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Fashion has always been about whetting the appetite of your imagination, stimulating fantasies of what to wear and what characters to embody. It’s telling, then, that a spirit of romanticism is governing what’s on the runway and the current trends, including for denim.
“Between the rise of AI, the political climate and division, and the violence and devastation on the news every day, I think we're all craving more love and connection,” stylist Caitlin Burke recently told The Zoe Report on the matter. “Everything feels heavy, so people want to dream, and to feel lighter. There's a general sense of longing for simpler times, which I think creates a romanticizing of the past.”
With that, whimsy and romantic clothes are exactly what’s whetting today’s sartorial appetite. It’s no wonder that this spring and summer’s denim trends feed that desire for something fanciful, whether it’s maximally embellished jeans or artfully draped denim tanks. As always, we’ve chosen to spotlight the trends that are less about forcing yourself into something and are more about those that might make you feel good.
Keep scrolling to learn more about and shop this spring and summer’s best denim trends.
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Smart Skorts
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Because so much of fashion right now is revolving around comfort, it’s not the era of the micro mini anymore. The cute yet largely impractical piece (that might force you to contort your body or not sit down without revealing everything) is in the rearview. Mini skorts have landed instead. These are all the fun of a mini skirt but with shorts hidden inside and holding everything down. During the cooler days of spring, style this with boots and a sweater. When things heat up, go for a breezy tank top and sandals.
Fanciful Feelings
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Highly embellished denim might just be one of our favorite trends we’ve been watching all year. This look is easy to find across classic cuts, like a wide-leg jean or high-rise pair. Find what makes you feel good, whether that’s going with sparkly crystal embellishments or a kaleidoscopic pattern of studs. If you’re worried about styling them, look no further than a plain white tee and neutral-hued shoes.
Snatched Waists
Snatched waists, whether they’re cinched with an in-garment corset or achieved with a band of a tighter fabric, remain one of the hottest trends across fashion this year. Of course, that includes denim. The figure-forward look is most visible in denim dresses and tops. Perhaps most exciting are dress versions of this, which feel like the sartorial antithesis of baggy shift dresses.
Baggy and Breathable
With comfort and romanticism top of mind, it makes sense that we’re seeing the same love for airy clothes in denim. Baggy and breathable styles offer you several things when getting dressed including an opportunity to play with texture and shape. When it gets unbearably hot, wearing something airy proves a lot more comfortable.
Structured Shorts
Despite the romanticism spreading throughout fashion, denim shorts are, in large part, trending towards structure. These will be easiest to find as A-Line shorts that fit closer to the waist, then flare out towards the hips. Regardless of their wash, from a pale eggshell for the hottest days or a dark wash for more dressy occasions, these pair well with a range of tops, from tanks to more fashion-y blouses like a poet shirt.
Artful Tanks
Denim tank tops are extremely fun right now. The trending styles lean into that sense of whimsy and romanticism. Indeed, these aren’t your typical button-ups, plain tanks, or bustiers of past years. Instead, draping and other decorative dalliances, like Sau Lee’s traditional Chinese pipa knot detailing, take center stage.
Patch Pockets
Pull out any pair of jeans from your wardrobe, and they likely have the traditional curved inset pocket. But patch pockets have caught on for this spring and summer. The style — which is credited for originating from menswear, when men asked their tailors to add more storage to their coats — is easiest to find on the most in-demand jean silhouettes today. Style these how you would any other straight or wide leg pair. Fair warning, though the patch pocket look is cute, it’s not the most spacious.
Badass Bermudas
Following the momentum of past seasons’ short trends, longer jorts remain a favorite. Denim Bermudas can look intimidating on the rack, but these come alive in the styling. Try a cool graphic T-shirt, a hat (dealer’s choice of style!), a heap of jewelry, and sandals. If you’re petite like me, I find the same formulas work, but a boost (like a kitten heel) always helps the longer silhouette not drown me out. The best part about this denim trend is that it spans washes: try yours in a bold print like cheetah or camo, instead of the classic blue washes.
