solid strategy behind their loyalty. Denim is a staple in almost every woman’s closest. We count on denim to take us from weekends in white tee-shirts and sneakers back to the office in jackets and blouses. This summer, designers are upping our denim game by introducing bold colors and imaginative details such as shark-bite hems. These are the trends taking jeans beyond their dependable role all the way to statement pieces that stand out in any wardrobe.
Inventive Waistbands
Grab some attention with waistbands that are overlapped or stacked. Go for a more subtle design that features multiple or unconventionally aligned buttons. Designers have been playing around with this unexpected part of jeans.
Unique Hemlines
Here’s another spot where designers have been playing around with some delightful and playful results. Start out conservative by picking a simple slit and then move on toward a more dramatic look such as a frayed shark-bite cut or even pom-pom embellishments. When you’re picking an innovative hemline for your jeans, give some thought to your footwear. Keep the shoe silhouette clean and simple—such as a sandal or low-heeled mule—so that you spotlight the denim detail.
Color
Denim is brighter and bolder than ever with a colorful palette that ranges from mustard to red to purple, and your wardrobe could use a blast of color. Since monochromatic styling is big now, select a color for your denim piece and coordinate the rest of your outfit with that shade. Or keep everything else muted and let the one bright denim piece stand out.
Overalls
Details are the key to a cool look in denim overalls. Look for a deep-V neckline that’s blatantly feminine, a scalloped trim or a structured fit for a wide cropped leg.
Side Stripes
Side stripes are showing up on all kinds of jeans, and they make for a dressier option than track pants. Look for varsity-inspired stripes on dark indigo, rainbow stripes on light-wash flares, metallic stripes and silver-chain stripes on white denim.