How To Rock The Denim On Denim Trend

By Kristen Peuvion on August 14, 2014

The denim on denim trend gets a bad rap, and I have to say, I can understand why. It can have you looking like you’re ready to work on the farm or ranch all day long if you don’t know what you’re doing.

But if you take a look at the latest magazine covers of Marie Claire and Glamour, you’ll see that all-denim outfits can look SO good.

Zoe Saldana and Katie Holmes are seen looking super sexy and chic in a denim shirt and jeans combination. Granted, these women are so beautiful they would look good in the most horrendous outfits, but their all-denim looks definitely work for them.

image via fashionista.com

But that might have you wondering, if you’re not a gorgeous celebrity, can you still pull off an all denim outfit? The answer is yes, yes, yes!

Rocking denim on the top and the bottom can work for anyone and if you do it in the right way, it won’t leave you looking like a farmer.

Here are some tips on how to pull off this tricky trend.

Wear different shades of denim.

This is easily the most important tip and if you’re only going to remember one thing from this, make sure it is this: always wear different shades of denim on top and bottom.

The reason you often see denim on denim looking awful is because people are wearing the same wash of denim on the top and bottom. Go for something lighter on top and dark on bottom, or vice versa.

By breaking up the top and bottom into two different washes, your look will seem intentionally fashionable instead of looking like you got dressed in the dark.

image via allforfashiondesign.com

Colored jeans are your friend.

If you’re not feeling brave enough to fully try out denim on denim, a good starting point is colored jeans with a chambray top or jean jacket.

Colored jeans have the same look as denim, without being super matchy-matchy to your top or jacket. Trying a pair of these instead of your classic blue jean is the perfect way to dip your toes in the water before completely diving in.

Black denim is a classic and will always look good, but if you’re looking for something with a bit more of a pop, try these burnt red skinny jeans from Gap for an all denim look that’s perfect for this upcoming fall.

image via gap.com

Mix distressed with not distressed.

Much like mixing your washes, mixing the distressed amounts in your denim will also help to break up the top and bottom parts of your look.

Try a pair of light wash, distressed boyfriend jeans with a more structured jean jacket for a chic look. The contrasting distress levels work in the same way that contrasting washes do.

Your outfit will seem a lot more thought out and planned and not like you just threw on whatever you had lying around.

image via songofstyle.com

Accessories are key.

Denim on denim is a bold outfit choice and it definitely makes a statement. That being said, your clothes are doing the talking for you, so your accessories shouldn’t need to do much talking at all. Keep them simple so your outfit can make a fashion forward statement without being obnoxious.

Another important tip when it comes to accessories: avoid western style accessories. Remember that when you wear denim on denim, your outfit can go from stylish to farmer-esque very quickly. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to avoid all western style accessories and stick to classic pieces.

image via globalstreetsnap.com

Fit is everything.

One reason all-denim can go so wrong is because people don’t wear properly fitting pieces. Structure and fit are so important to avoid looking like you’re working on a ranch. You don’t want your outfit looking baggy and dowdy, so finding structured, fitted denim is your best bet.

image via fashion.allwomenstalk.com

Think outside of the box.

Once you get a bit more comfortable rocking the all denim outfit, you can get a little crazier with your choices. This means you can start thinking outside of the box by wearing something other than your classic pair of jeans and chambray top.

You can find just about anything made of denim so try something new. Whether that be a denim skirt, vest or even a denim purse, there are tons of ways to wear all denim by wearing something other than a classic pair of blue jeans.

image via thebestfashionblog.com

So pull out all the denim you have and put the all-denim outfits’ bad reputation to shame. Keeping these tips in mind will ensure that you’ll be able to pull off denim on denim flawlessly and look just as gorgeous as the stars in the process!

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