Why Diamonds And Denim Are The Ultimate Chic Duo

Denim has deep roots. Its name was coined from the French phrase serge de Nîmes, after the southern French city where it was first made in the 17th century because it resembled serge, a local woollen twill. By the 18th century, it was often associated with sailors and manual workers, but it was during the 19th and 20th centuries that denim was really put on the fashion map. It became synonymous with ranchers and cowboys of America’s Midwest, and stars of the silver screen such as Marlon Brando and James Dean, who adopted denim as a symbol of insouciant cool in the 1950s. Over the ensuing decades, denim became the uniform of bohemian artists and punk rockers alike, with the rugged, ultra-wearable fabric becoming a rebellious staple on ready-to-wear runways too, where it has been slashed, distressed, dyed and embellished in myriad ways ever since.

Why the history lesson? Because understanding denim’s legacy is crucial to optimizing its place and power within in your wardrobe. Its connotations of industrialist, understated swagger can bring quiet confidence to almost any outfit, and never more so than when paired with its polar opposite – sparkling, ultra-precious diamonds. Denim isn’t, however, only reserved for downtime. For SS25, cool and contemporary designers are harnessing its ultra-versatile potential more than ever before, in tandem with the evolution of modern fine-jewelry makers, who are championing the effortless ease of everyday diamonds.

While we may mostly associate denim with weekend-wear, hybrid pieces such as Jacquemus’s ‘Salon de-Nîmes’ denim skirt feel elevated enough to wear to work, especially when paired with tailored separates such as St. Agni’s pinstriped wool-blend waistcoat. Choosing eye-catching diamonds set in yellow gold such as Anita Ko’s statement diamond-set cuff, or delicate designs like Shay’s pear-shape pendant, will contrast with dark-blue shades of denim – the perfect canvas to amplify their high shine.

Light-washed denim, such as Agolde’s timeless denim jacket, will also complement sunny hues of yellow and rose gold, but offers a more relaxed feel. For a new take on double denim, pair it with Citizens of Humanity’s frayed denim shorts, and embellish the look with modern re-imaginings of jewelry-box staples, such as Fernando Jorge’s double-loop hoop earrings. Jennifer Meyer, David Yurman and Spinelli Kilcollin all offer similarly sculptural hoops, while those with multiple piercings can focus on a flurry of precious studs up the ear – Mateo, Messika and Pomellato craft modern studs to suit both maximalists and minimalists.

For those looking for the perfect denim dress to wear on off-duty days, especially once temperatures climb, it doesn’t come much chicer than JW Anderson’s faded-denim asymmetric wrap dress. Its gray wash will be best paired with cooler metal tones, namely white gold, steel or silver, and Maison H Jewels’ white-gold ring echoes its avant-garde spirit in spades – it’s so dazzling that you can keep all other fingers bare.

White denim, meanwhile, always feels especially on-point for spring, and Khaite’s ‘Callum’ mid-rise straight-leg jean offers an always-timeless silhouette. Find the perfect pair of white jeans and they will see you through the entire spring/summer season, whether worn with pastels, such as Emporio Sirenuse’s ‘Caterina’ top (inspired by Hollywood starlets on the Italian Riviera in the 1950s) or with a relaxed white linen shirt, for a tonal look that feels effortlessly chic for coastal getaways and pier-side strolls. With classic separates such as these, you can afford to stack your diamonds with abandon – Lucy Delius’s ‘Horseshoe Trombone Link’ charm bracelet will perfectly complement a slew of mixed-metal tone bracelets and bangles.

While purists will want to stick to denim worn with bright white diamonds alone, when it comes to denim styling, there really are no rules – connoisseurs may choose to splurge on rare colored diamonds or choose semi-precious gems to add similarly saccharine scintillation. This is a look you can get as playful as you wish with.

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