Would You Wear… Denim on Denim?
From left: Chloe runway, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in matching denim, Herve Leger runway
With the reemergence of 90s grunge and chambray, it would appear that denim is back on the rise for Spring. However, with scary flashbacks to Britney and Justin and warnings from Zephyr, is an all-denim outfit really the way to go?
The great thing about this look is that denim pieces are fun and playful and can be paired with just about everything. The downside, however, is that this look is tricky to pull off, and doing it wrong can provide a fashion failure of epic proportions.
The key to getting it right is in using different tones of denim. Wearing tones that are too similar to each other without being exactly the same just looks like a mistake. Playing with different weights will keep the look from looking too 90s, as well. For example, try pairing dark denim trousers with a light and lightweight denim blouse. Need more? I’ve created a couple of sample outfits below, so check them out!
Outfit #1: Crisp
Product Information: Denim Shirt: Peacocks, Denim Trousers: Raleigh Denim, Chandelier Earrings: 1928 Jewelry, Gold Ring: Topshop, Suede Pumps: AMI Clubwear
Outfit #2: Playful
Product Information: Denim Jacket: American Eagle, Black Tights: Gap, Strapless Denim Dress: Paul Smith, Feather Earrings: ASOS, Black Pumps: Forever 21
Outfit #3: Pretty
Product Information: Pale Denim Shirt: Oasis, Floral Denim Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Drop Earrings: Coldwater Creek, Wedges: Qupid Keila
What do you think?
Would you wear denim on denim? Or do you think the look should stay in the 90s? Do you like the resurgence of denim pieces and accessories? Let us know in the comments!
Posted on on April 20, 2010 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Britney Spears, Chambray, Denim, Featured, Jeans, Justin Timberlake, Spring 2010, Trends
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Charlotte
I’m actually starting to warm to double denim, but I do wonder what people would think if i wore it!!
I’ve toyed with the idea of my vintage denim vest with my stonewashed denim shorts and a floral top to break it up and I think it would really work!!
Double denim looks fantastic on the runways and on mannequins, and I think it’s very different to the justin and britney look of the 90s. It’s not about matching now, it’s about clashing and contrasting.
Fashion is always evolving and repeating itself; that’s what makes it fun.
I’m looking forward to trying this out.
I love this post. I think it’s very interesting and will definitely stimulate a debate. I love outfit two. I’d love a chambray dress!!
Charlotte
girlnextdoorfashion.wordpress.com
xxx
fashionista
Well, it depends on the clothes. For example, I like the first outfit, and I would wear it, but I’m not sure about the others… XD
Christina
Ew! I really hope this isn’t coming back into style… Denim on Denim seems really boring to me, and also really uncomfortable. I really don’t like the look of it. I do like outfit number 3, because it incorporates a print into the mix to help break up the Denim-Tuxido look, but I really wouldn’t try this at all.
JillAnn
I’m in love with first outfit!! Looks like it’s time to get my old jean jacket out of closet.
Charlotte
i never thought i’d see myself loving denim again but i really do :]]] my mum gave my an old waistcoat of hers from the 70s :]]]
i love the second outfit.
it’s funny how trends come back again!!
it’s quite different from the double denim of the 90s- i think this time it’s so much more summery and refreshing!! I love denim jackets or shirts over summery dresses.
I definitely think I’ll be trying this out :]]]
charlotte
girlnextdoorfashion.wordpress.com
xxx
Zoe
NO.
Emily
HECK. NO. Denim on denim is not the look for me at alllll
dani
Zoe, you got it: NO.
Dominique
Well, I like the Herve Leger runway look, and the outfits you put together are cute. So if I saw someone wearing denim on denim I would probably like it, but I don’t know if I would ever want to do it.
Seems to me that it’s more exciting to mix up fabrics rather than wear the same one from head to toe!
<3 the dress darling
Breanna
Definitely a skip for me. With the second outfit I would wear a light blue jersey, cotton (or whatever) dress instead of a denim one – sure, it doesn’t look that bad as Britney and Justin and you surely made this trend acceptable in your outfits, but I don’t know why one should try that hard to make this trend work if it just can be avoided with much less effort and better results.
iEsoteric
NEVER.
It’s can never make anyone look good.
Melissa
I like it on the runway (i.e. Herve Leger) and sometimes even on celebrities (i.e. Katie Holmes, March 22, 2010 http://www.zimbio.com/Katie+Holmes/articles/bxLf3iq8Cue/Courtside+Chic+Katie+Holmes+Denim+Denim), but for some reason, not in everyday life.
Melissa
Wow that format was weird. Sorry about that.
Ms. Derky
I dont think i could pull off a denim on denim outfit…maybe the first one and the skirt one that you put together. I just think that the denim on denim look is bizarre. I wouldnt wear an all one color ensemble so i dont think i would wear an all denim outfit
Kelly
love the third outfit; the second one is a bit “eh” for me; I might wear the dress, but it would definitely be with a darker wash jacket and I’d probably accessorize it differently. the first outfit is a big NO for me, though.
yeah, double denim is totally tacky for me 95% of the time. this is one bandwagon I will NOT be jumping on.
