The definitive guide to denim

ShortList highlights the season’s key styling trends and most innovative treatments

HILFIGER’S TAILORED DENIM

Despite denim’s heritage being embedded in workwear, some designers have taken the hard-wearing fabric out of its comfort zone by adapting it for a tailored wardrobe. Tommy Hilfiger is at the coalface of the trend, reinterpreting the fitted two-button blazer in an unlined mid-indigo stretch denim fabric with labour-inspired details, including flat-patch pockets and taped seams.

Blazer £125 by TOMMY HILFIGER, Gratton shirt £80 by HILFIGER DENIM both available from TOMMY HILFIGER; 020-7479 7550

Key denim looks - what you'll be wearing this season

1. BRACE DETAILING

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One of the key trends this season sees braces attached to jeans: Lee’s premium 101 range showcases this. Pair it with Adam Kimmell and Carhartt’s plaid shirt.

Logger ‘First In Class’ faded denim jeans with braces £170 by LEE 101; 0845-600 8383. Plaid button-down shirt £135 by ADAM KIMMEL FOR CARHARTT AT MY-WARDROBE; my-wardrobe.com

2. RESIN-COATED DENIM

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One of the treatments this season is a wax and resin coating that can change the nature of the fabric, as demonstrated on these Uniqlo jeans. They go perfectly with Nudie’s contrast stitching.

Resin-coated denim slim-fit jeans £34.90 by UNIQLO; 020-7290 8090. Dark blue denim jacket with orange topstitching £100 by NUDIE JEANS; nudiejeans.com. Grey and orange ‘Alex’ striped T-shirt £25 by CHEAP MONDAY; 020-7734 6550

3. HIGH-WAIST & CINCH-BACKS

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G-Star’s Indigo Programme marries two trends that we will see returning to jean styling: the higher waist, loose silhouette and the cinch-back adjustable binding. Pair with Jean Machine’s short-sleeve shirt.

KHM loose raw dark blue denim jeans £149 by G-STAR; g-star.com. Holiday Seablue rinse shirt £125 by JEAN MACHINE; jeanmachine.co.uk

4. MONOCHROME

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Having introduced coloured denims into the range this month, this Levi’s collection foregoes the red tab and brown leather patch at the back for black tab and patch. PRPS’s Noir Collection shirt goes well with this.

Monochrome relaxed tapered jeans £65 by LEVI’S AT ASOS; asos.com. Beige ‘Western’ denim shirt £430 by PRPS NOIR; 020-7613 5551

5. COLOUR EXPOSURE TREATMENT

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Featuring delicate handmade treatments that impregnate deep into the fabric, Diesel’s coloured denims are tarnished and stained on the surface while tinted interiors integrate colour to the heart of the jean. Native American designs are an on-trend pairing.

Light blue-green washed Krooley ‘Colour Exposure’ jeans £150 by DIESEL; diesel.com. Multi-pattern shawl-collar cardigan £225 and plaid check shirt £85 both by DENIM & SUPPLY RALPH LAUREN; 020-7535 4600

HOWELL’S DESIGNER-DENIM COOPERATIVE

The designer collaboration phenomenon has infiltrated the denim scene, as ready-to-wear names call on the expertise of denim blue blood to develop their own-brand jeans. Margaret Howell has worked with Japan’s Edwin for 10 years – one of the few labels to produce and weave its own fabrics – which has enabled Howell to develop the exact colour and weight to complement its seasonal collections. The Howell/Edwin jean is a high-end selvedge denim in a light silver/indigo colour and a regular, straight-leg fit.

Sage cotton jacket £295 and cotton dress shirt £235 both by MHL and Edwin collaboration denim jeans £165 all by MARGARET HOWELL; 020-7009 9009. Grey grained leather brogues £95 by ALL SAINTS; 0844-980 2211