But I am digressing. The point is that in one of last the Gioia issues that I read this summer I found an inspiring fashion report on the denim-on-denim trend. I always thought that denim on denim is a fashion mishap or something that you end up wearing because you have nothing better to wear and not because you want to make a fashion statement but the Gioia fashion editor made it look fresh and effortlessly chic.
As a matter of fact and maybe influenced by this the only clothing purchase that I made in Italy this year is a denim shirt by Max and Co. Besides my JCrew short-sleeve one, I don't own any denim shirt (I had the long-sleeved selvedge one briefly but ended up selling it). For some reason I never felt compelled to buy a denim shirt, my last one was a Reply that I was wearing when I was a teen and was so oversized that I can still wear it. What I immediately liked in this shirt and made it standout in the sea of denim shirts out there was that it is a "western" shirt but with feminine touches like slightly puff sleeves and a tie-neck (that was sewn in the back of the collar but I asked my mom to detach so I can leave the first button open. I can always tie it over it when I feel like it but it is more likely that I don't want to button it all the way up). The shirt is also very fitted which helps to make the look more feminine and not like you are wearing workwear.
The crocheted earrings add to the western feeling of the shirt (note the belt in a matching color). I took these pics more than a month ago but never got to post them:
Nice try but I still didn't feel like wearing this outfit out and about (it felt more sloppy than stylish probably because of my jeans wash). Yesterday I gave the look another try with much better results. I must thank my amazing Ralph Lauren herringbone jacket in caramel that I don't get to wear enough. I also switched jeans and my toothpicks in Huron wash look much better with the denim shirt (they are darker than the pair that I was wearing above). I added a matching belt and my booties even not "western" were also a nice match:
I took these pics at Saks and the SA complimented me on my look and said that it was very Ralph Lauren (which is easy if you are wearing a Ralph Lauren jacket, I must say!)
One of the reasons why I don't wear this jacket very often is our weather (there isn't really a jacket season here normally, it is too hot or too cold and yesterday it was actually too hot, I was sweating in this by lunch time and I had to change into a much lighter jacket) but also that besides jeans I don't have many pants to wear with it. While I was at Zara I found a pair of printed jeans that looked awesome with what I was wearing. I could barely get into the 36 but once in they fit pretty well. The pictures make them look a bit purplish but there is no purple in the fabric, what looks purple is an indigo in the same exact than shade than the shirt, and teal. They were pretty inexpensive at $49:
In the end I couldn't decide if they were gorgeous or ugly, so I left them there. Ultimately I don't think they fit my style but they were absolutely perfect with the RL jacket.
Are you wearing denim on denim? How do you wear a western shirt?
I read the Grazia,when I lived in Germany and love that magazine!
ReplyDeleteDenim on denim was new for me too,but I totally like it I wear the keeper often(I have both the light and dark) and I also love it with black denim and my navy jcrew lace skirt.
Is there a German version of Grazia? The kiosk app is not available for the German titles but I bet there are similar apps if you want to keep reading it here.
DeleteI know you love your denim shirts!
Yes,there is a German version of the Grazia.
DeleteI love all of the looks, including the last pants! You look great in them!!! I will have to look up Grazia online. I buy a lot of magazines now on my ipad - so nice to be able to go back to them when I want without a stack lying around the house! Ema - you still have to write that style book, girlfriend!
ReplyDeleteGrazia has become a bit too influenced by blogger IMO, it used to be much better. I mean, if I want to see a blogger take on a trend I can just go online, right? I still value journalism and fashion journalism and that's what I want to read if I buy a magazine.
DeleteThank you Weny! If I write that Style book I will dedicate it to you, my biggest fan ;-).
I used to read Grazia too, in the UK and in Aus too. The Australian one shut down earlier this year, though.
ReplyDeleteI love your denim + denim, Ema. The RL jacket looks very chic - shame the weather isn't on your side.
I think the Zara jeans look good! and for that price perhaps you should give them a go!
I don't own a denim shirt, but am often inspired to buy one when I see people wearing them. Tiffany Rose and you rock them!
Hi Ruth, too bad for the Aus Grazia. I didn't know it was so widely published.
DeleteThanks you for the compliment. Truth to be told, everything looks sharp with that jacket, I could wear a nightgown under it and look sharp! The Zara pants are tempting but I know I would only wear them with this jacket. But if I found them for like $19 I might change my mind!
That looks great and really sharp with the RL blazer and booties. I wear my denim shirt with jeans sometimes (untucked for me), but so far only with fun loafers. I need to try it with booties, I really like that.
ReplyDeleteHi Cate, yes you should try them with booties, even better if you have western-style ones. I think denim on denim would look particularly great with red booties!
DeleteEma, I am drooling over the jean shirt and RL jacket! I can't believe you kept the shirt, I'll never give anything away again! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, it isn't THAT shirt, it's a new one ;-). If one day I decide to get rid of the RL jacket (I was actually surprised that it still fits well since it is a 0 and now I am more of a 2 in blazers as you know), it's yours, I promise!
DeleteLove the look of the Ralph Lauren Blazer and the denim on denim!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your booties? Intrigued how they fit around the toothpick ankle...
Thank you Lili. The booties are old Zara and they are sort of Chelsea booties so they don't come up high on the ankle. I don't have any problem wearing booties with the toothpicks but it is true that they are not really "ankle"on me (I am 5'2") and these ones in particular are not that tight at the bottom so I can wear them over the bootie as you can see.
ReplyDeleteLOL Ema I loved reading this post because it shows how regional fashion can be at times! Where I live denim on denim would most likely get me a ho-hum than a Wow, what a fresh look!
ReplyDeleteThe city I live in is lovingly called "Texas North" and denim on denim is de rigueur for at least 10 days every July when we host the Calgary Stampede.
However, on casual Friday's you're likely to find it running wild amongst the execs in the big Oil company enclaves that make up the downtown. There are those of us who live here that refuse to wear denim at all in protest! (only half kidding!)
It is often joked in Canada that when you are wearing Denim on denim you're wearing the Canadian Tuxedo!
However, I do wear Ralph Lauren (my personal style aesthetic) (love the blazer and think you look great in everything you pictured) but in my city you will find me wearing only one denim item at a time or preferably none at all! xx
Ema, love the shirt with the RL jacket. You look perfectly put together without looking "done", if that makes sense. I have a very light denim shirt that I wear with a tweed JCrew jacket. I like the mix of the formal with the informal.
ReplyDelete