We all know denim is a building block of our wardrobes. But where do you get the best denim on the high street? Try these places for size …
Denim has never been cooler. In fact, as the biggest non-trend in fashion, it’s certainly got the hype of a buzzed-about viral moment right now. (See Lady Gaga’s recent Oscars performance in pared back makeup and ripped denims.) But where to buy it? And what styles to choose? That’s not always the easy part. As style editor of THE GLOSS Aislinn Coffey notes, if you’re over a size 12 buying denim on the high street can be nothing short of impossible.
According to recent research by Oxendales, when tasked with shopping for their body type, over 36 per cent of Irish women described it as ‘hard/very hard’, 50 per cent described it as ‘neutral ie sometimes easy, sometimes hard’ and only 14 per cent described shopping for their body type as ‘easy/very easy’. Add to that the task of finding suitable denim, and we think it’s likely a challenging task for many. So we’re here to try and make it that bit easier by rounding up some of the best denim on the high street to suit every shape and size.
Main image: Instagram @leasy_inparis.
Curve Love high rise 90s relaxed jean, €95; www.abercrombie.com.
As reported in the Oxendales survey results, 45 per cent of Irish women describe their body type as a pear. So what are the best jeans for pear shape? Opt for a higher rise to draw attention to your waist and with a slight kickflare or bootcut shape. Abercrombie’s new Curve Love range features an additional 2″ through the hip and thigh and the good news is they’ve made them in pretty much every shape conceivable – from trending 90s relaxed jeans to straight, skinny, flares and even shorts for summer.
24/7 indigo wide leg jeans, €36.50; www.oxendales.com.
What’s available on the high street now, when it comes to non-frumpy fits and an extended range of size options – because why wouldn’t we want both? At Oxendales, denim sizes run up to a UK22, with styles in every cut, fit and shape you could want for – at purse-friendly prices. The 24/7 Indigo Wide Leg Jeans are the perfect everyday jeans to take you from work to weekend, pair with everything from block heel boots to your favourite trainers.
Own, the denim range from Next comes through with some promising options. It’s been noted by the fashion set for its elusive combo of cut and comfort. It boasts a wide range of sizes (running from a UK six to 20), multiple leg length options, iconic washes and innovative fabrications that not only fit, but they flatter. Equally, River Island runs up to a size 18 and has a wide range of options, including different leg lengths and bum-sculpting styles (note to other retailers: give the people what they want!).
High-rise straight leg jeans, €79, at COS.
The high street has never been perfect when it comes to sustainable denim. Although, it’s fair to say that sustainability and denim, no matter what the price point, don’t exactly go hand in hand. (It takes roughly 10,000 litres of water to make a standard pair of jeans – that’s the average person’s supply of drinking water for 13 years.) While the most sustainable option would always be to go pre-loved, or just to wear what’s in your wardrobe, honourable mention goes to Arket, who has just upgraded the jeans offering on its site, which are crafted from organic and recycled cotton. Another favourite is Levi’s. The label’s Water<Less initiative reduces water consumption. It’s all part of the motto: “Wearing what you own is the most sustainable thing you can do. But when you do buy, buy better.” Tip: the Levi’s store at Kildare Village often runs bulk offers which mean you can buy two styles in the region of €120. Cut down on consumption and buy two great styles you’ll wear and love forever.
Vintage carpenter jeans, €45.95, at Zara.
Low-rise baggy jeans, €39.95, at Zara.
Which are the styles to love now? Stylist and personal shopper Orla Sheridan swears by Levi’s 501 straight-leg jeans in cream, not white (it looks more expensive). While Coffey is intrigued by Zara’s great array of baggy jeans which are a fast-track to looking in the know for spring (wear them low-slung). We think Zara’s khaki carpenter jeans (pictured, above) are a nice addition for those looking to ease into the cargo trousers trend. At COS, the perfect straight leg is available now in crisp white – the denim is rigid but the fit is relaxed, making them the perfect weekend jeans (see the image up top). There’s a strong offer of denim skirts at H&M currently, which are a small investment if you’d like to dip a toe in the long skirt trend. (Just keep to unfussy denim styles, that is washes sans embellishment, excessive fraying or rips.)
Denim skirt, €27.99, at H&M.
There is a super denim trench coat at Arket – consider it a fun, transeasonal cover-up that you can wear on repeat through spring. (The wash looks quite luxe, too.) When it comes to coordinates, Mango does a very good line in denim shirting (as does French brand Sézane) at the moment, should you be that way inclined. Think pussy bow styles and shackets that you’ll wear on repeat. Lastly, we know some people who buy M&S’s Magic Shaping collection on repeat. The high-waisted slim flares might just be the perfect foil to this season’s cowboy style ankle boots.
Denim trench coat, €229; www.arket.com.
