Denim is the ultimate canvas. Unfussy, familiar and timeless, it brings balance to whatever you wear with it. Tailored blazer feeling too formal for the weekend? Allow a straight-leg jean to steer it back to relaxed. Floral dress overly froufrou? Introduce some tomboyish cool with a denim jacket. 
 
The late Yves Saint Laurent hailed blue jeans as “the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant” of clothes, saying “they have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity.” And it’s this same boundless versatility, this enduring, perfectly undone quality, that makes styling different types of denim so much fun: the outfit options are endless.
 
Whether you want to subtly play up the retro overtones of a wide-leg jean or pull off a polished denim look to carry you through the 9-5, here are some of our favorite ways to wear this evergreen closet classic.

By now, you’ve probably noticed a shift away from ultra-skinny denim jeans in favor of looser styles – with flared and wide-leg cuts becoming ever more popular. But after so many years of skinny jeans reigning supreme, switching to the opposite silhouette can feel a little bewildering when it comes to styling. So, who better to cast as your wide-leg jean muse than ’70s icon Jane Birkin? The poster girl for carefree bohemian chic, Birkin liked her denim fitted around the derrière and flared at the hem – and she wore it best with a simple white tee and one arm entwined in her signature basket bag.

Taking cues from this easy-going elegance, try pairing your wide-leg jeans with a striped shirt and classic leather sandals for a subtle nod to timeless outfitting.  Tuck in a slouchy crewneck knit with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow for a less feminine look. But don’t stress too much – this wide-legged silhouette is so versatile it will look effortlessly cool whatever you wear with it.

If working from home taught us one thing, comfortable clothing is non-negotiable. With their rigid weave and buttoned waistbands, pulling on a pair of jeans isn’t always the most tempting prospect ahead of a day at a desk – but, equally, a tracksuit pant can feel the wrong side of slovenly. Enter: stretch denim.

This comfort-seeking middle ground combines authentic denim with 2% elastane for just the right amount of stretch while retaining its shape and grants our Low-Rise Wide-Leg Jean a glove-like fit from the first try. Comfortable enough to eradicate the need to instantly change into leggings or jogging bottoms the moment your front door shuts behind you at the end of the day,  this style frees up an array of styling options on days when comfort takes the top spot on your list of priorities. Lean into their off-duty origins and style yours with a Breton top and leather biker for lazy weekends with the family. Or, for instant working-week appeal, team them with a tailored blazer and leather slingbacks.

A rich source of inspiration for designers, the ’70s is the decade that delivered high-rise, flared  denim in dramatic silhouettes.Our Worn In Culotte is an authentic ’70s shape, with a lived-in feel and a universally flattering fit.

Play up the nostalgia by pairing this jean with our clog sandal inspired by the decade and accentuate the high-rise waist with a tucked-in Breton top layered under a tailored blazer. When evening rolls around, channel a suitably minimalist mood by tucking a skinny black top with an alluring neckline into the high waist and accessorise with a chunky gold chain and strappy sandals.

While there will always be a place for a classic white tee or shirt accompanied by true blue and black denim, this season brings with it a refreshing new spectrum of colors. From sorbet pastels made for spring to punchier hues to take you through summer and into fall, there’s a colored blouse or shirt out there to suit all tastes and seasons when styling denim.

We like pairing our Silk Cotton Spring Garden Print Shirt with a combination of two denim washes defining our Split Seam Jean. Ground the blend of pink hues and cream with a blazer in a deep khaki hue and add a polished finish with leather loafers. 

While there’s no doubt flared and wide-leg denim is having its moment in the sun, the classic straight-leg jean has earned its place in the forever wardrobe hall of fame; a versatile foundation on which to build infinite looks. Crafted in Italy, our Messed Up Authentic Jean comes in authentic denim with a mid-rise waist and fading through the thighs for a lived-in look.

For instant French girl chic, style the pair as you would a cigarette pant. Think ballet pumps or pointed flats in the fall and a pair of heeled sandals in warmer months accompanied by a simple round-neck top and our Hand-Crocheted Trim Bracelet Sleeve Bouclé Jacket, a cashmere sweater (or cotton blouse on summer days), artfully-mussed hair and a dab of lipstick, et voilà – your Gallic transformation is complete.

Once relegated to the boardroom, the blazer has experienced a revival, becoming one of the most called-upon pieces in the modern wardrobe and worn with everything from slip dresses to wide-leg pants and chunky knits. But its most alluring union has to be with jeans. There’s something about the juxtaposition of the tailored lines of the blazer with the unpretentious, relaxed feel of denim that hits the spot every time.

From a subtle pinstripe blazer worn with straight-leg jeans and sneakers for the weekend to a tweed blazer with vintage-wash denim jeans for brunch with friends – or a classic black blazer with flared denim for dressier occasions, there are endless ways to style this timeless duo. It’s a brilliant pairing for in-between days, too, when the transitional weather is too warm for a winter coat but too chilly to go without a top layer.

When looking for fresh ways to wear denim, it pays to cast your attention beyond the blue jean. From utilitarian jumpsuits to jean jackets, shorts and skirts, the denim horizon is broader than you might first think. A style staple for well over a century, the denim jacket has lent an air of nonchalance to our closets for decades. Cropped or oversized, dark or bleached, it proves its worth season after season. Try our Denim Cargo Jacket for a directional finish, teamed with flared jeans or our Denim Tube Midi Skirt.

Women often shy away from wearing denim on denim, worried about how to combine washes, but a head-to-toe look can be uber-chic. Think relaxed denim jacket pulled on over a T-shirt tucked into flared jeans, or over a blouse styled with a denim skirt.

As the ultimate sartorial staple, denim will always work with the other bona fide style classics. Striped top or cashmere sweater, crisp shirt or cotton tee, white sneakers or strappy sandals: any of these closet cornerstones are guaranteed to look good with denim.

Try pairing wide-leg jeans with a boxier, slightly oversized cheesecloth top and heeled sandals for a classic denim look that feels fresh for now. Or, for an evening-leaning look, swap the top for our Structured Peplum Knit Top. When styling a more straight, relaxed-leg jean, throw on an open shirt over a round-neck tee for an everyday look that effuses an easy-going air.