Trend report: Denim

LONDON: Denim, a fabric created originally for pure practicality is now showcased on some of the hottest runways and has become a wardrobe staple.  Somewhere along the way denim was given a fashion makeover and this season designers have really pulled out all the stops and incorporated it into their Spring/Summer collections, making it a must have trend this season.

No matter how you wear your denim, it will always exude nonchalance and laid-back cool. Denim's versatility  makes it easy to dress it up or down to fit any occasion, chosen in any wash or fit so as to flatter every figure and readily available at virtually every store in the world and in any price range.

Derek Lam

Derek Lam wowed the critics with his Spring/Summer 2011 collection and gave us denim as never seen before. Trench coats, suits, blazers and flared trousers all got the denim treatment but there was nothing scruffy about these jeans! The collection may have had a distinctive 70s vibe, but there was not a hippie-esque, boho detailing in sight. Instead Lam's denim looks featured clean lines and masterful tailoring, which were softened and given a delicious summery feel by the designer's choice of fabric. If we received one message loud and clear, it was that head-to-toe denim is no longer a fashion faux pas.

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney is renowned for the simplicity and low-key luxe style of her designs. McCartney's collection featured an endless array of ultra-wearable pieces in classic royal blue denim. Tunics, dresses, skirts, jackets, tee shirts and even polo shirts all made an appearance but what made these denim looks a little different from the rest were their looser, unstructured shapes. Sleeves were voluminous and jackets decidedly non-tailored, making Stella McCartney the go-to designer for this seasons most comfortable denim. Her relaxed denim pieces are the in ultimate off-duty weekend whilst their darker hues, minimal detailing and flawless craftsmanship keep things effortlessly chic and beautifully pulled-together.

Twenty8Twelve

For the most youthful twist on this season's denim trend, look to ultra-cool London based label, Twenty8Twelve. The brand's collection was awash with playful denim looks ranging from ultra-girly pieces such as their button-down petticoat dress and pleated micro-mini's to their more androgynous rolled-up boyfriend shorts and slouchy, collar-less shirts. Twenty8Twelve's denim looks may not be suitable for the office, but for just about every other occasion they will do nicely.

Gulabo

Pakistani retail brand Gulabo, one of the first to jump on the denim brigade locally, focused on kameezes which were a fusion of contemporary and ethnic; the silhouettes of the kameezes were modern but were decorated with truck art symbols. The brand made use of light weight denim in dark blue and powder blue which can be worn in any season in Pakistan and for any occasion. Team with a pair of jeans or a tang pajama depending on your personal style and rock this style any time of the day.

Iman's Dos:

Invest in high waisted flared jeans and wear with a crisp white shirt

Pair skinny jeans with sky high heels to elongate your legs

Pull out the denim jacket and customise it

Wear over sized denim shirts for the ultimate laid back look

Purchase some lighter washes

Iman's Don'ts:

Wear head to toe denim in two different shades

Purchase jeans that don't fit

Pair together a denim shirt with flared jeans

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2011.