THE DENIM DRESS

EFFORTLESS ESSENTIALS! Shake up your summer sundress with one of the most popular materials in modern history— denim.

The blue-jean classic makes a contemporary comeback

THE 1980s USHERED IN THE DESIGNERDENIM ERA

(hello, Calvin Klein!) and, with it, the understanding that denim no longer referred to just a pair of jeans but instead an adaptable fabric used for every silhouette—including dresses. From the acid-wash minis of the ’80s to the pinafore and overall styles of the ’90s to the faded fitted patchwork dresses of the early 2000s (Britney!), denim dresses have adapted to every decade and trend with ease—a testament to the material’s versatility.

Today’s denim frocks veer toward simplicity. Try a shirtdress in a darker wash or a flowing silhouette that skims the body. The best parts? The spandex added to our denim helps us get that perfect fit, and companies have begun to look to more environmentally conscious methods of production, all the while maintaining denim’s practical character.

Lean in to denim’s cowboy credentials with a suede boot. Shop for options in browns and stick to a low block heel to keep the ensemble modern. Keep a denim frock from looking too casual by adding feminine statement jewellery. This season’s musthave? A...