 |
| Photo: style.com |
Notice how this Miu Miu outfit is more of a tailored denim two-piece than a Texas Tuxedo? The silhouette is very 1950s Balenciaga - voluminous jacket with a fitted midi skirt - very grown-up. Forget flimsy floral dresses and fantasy footwear, this is what I want to wear this spring. One of the reasons I don't post too many 'today I'm wearing' photos on the blog, is that there are only so many times readers want to look at a picture of me in jeans. And, I prefer to remain on this side of the dashboard. My personal style is fairly consistent, whether it's on the catwalk or not, there's always one failsafe fabric in my wardrobe: denim. Originally used for workwear, denim is timeless, functional and durable - and, as far as I'm concerned, the perfect year-round staple.
Faded in summer - last year I lived in a pair of ripped-at-the-knees Levi's, my perfect blue shirt and Liberty print hi-tops - and darker for cooler months. Deeper shades of blue have a smarter edge and are acceptable in the office. On realising that every pair of jeans I own are ripped and worn, I recently settled on a dark denim pair from Uniqlo. More of which at a later date. Let's just admire Miuccia Prada's fifties-inspired coat and matching pencil skirt:
 |
| Photo: Style.com |
Obviously, double denim can be singled out. I'd be tempted to wear the voluminous jacket/coat with a pair of black Capri pants. The midi skirt with a cashmere sweater. Not that I'm afraid of double denim. Oh no, I've gone triple in the past. It's just sometimes it's easier that way - and if you're opting for designer, then, cost per wear is king.
Let's have a quick look at the other side of double denim: here are some of my favourite icons going head-to-toe.
 |
| Debbie Harry doubles up. |
 |
| Sade in stonewash. |
 |
| Stella Tennant 1996 Gap campaign. Photo: David Sims. |
Do you dare to double up? Or does double mean trouble?
Haven't dared since the 80s. My favourite line in Sex & the City:
ReplyDeleteCharlotte: Oh, my god, that woman's blind. Can you imagine anything worse than being blind?
Anthony: Stone-washed jeans and matching jacket.
Absolutely love that first look! Double-denim looked never so elegant. And another plus: she's wearing flats! :-) I might be tempted if I could look like this... xo
ReplyDeleteLove the term Texas tuxedo. Hadn't met it before. Since I buy my jeans second hand, only the mid-rise (I don't do low) jeans have been available and at mid-50s with a tummy I don't think those are a good look with my waist length jacket. In fact I find it difficult to pair my jacket with very many things in the same way that jeans can work with most items. I probably don't have the eye for clothes.
ReplyDeleteHi my dear!! Love, love this post-I adore denim so much I had to start my own dedicated denim blog Live To Love Denim, lol!! I will wear it doubled and trebled up and in any wash, style and colour-a true addict! I love this very chic, feminine take by Miu Miu and the photos of Debbie Harry and Stella Tennant are fabulous! BTW, Levi's and Liberty's are doing a collab this Spring, check out my latest post xxx
ReplyDeletelove the Miu Miu double denim...... I have a denim 'smock' shirt with a 3/4 length sleeve that I boldly team with skinny jeans and it always turns heads......hopefully in a good way!!
ReplyDeleteHate it; looks sooooo red neck.
ReplyDeleteS
xo
Have been thinking about this too, great post!
ReplyDeleteThe Prada look is my favorite - so polished! And yes, I've been known to slip on my denim jacket while wearing jeans -- in a darkened pub, naturally : >
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact, I was planning to wear my denim skirt to work today with a soft striped denim-y shirt. I do have a denim vest, but it's too close to the skirt fabric without actually matching.
ReplyDeleteI do love that Prada outfit!
Love both outfits. I wear jeans every single day. Black denim for dressier occasions! I designed my first wedding gown 40 years ago out of a lightweight denim, and vintage crocheted lace ~ so I guess I've always been a hardcore denim fan.
ReplyDeleteI do like that second picture of the long coat and skirt! I would wear that in a moment...but other than that, even in Texas, we do not double denim that often these days.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely double up in an ensemble like one of these from Prada or Miu Miu! Very sophisticated.
ReplyDeleteYes have been doing the occasional secretive double denim outfit recently! And whilst I was in Melbourne over Xmas / New Year I picked up the softest and most lovely denim shirt... will do a blog post about it. Soon. Promise... HNY to you - v. belated though...x
ReplyDeleteI live in my NYDJ jeans but not sure about too much denim at once. Must dig out my duster coat good idea to wear with capris.
ReplyDeleteI live in denim too, and am wearing today at the office. I tend to stick with dark wash on the bottom half. I occasionally will double up with my lighter wash denim jacket. I remember learning on "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" to never match denims, but Miuccia P. makes it look good.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested in seeing how bloggers have styled their double denim, I've got examples here: http://wendybrandes.com/blog/category/double-denim/
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely some I would try!
I've doubled up regularly - only because I lived in jeans and a denim jacket in summer was my only light casual coverup rather than trying to work a trend - I wasn't even aware that it had been a fashion faux pas before it became it trend!
ReplyDeleteLoving those smart denim outfits from Muiccia - those could almost pass for being office appropriate (depending on how up tight the dress code is!).
I´m afraid I´m a conservative here. Could not do doubles.
ReplyDeleteJeans are ok. Today, I´d hesitate even wearing a denim shirt.
I'll double but only in different coloured denim - white jeans, blue denim shirt; black jeans, blue denim jacket ... etc. Don't love these looks at all, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteOh NO...denim on denim only for the teens and those who work on a ranch in the woods and love to ride horses. I do not like any of the looks featured. I like jeans with very feminine soft tops and blazers and denim jackets look too boyish on me.
ReplyDeleteI love photo number 2, but would require a different blouse. Sade looks great, but to pull it off requires the feminine accents to avoid the prison blues feel.
ReplyDeleteLived through the DD (not Dunkin Donuts)....not sure I could do it again unless it's streamlined and sexy.....although Stella does look amazing....always ;)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteLove Judys SIRC quote, and love, love the new dd.
ReplyDeleteLove double denim! Love Debbie Harry! My favorite picture is of her wearing a denim jacket backwards! I so want to pull that off, but there is no way anyone, in real life, could pull that off!
ReplyDeletePersonally, the chambray shirt and leopard shoes/belt/scarf/anything has got to stop.
I double up, but I then try to break the all denim with some bold colour accessories.
ReplyDelete