Top Trend: Denim

Rules are meant to be broken, and that includes wearing denim on denim. Once considered a fashion faux pas (who could forget the Justin Timberlake/Britney Spears debacle of 2001 at the American Music Awards), the risky combination, often referred to as a Canadian tuxedo, has now gotten a luxury face lift thanks to contemporary designer’s boldness and creativity.

Looking at SS17 runways, it feels like denim has finally risen from the style grave and this summer trend is yet another proof that 90’s fashion is back ! The all denim everything looks have been out of style for so long, they are now considered retro and that, obviously, automatically makes them cool again.

To illustrate the trend and take you on a trip down memory lane, we’ve rounded up some new and refreshing ways to nail double denim 2.0. Starting off with Andrew Gn’s long and ruffled denim dress that opened his presentation. This season, the designer known for his polished ladylike evening wear and his love for silk and cashmere, is all about denim. Yet, the rebellious fabric found its softer, prettier side thanks to embroideries and organza details.

Phillip Plein                                                                                Marques’Almeida                                 Alexander Wang

On a totally different note, more hip-hop and bling than ever, Phillip Plein took the classic staple to a whole new dimension as he introduced “Alice In Ghettoland” a quite controversial show featuring musical acts by Fergie and Fat Joe and a cameo by Paris Hilton. Halfway between cultural appropriation and assumed kitch, the designer played hard on clichés and put together some serious all denim 90’s looks that we simply had to feature here. For example, this faded-wash denim jumpsuit tricked out with piles of nameplate necklaces and gold chains and accessorized with a patchwork handbag and laced up heels, cut from denim of course. Sporty yet super sexy, the detailled denim corset belt gives feminity to the silhouette and clashes with the rolled up baggy pants.

When it comes to fashion forward jeans, Marques’ Almeida never fails to surprise. Afterall, the designer duo did make their name with denim when presenting their first collection at the LVMH Prize in 2015. Two years later their collection still includes their signature staple in the form of oversized frayed end denim jackets tightened around the waste by a big eyelet belt and worn over a simple slip dress.

Alexander Wang managed to take a grunge and destroyed 80’s look and make it desirable and appropriate for 2017. Namely, an extremely distressed and washed denim ensemble composed by a loose jacket and skinny jeans worn with a tiny top with long straps that criss-crossed the waist before disappearing into the jeans.

Chanel                                                                                          Tommy Hilfiger                                                 Kenzo

More classic but just as stylish, the two legendary designers, Karl Lagarfeld and Tommy Hilfiger revisited the timeless denim jacket, switching up the lenght and volumes to create impactful looks. While the first one went for an oversized light blue jacket with ¾ sleeves, huge pocket and a wide shawler collar, Hilfiger opted for an extra long denim version of the trenchcoat, buckling it up with a western belt and pairing it with some cool cowgirl boots, a mini short and a bikini top.

Breaking up the codes of Fashion Weeks, the American designer took his collection to the West Coast, in Los Angeles where he decided to launch his collaboration with his muse, model and friend – Gigi Hadid. The Californian IT girl said she looked through Hilfiger’s archives for inspiration on denim and “wanted to celebrate the youth of Tommy as a brand so one of the pairs of jeans is based on an actual pair that Tommy patched with his siblings and cousins at one of the original Tommy Jeans workshops”, she said. 

While at Kenzo, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon seemed to be going for chic and wearable looks, lending a minimalistic appeal to a double denim suit. As often, the designers have played volumes, accentuating the upper body and giving a relaxed feel to the raw denim.

Denim on denim outfits have come a long way and are now something to be revelled in, not dismissed.