The off-duty update: Dark denim

Denim is the backbone of many a weekend wardrobe, but this season we all need to take the silhouette and wash of our off-duty staple a little more seriously. There will always be a place for love-worn light washes in your Sunday uniform, don’t worry, but if you want your denim to be contemporary as well as comfortable, crisp, deep-indigo selvage styles should be your new downtime go-to. First up, dark-wash, straight-leg jeans: these are your new can’t-go-wrong option when you want to look relaxed, but with a little protective polish, because the dress code for lunch dates, days at the museum and ‘casual drinks around the corner’ can vary wildly, so while denim says ‘didn’t try too hard’, an indigo wash offers sophistication. Paired with a lightweight knit and loafers, the look is pulled-together yet believably effortless. Simply add statement earrings and ladylike mules to slide into evening territory.

Tapping into our almost visceral need for goes-with-everything ease, labels from Tibi, Tom Ford and Calvin Klein to Versace, Fendi and Givenchy have elevated their denim via creative cuts, artfully frayed hems, off-kilter seams, and nods to the ’70s and ’90s in super-saturated hues. Make sure you look off the beaten track, too: start with New York label Khaite and its impeccably cut denim jacket and matching jeans – we’re planning to wear them with white ankle boots for a directional take on the Canadian tuxedo. Or check out buzzy Los Angeles-based label Re/Done, worn by Stella Maxwell, Lily Donaldson and Cindy Crawford, which offers fresh takes on vintage shapes with an appealing touch of nostalgia.

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