Dressing Up Your Denim Collection

As far as fabrics go, not too many can rival denim in terms of importance and prevalence.

A material that has transcended time, location and social class, denim is an unequivocal menswear staple that continues to stamp its mark on the fashion industry each and every season.

However, due to the fabric’s workerwear roots, denim pieces are naturally considered to be casual and off-duty-appropriate. But restricting the fabric in this way means that you will never unlock the full potential of your wardrobe. Today we look to rectify this by showing you how you can dress up your current denim collection.

It’s not just jeans that are getting this style upgrade either – we’ll demonstrate how the denim shirt and jacket also have a role to play, slotting them seamlessly into a variety of smart- and business-casual looks…

Denim Shirts

Although we broke down the denim shirt’s rising style credentials late last year, we’re taking a more sartorial approach this time around.

Not only reserved for the weekend, a denim shirt works just as well under a suit to bring a tactile, masculine touch to your office wear.

Style Guidelines

• Avoid acid washes at all costs. They make for an interesting casual piece but won’t do your formal wear any justice. The same goes for extremely light or washed out hues. Solid mid-blue or indigo shades are the most versatile options and can be dressed up or down effortlessly.
• For the smartest results, opt for pared-down pieces. Keep detailing to a minimum – so no prominent crease lines, distressing, heavy duty buttons or stitching.
• During the warm-weather months, swap your denim shirt for a chambray version. The lightweight, breathable fabric helps to maintain the desired aesthetic without causing you to overheat.

Lookbook Inspiration