What’s the hottest new denim shape And the coolest way to wear it? Read this guide to spring summer 2022 denim …
Buying jeans can be a minefield – as well as navigating what’s new, there’s fit, fabric and shape to think about. Now more than ever we want to be mindful of including conscious denim in our wardrobes, too. Before you go making any new purchases, read this guide to the best jeans for spring summer 22 as a starting point.
Main image: Net-a-Porter.
The Shape
Image via Net-a-Porter.
There is one buzzword in denim right now: relaxed. Skinny jeans are out, and straight-leg shapes are very much here to stay. The mood right now favours high-waisted styles that are slouchy and give that effortless, louche kind of impression.
Ribcage straight-leg jeans, Levi’s, €120; www.zalando.ie.
The wash
Vintage-inspired denims dominated catwalks for spring. The message? Your jeans should appear as if they’ve lived a well-rounded life. This doesn’t equate to heavily distressed or worn finishes, rather pure shades of denim that hark back to classic Levi’s styles from bygone days. The emphasis is on unfussy jeans in rich colours that look soft to the touch. See US-based label B Sides as inspiration: the label once repurposed old denims from a local cowboy in Colorado, but now uses that intel to create brand new pieces with a vintage sensibility.
The way to wear
Moments in pop culture (namely, Kanye West and Julia Fox) have seen double denim spike in popularity – according to fashion search engine Lyst, searches were up 31 percent after the famous duo sported double denim suits at couture week in Paris. This was reflected on the catwalk at Petar Petrov (a new denim brand at Net-a-Porter) for spring summer 22 where denim shirts and jeans, in a classic shade of true blue, were worn together. On a less out-there note, we’re noticing – and liking – the growing number of style savants pairing jeans with soft-shouldered Sloane-y blazers, knotted jumpers and relaxed shirting. Heels are tolerated but a penny loafer or a simple ballet flat wins for spring.
The brands to know
The best new denim focuses on organic fabrics, small batch production and sustainable methods. A recent arrival at Arnotts is Won Hundred. The Copenhagen-based brand favours high-waists and ankle-cuts made from certified organic cotton. New to Brown Thomas for spring summer 22 is Goldsign, a brand that makes small batch denim and knitwear. Look it up for its slouchy barrel shapes. Meanwhile, ELV gives denim destined for landfill an encore, reinventing it into fresh shapes. The brand aims for a zero-waste policy while working with local businesses to minimise carbon footprint. Lastly, Irish denim brand Native Denims based out of the Chocolate Factory in Dublin 1, creates made-to-measure jeans for the discerning denim aficionado.
Flare crop jeans, ELV Denim, €340 at Brown Thomas.
The denim icons
Whether she’s lounging in a pair of demi-flares while chilling at home or rocking a pair of high-waisted vintage-wash jeans to model her collaboration with Realisation Par, supermodel Claudia Schiffer’s denim sensibility never fails to inspire. Meanwhile, we’d recommend following fashion influencer Kelly Harrington on Instagram – her feed is a love letter to all things denim-related.
She is the queen of no makeup makeup and even manages to make a smokey eye look subtle. When everyone else was going for heavy contour and laminated eyebrows, she continued to promote enhancing your natural features with simple tricks and smart product placement. If you have seen any of her videos, you will notice how little product she actually uses. Even Victoria Beckham commented how surprised she was when she went to remove her makeup after a shoot with Lisa on how little product was applied.