Denim: A twist on the staple

Denim is the very essence of menswear; from jeans to jackets (and everything in between), this practical fabric makes its presence felt within our wardrobe, season after season. Denim jackets and jeans often steal the spotlight. However, a denim shirt can be considered the dark horse of your wardrobe. It’s difficult to think of denim without immediately thinking of jeans, which were originally developed for labourers, but have since become one of the world’s most versatile items of clothing. Denim first originated in France during the 18th century and was formerly produced in the small city of Nîmes. Durability aside, denim’s versatility is what’s underrated. The way we wear this fabric has helped the street style staple rise through the sartorial ranks. With the ability to transform naturally into casual, smart-casual or even business-casual outfits, the denim shirt looks just as great paired with boots and jeans as it does under layers. Despite having its origins in work-wear, this is a piece truly worthy of its ‘essential’ tag.

How To Wear It: The Denim Shirt

For our ‘how to wear it’ section, we are going to use one style of the denim shirt: a mid-weight, button-down, both from Swedish designer ‘These Glory Days’, and portray how it is able to adapt to any occasion.  We have used a regular denim wash here. However, you can have the same effect with a lighter or darker wash, demonstrating how colour isn’t a barrier for this essential.

Look 1 - By Itself: Keep the outfit simple, functional and don’t be afraid to throw in a personal twist to create a fashionable, off-duty ensemble. Tucking the shirt into your pants will create a more polished look. The outfit as a whole is a lesson on the importance of simplicity during summer, and shows how less is more.



Look 2 - Open Wide: Whether you’re heading out to the movies or for a quick coffee, there are a few ways to casually wear a denim shirt while looking on trend. Throw on your favourite cotton tee and layer it, keeping your denim shirt open.

Look 3 - Double Denim: Mixing denim isn’t for amateurs but when done right, it can really step up your style game. The key to rocking a denim shirt under a denim jacket is to ensure the wash is not the same. If you’re into taking risks, add an additional layer(s) to the mix, as seen on the streets at this year’s New York Fashion Week.

Look 4 - Layer It: When in doubt, pairing your denim shirt with a bomber or biker jacket is the go-to move, especially in the cooler months when layering is possible. Keeping it simple is always recommended and you can always add to the complexity of the look by adding key accessories like sunglasses, watches and hats to complete this look.



Look 5 - Business-Casual: If you really want to push the envelope, consider incorporating denim into your formal attire. We’re not saying wear it to your best friend’s valima, but if you’re ready to mix things up at the office or Sunday brunch, why not? Start by pairing your denim shirt with a suit.  In this instance, we use a navy suit tailored to fit from Lahore. Make sure the denim shirt is slim-fit so it isn’t bulky under the blazer.