There are few outfits in my wardrobe that I can imagine wearing in five years… my preference for shapes and silhouettes change with the seasons, I flirt between splashes of colour and neutrals from year to year and even accessories which I tell myself are a ‘long term investment’ get worn to breaking point within six months (I admit, my handbags and shoes have a tough life on my travels).
But it’s a totally different story when it comes to denim. I’ve professed my lifelong love for denim here before and it’s becoming a bit of a theme, simply because the fabric goes the distance and beyond in the fashion world. Denim’s not a trend, it’s a cultural movement. Think of any fashion icon and I bet you can remember them in an incredible piece of denim. Look at the pieces in your closet that you come back to time and time again – guaranteed anything denim makes the cut. Denim is ALWAYS fashionable, it’s the perfect combination of style and comfort, and how great is it that everyone from my grandmother to Alexa Chung are still rocking denim!
This season I’m injecting some modern denim in to my wardrobe with the new 91: LTD limited edition denim collection from Cotton On. This brand always manages to nail effortless staples and they’ve captured exactly what I want from a capsule set of denim. My checklist of must-haves – comfort, quality and colour – is complete. You can slip from bad-ass boots to Superga sneakers to heels and back again, and it’s simple “fashion maths” to pull an outfit together with these mix and match looks.
The soft, fitted denim dress is so sleek and can be worked for day with flats and night by adding a swinging 60’s style ankle boot. The dark denim overalls are so chic, they look straight from the runway and need hardly any styling or additions to the look. Patchwork denim + frayed edges = urban 90’s cool and this shift dress has it all, plus it’s shorter length is balanced out by the high neckline. And the shaping of this deep indigo all-in-one is so refined; I let the buckle be my jewellery and kept everything else pared back.
What’s awesome about this collection is that it’s for ALL denim lovers, whether you’re a tomboy who wants to team it with Dr Martens and a bare face, or you’re ultra feminine and add a red lip and statement earrings a la Beyonce. It feels super luxe for the high street price tag; I kept finding little details like undone edges and edgy hardware. The collection even includes my on-trend pick of the season – a denim skort! This skirt/shorts combo can be styled for the beach, a festival, or cocktails on a hip rooftop, a super versatile little number that you’ll see me in frequently this spring.
If you’re planning a denim refresh, throw the rulebook out of the window because none of it applies today. Chambray shirts and cutoffs are totally encouraged, and don’t be scared to rock fitted dresses with oversized denim jackets! More is more and the Canadian tuxedo (denim on denim) is the way to earn your style stripes.
Be like me and go insane for indigo this season!
Collection now available exclusively online HERE and in selected stores from Monday 1 August.
Photography: Bec Lorrimer, Beauty: Stoj B.