When the terms “double denim” come to mind, I am immediately reminded of the iconic photo of then-couple Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake dawning all denim at the 2001 American Music Awards. One of the most memorable red carpet looks of all time has evolved into modern trends (sans the denim cowboy hat and gaudy jewelry to accompany it). From models off-duty to Hollywood A-listers, denim on denim has emerged as a typical uniform for street style. However, every time i find myself reaching into my closet to pair my jeans with my denim jacket, I find myself thinking “is this legal?” When I leave the house sporting my Canadian tuxedo, I can almost feel the fierce eyes of Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada on me as she tells me “you have no sense of fashion.” But as I see more and more denim-on-denim looks being executed so brilliantly today, I am convinced that this look can be a success as long as you follow these simple rules:
- Choose denims that aren’t the same wash
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To avoid a too matchy-matchy look, try going for two denim pieces that are different washes. Also, try to find denim pieces that are different weights. For example, pairing a thinner jean button-down with a heavier denim on the bottom will create more of a harmonious look rather than appearing as a coordinated bore.
- Pair your double denim with pops of color
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To break up the denim, a pop of color or pattern can change up the matching outfit. Bright colors and colorful patterns pair beautifully with denim especially when the shades are contrasting! As someone who is always afraid to play with vivid colors, I found that pairing it underneath a double denim ensemble brings less attention to the loudness of the top and creates a more subdued yet fun look.
- Don’t just stick with blue denim
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Try color! Broadening your color palette when it comes to your denim collection can allow you to wear double denim less overtly. When pairing black or any lesser worn shade jeans with a white t-shirt and a red jean jacket, one will probably not even notice that all of these pieces are denim!
- Try Distressed Denim
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Although you might get those snarky comments from adults who say “you paid that much money for jeans with holes in them,” distressed denim tends to look better when paired with other denim. I have the found distressed denim ensemble to be my go-to when I want to create this look. I consider my oversize distressed denim jacket with my light-wash loose-fitted jeans as my favorite casual outfit.
- Look for denim with accents
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Whether it is a denim jacket with a fur-trim or jeans with a sea of pearls on them, denim with accents will add an element of texture and steer the look away from being too synchronized. My tip: choose one accented item and opt for a simple second item when pairing them together. This will help avoid looking like you went overboard with the double denim(just google Britney and Justin 2001 for reference).
We all wish we could live in those one pair of jeans that fit us just right. When it comes to pairing these precious pants with other things, we sometimes struggle to decide what is and isn’t allowed. Pairing double denim can be scary, but if you follow these steps, the fears will subside and you will rock a chic Canadian Tuxedo!