Top Trend: Denim

Though it isn’t new to our contemporary wardrobe, denim has established itself over the years as an everyday staple, so much so that we hardly remember its utilitarian origins. A little reminder: denim was initially worn by workers for practical purposes. But looking at the Resort 2018 collections, there’s no denying the rugged textile is having a pretty big fashion moment.

Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Gabriela Hearst

Looking back at the initial purpose of a Resort collection – which is for stores to be able to please a (wealthier) clientele who have plans to go on a warm and sunny getaway between the winter and summer seasons – you wouldn’t immediately bet on an utilitarian textile like denim to be the right fit. But this would mean misreading its trans-seasonal sartorial appeal. While some might blame climate change for the substantial shift between supply and demand, designers like Laura Jim & Fernando Garcia at Oscar de la Renta, Versace or Sonia Rykiel turned to bright embroideries (lush greenery, fresh flowers, even friendly monkeys) to keep that feeling of a pre-summer heat. Some others, like Massimo Giorgetti at MSGM, went for vivid colors like fuchsia or sky blue to bring the collection to summery places.

Stella McCartney, Khaite, Max Mara

Other than its practical appeal, it seems denim has been elevated to fashion statement status this season. Even more than before, runways and podiums were filled with full denim looks. Most memorable examples are the silhouettes at Max Mara, Stella McCartney, or Valentino. With wide-legged trousers and overall lightweight quality, they all convey that sense of a stress-free, easy living lifestyle. On the other end, brands like Bottega Veneta and Nina Ricci viewed denim Resort wear more along the lines of sharply cut denim trousers (because not everybody is going to drink cocktails on a boat mid-January).

Finally, one piece of clothing seems to be getting a new lease on life this season, namely the denim jacket. Tailored to perfection with an accentuated waist at Dior, or designed for the cooler days at Hermès with a buttoned-up turtleneck. Which leads us to think that, just like Resort is now more than just a transitional season, denim might just be the one textile that is sure to please every fashion-conscious customer any day, any way, anywhere.

Maxime Der Nahabedian

Initially trained to become a specialized translator from English and German to French, Maxime has been writing for fashion and lifestyle publications for about three years. First as a Managing Editor for the quarterly fashion & art magazine Crash where he worked on ten issues, then most recently for the French online media Saywho.fr. His topics of choice go from fashion shows and exhibitions reviews to interviews with various cultural figures (Beth Ditto, Lilly Collins, Aitor Throup).