Forever White

Pure head to toe white - a look that many find hard to pull off. But in jeanswear it is fresh and less demanding of pristine purity. The textured nature of denim creates shadows, character and a certain relaxed imperfection.  

L-R: ©Ports 1961 ©Proenza Schouler

Fashion shapes in white denim outlined with black stitching.  Just a touch of black to highlight or matt chrome for accessories.  White alone is pure and sculptural demanding perfection of shape. It is crisply tailored or softly moulded.  In this case it is a positive "colour"with an architectural shape albeit being colourless white.

L-R: ©Wanda Nylon ©Chloe

Brand Spotlight: J Brand

JBrand jeans have one of the best collections of black denims for both genders.  Mostly in stretch and high stretch for super shaping with ankle skimming or kick flares for length interest.  Fitted and formed black denims are back.

Black//White

Mods influence and retro black and white. Chanel bold details look super modern. Retro black and white stripes could be 50's or 2000's. It is an enduring look which today is translated in white denim and jersey.

©Balmain

Street sport from the real Adidas stripes to its influence on black and white jeanswear.   Slick contemporary sporty statements which are only successfully translated through gender neutral black and white denim and jeans.  

Bleached and Lasered

White can also start black!  In denim we can make anything happen.

Black denim, pigment coated white followed by a heavy scrape to reveal the black inside. Scraping simply as a worn effect or crackled to create a pattern. The laundry is the place for artistry be it by traditional drum tumbling or laser creation.

Bleached out white coveralls started life as a utility garment which has  morphed into daily fashion. In this case for a guy but it is a look which is totally gender neutral.  We wore denim overalls, now boiler suits, in the 60's which resembled old flying jackets. We do so again today. Worker and painter coveralls are likewise on trend for both genders.

©Denim Style

Biker Blacks

Be they grunge or be they clean black, denims are serious.  Worn out states "I'm a tough guy, don't mess with me".  Clean combines with chrome to say the same in a more studied fashion way. They all demand you to "look at me".  Black leather, black denim chrome buckles, belts and bikes - the look endures today and when it is not fashion it is off duty with attitude.

©The black Leather Jacket

Black leather and jeans is a look which endures today.   Born in the era of Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, James Dean it's smoky, smouldering, sexy.  

©Denim From Cowboys to Catwalks

A clean paired down black black fashion look which retains overtones of a tough sexiness.  A "go to" look when blue jeans are just too worn out.  

Black denim shorts and dresses can also be lighthearted, not pretty but quirky and gamine.  More serious than a pretty floral dress for the occasion.

Trend Alert: Forever Black, Forever White

Monochromatic jeans-wear exhibits drama with chic style. A counterpoint to "the Blues". Black and white both together and independently as white on white and black on black are a strong statement. This is the tough yet soft denim twill we love catapulted into urban fashion. No need to be in a classic 5 pocket, any style both stretch and rigid works for us. Neither colour has the wash down charm of indigo denim but with new technology we can fake the degradation creating a non colour worn out attitude. Both black and white however, are best used clean as pure bleached white or dense clear black black.

A soupçon of stretch aids comfort and more elasticity creates super fit and form just as with the blues. They both demonstrate subtle character, drinking in the warp slubs to create a natural surface texture. Black denim and white denim have serious attitude - neither is basic. Think back to "On The Waterfront" and "Blade Runner" where we think black and the black and white movies that were visually so compelling. 

L: ©Nicholas K C: © The Black Leather Jacket

Black black is a term for both the denim and the head to toe look.  The denim is black warp with black weft or black over dyed black.  Creating a look that is fathom deep and dense. Whichever way it is achieved the look must be a clean clear black without a hint of a tint. Just bright and clear. And of course it must work seamlessly with other blacks - black leather, silk, suede, wool and more.

L: ©Wanda Nylon R: © Interior View 7

Black and white used together for super graphic drama.

Imagine in denim - Wow!

Black and white always looks modern whichever colour is dominant. Remember Marimeko whose prints still look amazing today. Black and white being devoid of all colour demands you see the form and shape more clearly.

L-R: © Julian David, ©Diesel Black Gold, ©Messagerie

Why do we want to wear black denim jeans to an "occasion" instead of smart black ordinary pants?  Because they are more than ordinary.  They have attitude - with a rolled cuff, a prominent side seam, a perfect 5 pocketed fit and a super leg shape, all due to the inherent qualities of denim.  Why wouldn't you?

Genderless Jacket

The classic trucker jacket has ben genderless from the beginning without intention.   The way it is styled and worn however has changed over many years of its evolution.   It can be tough and masculine with emphasis on the twin needle seaming and its boxy cut.  It can also be very feminine heavily worn and oversized. 

From a new Brilliant Indigo trucker we have evolved to lighter, shapeless work style jackets.  The addition of linen fibre creates a "lived in" genderless appeal be it in indigo denim or in this case a green washed out linen denim.   No ironing required - just wash and wear, just as you would your denim jeans.

L-R: ©Made Gold, © Worn 2

Truckers can be worn with anything, styled in any way and made from any denim heavy or light be it classic 3x1 or 2x1 twill or ticking stripe.  Dress it up, dress it down - truly still a genderless jacket for every occasion.   It is totally classless and a must for everyone whatever age.

Shapeless Ambiguity

Shapeless tops in denim work as well for guys as for girls - they present a fashion opportunity away from the traditional jeans family.  High rise baggy fits for girls are a welcome relief from the super shaping,  breath restricting skinny cuts.  Denim fabric development away from the traditional 3x1 twill into matellasse and double faced fabrics enables us to create differentiated shapes pitching denim into other end uses.

L-R: ©Lucio Vanotti, ©Worn 2, ©Pringle of Scotland

Is it a dress?  Is it a shirt?  Is it a jacket?  We are in exciting times in the World of denim.  Due to new technology in the make and finish of the fabric plus adding new fibres and playing with differentiated weights and constructions we are now able to create any style and shape all of which can now be washed without the risk of shrinking!   Life in denim is wonderful!     Denim has no boundaries.

L: ©Worn 2, ©Kenzo