How to wear denim now

From the denim shirt you probably already have in your wardrobe to the boxy tunic dress, a crisp denim t-shirt and a full skirt in this year’s must-have length (midi, in case you hadn’t realised!) I’ve put together no less than 16 outfit ideas to show you how to work your existing denim in a new way and also tempt you into trying this favourite fabric in new shapes to mix up your mama wardrobe for A/W without a pair of jeans in sight!

denim to wear now

I’ve split this feature into two posts as it would be a mammoth read (and denim overload!) in one go so today is the turn of The Shirt and The Tunic. Part two will follow tomorrow with The T-shirt and The Skirt and some of the items included in the outfits will feature across more than one look to show that you don’t need to invest in an entire new wardrobe, you can simply work these denim pieces in with your existing basics and accessories.

You can pin any of these images to Pinterest and save for later to refer back to when you’re in need of some morning outfit inspiration (I do this all the time – trying to be creative with two girls desperate for my attention each morning is pretty challenging as I’m sure you know too well!) and if you have any questions about working these items for your body shape or have any tips of your own to share please do post a comment below. I hope this inspires!

The shirt

The denim shirt is already a wardrobe staple and often worn in place of a cardigan as an extra layer over a dress perhaps, or buttoned-up and teamed with jeans, so you don’t need me to give you variations on that theme. But if you want to give your faithful old shirt a new lease of life and give your wardrobe a modern twist try wearing your denim tucked into a full midi skirt for a feminine look that will suit the daytime, work-wear and also see you through to dressier evenings. Keep the sleeves rolled-up to finish your outfit.

Denim shirt + full skirt 4 ways

Fitted denim shirt, £32, Topshop

Look 1. Dress down a floral midi with suede ankle boots and add some colour with a bright contrasting bag.
Floral midi skirt, £45, Oasis | Orange satchel bag, £35, M&S | Leather ankle boots, £75, & Other Stories

Look 2. Go for dark romantic florals for evening and clash colours with your accessories. Add some killer pointed courts like these Office beauties which are more than a little similar to Valentino’s Rockstud style but around 90% cheaper – hello bargain!
Blue faux suede clutch, £14, Next | Floral scuba midi skirt, £28, Dorothy Perkins | Pointed leather t-bar heels, £65, Office

Look 3. Mix up your prints with a flattering stripe, leopard pumps and a skinny floral belt to nip in your waist and add a playful twist.
Floral skinny belt, £6, Oliver Bonas (SALE) | Stripe midi skirt with paperbag waist, £21, ASOS (SALE) | Leopard print pumps, £95, French Sole

Look 4. Contrast textures with denim and faux leather. The pleated finish to this skirt adds interest in place of any pattern in this look and a neon yellow necklace keeps it modern.
Two-part pointed flats are a comfy, yet sleek alternative to pointed courts for day or evening and work just as well with boyfriend jeans as they do with a skirt.
PU pleated midi skirt, £55, Topshop (also in petite here) | Yellow bauble necklace, £49, Ted Baker | Two-part pointed flats, £22, ASOS

The tunic

A boxy, denim tunic dress is a great wardrobe update for autumn and will bridge the gap between seasons perfectly. Bring it right up-to-date with panel detailing or frayed edges for extra style points. Treat this as a top layer when the weather is cool and if you’re not a dress person ease yourself in and think of this as a tunic to layer over skinny dark trousers.

denim to wear now

Denim tunic, £22, Dorothy Perkins

Look 1. Layer your classic white shirt underneath to smarten denim up for work or a dressy lunch.
White shirt, £25, River Island | Red necklace, £20, Phase Eight | Leather high heeled loafers, £99, Boden

Look 2. Go monochrome for a sporty feel with a striped top layered underneath, plain trainers and a classic backpack. Add slim black cigarette pants like this River Island pair to ward off the chill.
Black leather rucksack, £119, Kin by John Lewis| Striped cotton top, £39, Cos | Grey leather trainers, £39.99, Zara

Look 3. Give the crisp denim and square cut of this tunic a softer edge with boho-inspired extras.
Hat, £14.99, H&M | Scarf, £7.99, H&M | Brown chelsea boots, £85, Bertie

Look 4. Lift dark denim with block-colour accessories in contrasting textures and hues (here I’ve chosen cobalt soft suede flats and a yellow perforated leather bag). Keep jewellery simple so the overall look is sleek not fussy.
Large yellow perforated shopper, £39.99, Zara | Blue suede two-part pointed flats, £65, Dune | Slinky bar necklace, £12, River Island

I’ve linked up to Street Style Sunday here

You can share this post with the buttons below…

%d bloggers like this:

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close