If there’s one item in our wardrobes that never goes out of fashion, it’s jeans. From crops and shorts to boyfriends and skinnies, we can’t get enough of them. They’re hardwearing and hard-working, moving easily from weekend down-dressing to office casual. Liz O’Reilly casts an eye over some of the hottest styles of the summer and how you can wear them.
Bootcuts and Flares
You don’t need to be Gigi Hadid, seen here in Levi’s Ribcage bootcuts, to rock this style. In fact, bootcuts, or good old ‘70s flares, are probably one of the most flattering cuts around. These are called ribcage because they have a super-high waist, but we won’t be straying from our regular mid-height faves. Known and loved for their leg-lengthening properties, they look equally as good dressed down with a plain white tee and boots or up-styled with a bustier, bling and sparkly heels.
Distressed
There once was a time when people chucked or patched jeans when they developed holes – how strange does that seem now? The distressed craze hit a few years ago, and we’ve never looked back. The trend did seem to have passed last year but it’s back in full force for 2020 with celebs and supers alike. Sofia Vergara seems to be particularly obsessed – it’s hard to find her snapped in a pair of hole-free denims. Ragged legwear hit the catwalk at Givenchy and even the usually demure Katie Holmes is getting on the act.
To be fair, you can’t really smarten-up distressed denim, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up. Go for Sofia’s relaxed jacketed look but add a bold red lip. Or team with a sequined vest and tanned, toned arms for show-stealing style.
High-Waisted Skinnies
These were all over the SS20 runways particularly at Brandon Maxwell and Balmain. They’re great for emphasising the shape but, while it’s true that everyone can wear skinnies, the high-cut ones are probably best for a longish body and legs as the waistline may shorten the torso. That’s not to say shorter girls can’t get in on the act – a good trick is to go for a regular waist, wear a simple top to give a fluid line and add killer heels.
Long-legged lovelies, take inspiration from Maxwell and go all-out with a whole range of eye-catching bling.
