All The Denim Micro-Trends You Should Know About

If you're here, buckle up. We are going to break down the current denim trends. Before we detail each one, let's do a quick recap of the general of denim trends for this season first. Thanks to the Y2K resurgence, there is no shortage of denim looks on the runways, the streets, or our Instagram feeds. We saw the shift to low-rise, wide-leg jeans start a few seasons ago, and that is by no means going anywhere. In fact, designers are leaning in to this with even more dramatic takes. Rises have dropped even further and legs have gotten baggier. On top of this, the maxi denim trend seems as though it is here to stay. Taking cues from the 2000s, these styles are being updated beyond simple column skirts with raw hems, color blocking, and embellishments. Denim sets and full denim looks are the next big thing. From dark indigo jeans and matching jackets to distressed skirts and puffers, there is no doubt that denim is the star of this season.

Still feeling overwhelmed and have no idea where to start with building your denim wardrobe? My advice? Keep it simple - invest in a good pair of mid-rise, wide leg jeans that you can style a number of ways. Take it one step further and buy a fitted denim jacket - the jacket as a shirt styling trick is taking over, and even if you don't want to do go sans undershirt, you can use the jacket for layering purposes. And definitely don't spend hundreds on this jacket - Depop, Etsy, and eBay have great vintage options usually between $60-$200.

Now, let's break down each trend within the overarching denim category.

The Mini Denim Jacket

This one is for all the girls who hate layering. Jackets as shirts is the current styling obsession, and the greatest part? It's a super easy way to make an outfit feel put together. Find yourself a thrifted jacket with princess seams or ruching, and you'll be set. It's also a great piece to have in your wardrobe since it is such a versatile piece - denim is seasonless so you'll get a ton of wear out of this.

Double Denim

Dig through your mom's 90s denim pieces and I am sure you will come up with an outfit that would fit in with the likes of top fashion editors and bloggers at NYFW. Go for a matching wash, or mix-and-match dark and light washes. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Maxi Skirts

Long denim silhouettes have been around for a minute now, but things are ramping up. While there are still a number of classic maxi silhouettes, designers this season showed pieces with princess seams, zippers, and raw hems. We even started to see maxi denim dresses. This is another staple that will serve you well - it can be dressed down with sneakers or elevated with heels and an embellished top.

Grunge

One thing the 90s and early 2000s embraced was grunge fashion. And, since fashion is so cyclical, it is back in 2023. We've left the fishnet fingerless gloves where they belong, but distressed and washed denim is in.

The Little Details

This season designers went crazy with textures, trims, and contrasting colors when it came to denim. If you are not into the crazy raw seams, try cutting the hem of your jeans for a much smaller statement. On top of distressing the denim, designers used eyelets, grommets, and more to add interest and help shape the body. Another way they shaped the body? Color blocking - as we have all been told, the direction of stripes matters. The same stripe effect was created using dark and light alternating denim.

Wide Leg

Ah, the tried and true classic is here to stay. If low rise isn't for you, no worries - high rise is a cut that will never truly go out of style. These jeans are also super easy to thrift. Just buy a size or two up from what you usually would and tada!