With the focus on quiet luxury reaching such great heights as of late, it’s confirmation that I’m not the only one looking for ways to infuse an expensive-looking air into my current rotation of outfits. My looks rely heavily on jeans, so I am laser-focused on finding any denim styling tip or trick to achieve that elevated feel I aim for—the easier, the better. Imagine my excitement when I spotted a new denim trend percolating that manages to instantly make your outfit look more expensive: dark-wash jeans.
With a quick scroll through my Instagram feed and the latest street style photos from fashion month, it became glaringly clear that dark denim is about to have a major moment, and for good reason. The darker, moodier washes give jeans a more polished feel that reads dressier than the rest, so you can wear the denim style with any top or shoe style and get that expensive-looking boost. Sure, you could argue that black denim does the same, but something about a darker blue wash feels richer and fresher at the moment.
For the stylish proof, keep scrolling to check out 11 chic denim outfit ideas that incorporate dark-wash jeans, and shop each look plus more of my top picks to consider in a variety of styles.
This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.