Mae
I do NOT like denim on denim. However, the last outfit is okay because the skirt doesn’t look very denim-esque.
(Check out my blog for a post about denim on denim. Click “Mae” above.)
Beverly
No way would I ever wear that.
But – does the very first model look a little like Sebastian Bach or is that just me?
CLC
the last two outfits are super cute, but eeeeck i could never pull off the first one!!!
Sil
Never!!! I don’t even like denim in the first place!!!!!! :S
Sally
Horrendous! This is so bad. Denim shirts should not even exist.
ginny
depends…
but at least it isnt the whole denim jacket with matching demin pants..
i think if you change the shades texture and material, it looks fine
Alana
I don’t think I will ever be okay with this trend.
Libby
This article is hilarious to me. I’m related to inventor Dean Kamen and he wears denim-on-denim every day in the form of a denim work shirt and jeans. There are pictures of him at the FIRST Robotics competition on http://www.usfirst.org if you care to check it out. He definitely pulls of the inventor/workin’ man look. However, I would NEVER wear denim-on-denim. Nope, no way.
Tamara
Ugh, NO.
Maybe on the runway, but there are TOO MANY ways to make this look seem heinous. Without buying deliberately cute, contrasting pieces, this will never, ever work.
Skipping this trend for sure. I feel like we only just did away with the nineties!
Alexandra
this just reminds me of that bad 90′s girl group, B*Wtiched. They ALWAYS wore denim on denim. and it was bad. really bad.
JillAnn
I’ve been surprised by the negative response. Because of my skin tone and hair color, denim-on-denim is probably the best look for me. XD
Denise
LMAO, Britney and Justin were like the Barbie and Ken dolls I never wanted to have. Mixing denim with denim is an art. It can be a stroke of genius or one heck of a disaster. I don’t mind mixing chambray with some of my darker pieces like the second and third outfit because chambray is a lightweight compared to regular denim.
Megan
I dislike the denim on denim look unless one of the pieces has a completely different pattern on it such as denim skirt in outfit three. If the pieces are too similar it looks like a denim suit, which is not really appealing to me.
lauren @ lapetitefashionista
I didn’t think I’d like this look but I tried it out for an outfit post & ended up really liking the end result! I think it depends on the washes of the denim
http://lapetitefashionista.blogspot.com/2010/03/denimondenim-in-ymi-jeggings-exclusive.html
xoxo
Melissa
Hahaha Beverly, I thought the same thing. It reminded me of Gilmore Girls, the TV show.
Elicia
It seems like not so long ago people were bashing the denim on denim look.
Ashby
UHMMM NO CANADIAN TUXEDOS EVER..
Taryn
As others have said, I do like how this trend looks on the runway–I actually like how most trends look on the runway. The question of whether I could pull it off is a very different thing, and in this case, I feel like I would mess up this trend somehow.
I like your outfit suggestions; denim on denim is certainly made better when the denim is in different shades. However, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable wearing an all denim look…
Lyd
please dont make denim denim a comeback!!!
Erin
No no no no! Evil right there!!! Only if you are a cowboy and have nothing else in your closet
Sarah
No! One of the biggest fashion faux pas is denim on denim. The only time it is really ever okay is if it is done on the runway (or if you’re a ranch hand, but even then it is still tacky). I’m not fond of the cowboy tuxedo look!
Jojo
I doubt I’ll be combining different denims in one outfit, I think it’s too much.
I think it’s a stretch for me to wear some of the ‘trendy’ denim pieces on their own, so I think I would look like a fool if I put various pieces together.
I’m still on the search for a great pair of “old school” denim capris/bermudas … H&M had a pair, and now I’m kicking myself for not buying them!
Tibby
Never. This just looks like a fashion disaster.
Carly
No no no.
Tiara - NYU
Denim on denim only works when it’s casual like the Chloe look. And it also looks better depending on the washes and the fit. Everything can look good depending on how its done. I mean, who would have thought that socks with sandals would look decent on the runway and off?
Holly
To me this looks like stuff that was popular 10 years ago. I think there are too many looks “coming back” right now that haven’t been gone long enough yet. (Note the picture of Brit and JT together. YOU KNOW that was a long time ago…)
Jennifer
Hate, hate, hate denim on denim. I would maybe wear the third outfit though, and maybe the second without the denim jacket, though I really don’t like denim on denim most of the time. It reminds me too much of what my parents wear to concerts.
Madeleine
I would try denim on denim if it looked okay with the outfit I’m wearing. I’ll pretty much try any trend once.
Sarah
No, I would never wear denim on denim. It’s too much! The chloé-look is the best one of the three.
xoxo
Eurotrip Tips
Wearing denim on denim can be pretty tricky if you want to avoid the white trash look. I think it has to be two radically different denim hues in order to make this work.
I love that flowery denim skirt!
Haley
Wouldn’t do this one either. Denim on denim looks uncomfortable and ucky all at the same time.
Captain Stark
Double denim should stay locked in the 90s.
Captain Stark says no!
Marcy
Depends on if you do it right. The trick is the mix washes and textures.
Keeping it uniform looks like you’re going center-stage to a rodeo,