2024's Silhouette
Love them or hate them, barrel-leg jeans have been climbing everyone’s wishlists ever since they were introduced in Alaïa’s FW23 collection. Sitting between baggy and skinny jeans, the modern, bow-legged silhouette — also referred to as ‘horseshoe’ — has already been embraced by the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Gigi Hadid and Julianne Moore. With its unusual shape that curves out at the hip and tapers in at the ankle, the barrel-leg may seem a bit intimidating, but styling it simply involves accentuating its sculptural silhouette while minimising distractions. Wear it with fitted, tucked-in tops such as bodysuits or turtlenecks, and avoid excessive layers or busy patterns that may detract from its clean lines; and when it comes to accessories, opt for pointed shoes like ballet flats or Mary Janes to balance out the proportions.
Short & Sweet
From baggy bermudas to micro hot pants, denim shorts are a great summer alternative to the classic jean. For a more polished take on the classic cut-offs, go the tailored culottes route and pair them with heels and an oversized blazer; and if you’re after something a bit more relaxed, take a page out of Celine’s SS24 runway lookbook and style your shorts with cowboy boots and a satin bomber jacket.
The New Neutral
Softer than its white counterpart, cream denim is a must-have when it comes to trans-seasonal dressing — and it looks as good paired with sandals as it does paired with a chunky knit. The perfect bridge between the casual side of blue jeans and the more formal style of tailored trousers, ecru pieces are just as easily styled as regular jeans and will quickly earn their place as an all-year-long wardrobe staple.
Skirting the Trends
If you’ve been flirting with Y2K trends, then chances are you’ve already been toying with the idea of giving maxi denim skirts a try. Easily dressed up or down, they’re as versatile as a good pair of jeans and make a great foundation for showing off other pieces you might want to highlight — and if you’re willing to go the extra sartorial mile, why not give Diesel’s skirt-jeans hybrid a go?
Cowboycore
Fashion has come a long way since Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ matching double denim looks at the 2001 American Music Awards, but it seems designers are ready for us to get back in the saddle: from Diesel and Vetements to Casablanca, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Ralph Lauren and Staud, the Canadian tuxedo — also known as Texan tuxedo — has been given a modern upgrade. Casual yet coordinated and put-together, the key when it comes to pulling off a double denim look is to stay away from anything too tight; and if you feel inspired by Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era and want to embrace cowboycore fully, just slip on a pair of cowboy boots.
Denim's Dark Side
Blue might be your go-to when it comes to denim, but allow us to introduce the next best hue when it comes to jeans: grey. Seen both on the streets and throughout the SS24 collections at the likes of Loewe and Dior, grey denim is perhaps one of the most versatile trends of the year. Used as a blank canvas, it works as well with a neutral colour palette as it does with a more colourful one. Wear yours with an oversized blazer for a relaxed take on tailoring, or fully embrace the trend with a washed-out total look à la Diesel.
