THE JEANIUS Amy Bannerman hails denim’s serious side
Forget acid wash and rips. shows you how to keep things classy
Like a really good friend, split ends and your unpaid student loan, denim is always there. It plods along from season to season, popping up in different guises, but this winter there is a new denim trend emerging across the catwalks of all the big hitters – and this time it’s different. Call it the Calvin Klein effect – for autumn/winter 17, their new designer, Raf Simons, sent an elegant, super-dark, head-to-toe indigo denim look down the runway that caused an Instagram frenzy. But this wasn’t double denim as we have loved and known it – not a sniff of Dolly Parton in sight, and certainly not a whiff of bleach.
This permutation is super, super dark, unfrayed, non-distressed, with no weird whiskering or patching. I am calling it serious denim, and it would look just as good on a 16-year-old as a 60-year-old. This is stiffer than normal denim, preferably non-stretch so it has a more structured look. The stitching is classic – minimal, neat and brown. The way to style it is to continue this feeling of neatness; tuck and belt it so it feels polished. Also, it doesn’t lend itself to skinnies, due to the lack of stretch, so a straight or wider leg is what you’re looking for. My favourites are the Mih Phoebes (right).
Because of the stiffness of this type of denim, you can wear the shirt jacketless, perfect for this transitional bit of the year where you have no idea what to wear. As it gets colder, just add more layers, a rollneck underneath (white or red are especially good), a blanket scarf and some major shades. So, you’re now officially a grown-up – no more cat memes or sweets for you.