Remember the iconic (if slightly cringey) red carpet moment of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake donning matching denim-on-denim ensembles in the early Noughties? If you’ve been shunning this erstwhile cheesy look, take heart – it’s pretty much impossible to do it as wrong as they did. Here’s how to rock the trend without looking like a clown:
Photos: Margaret Zhang, Andrea Chong, Karen Yeung/ Instagram
Hats off to fashionista Margaret Zhang for layering a denim skirt over a pair of jeans. She lets the denim do the talking by keeping it simple with a black tank top and minimal accessories. Tip: Choose super long flared jeans to make your legs look like they go on forever, and of course, go with heels for that confidence-boosting hike in height.
Photo: Margaret Zhang/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
We’re not sure if Margaret was wearing a two-in-one, but you can always count on a hybrid piece that has done all the work for you. This distressed piece with frilled hems is bound to be a head-turner. Keep things understated with a white blouse and white heels, then add an interesting pop of colour with say, a red patent handbag.
Photo: Mango
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
Andrea Chong’s #OOTD is just perfect for indulging our inner cowgirl without veering into tacky territory. Undo the first few buttons of your denim top to look more laidback (and sexy), and tuck it into a denim skirt of a slightly darker hue for a hip-slimming effect. A brown belt with a cool knot detail cinches your waist and adds definition, with the blue-and-brown making for a pleasing colour combination. Lastly, tie a low bun and you’ll look so on point lounging around in the safari (or around your office space on dress-down Fridays).
Photo: Andrea Chong/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
Now this is a super fresh way of layering. The denim jacket and jeans are of the same colour wash, but tying the jacket to create a tube top creates that much more visual interest, no? If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even go with a sparkly silver shirt underneath for a night out with the girls. Keep things simple with a pair of minimalist heels and you’re all set to catch the eye of that suave stranger at the bar.
Photo: Mango
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
We’d rock this fuss-free combo any time. Instead of running with a standard white T-shirt, Stephanie Villa opted for a collared blouse and tied it at the front to show some skin. The black belt is a fantastic final flourish to looking put together. Now, if only we had her lustrous green locks…
Photo: Stephanie Villa/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
Channel retro vibes with a fun getup like Karen’s – match a pair of whimsical baggy jeans with a light purple denim jacket, then throw on your favourite distressed sneakers. Don’t leave out the quirky pink shades and voila, you’ll look and feel like a magical hippie unicorn.
Photo: Karen Yeung/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
An all-blue getup will never be cringe-worthy if you get creative with prints and layering. These stripes add more dimension to the #OOTD, and we’re really loving the exposed bit of the oversized shirt, which instantly amps up the edgy factor. A pair of leather boots will do just the trick for an oh-so-cool finish.
Photo: Mango
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
Your denim pieces don’t necessarily have to be of varying shades of blue if you go with a “theme” and focus on a statement colour. To complement the unique flame design on her jacket, Karen rocked a fiery red tank top, with cute cherry earrings to boot. This makes for a very cohesive ensemble that’s in no way boring.
Photo: Karen Yeung/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week
Your best bet would simply be denim overalls – go with a white sleeveless shirt because #SGweather, and spice things up with a chic polka dot neck scarf. Take a leaf out of Trishna’s book and opt for lace-up sandals to look effortlessly put together.
Photo: Trishna Goklani/ Instagram
READ MORE: Pleats, please: 10 ways to rock the trend for work and play and 15 smashing street style looks at Seoul Fashion Week