Written by Bailey Dobson and Emily Chandler

Photos of Parker Buzbee, Zachary O’dell, and Courtney Skornia by Rishita Nannapaneni

Denim on denim… you either hate it or you love it. And right now we love it! We saw this trend begin in the late 70s to early 80s and continue to rise and fall throughout the upcoming decades. A big rise in the fad was seen in the early 2000s with celebrities jumping on the trend. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake rocked their Canadian tuxedos at the American Music Awards. Their outfits featured a fully denim dress with a train and a denim suit with a denim cowboy hat. This sparked a lot of controversy with people trying to decide whether or not their denim outfits were truly fashionable, but the majority agreed that they pulled off the bold look.

This style is typically seen as a form of streetwear in urban areas like New York City where it tends to be more fashion-forward. Many people are unaware of just how easy it is to style denim on denim, and you don’t have to be a celebrity to pull it off.  Also, it is believed that different shades of denim do not mix with each other, but that is not always the case. Mixing tones can still look good depending on how you style it, especially if you wear it with confidence. 

A common way to style a denim-on-denim fit would be to wear a plain shirt with a dark-wash denim jacket, a pair of light-wash boyfriend jeans, and a pair of neutral-colored sneakers. Adding some accessories can elevate the style to another level. 

Matching different hues of denim could work as well as wearing the same hue of denim throughout. It’s easy to pair this combo by wearing light-wash denim pants with a dark-wash denim jacket if it is cold. 

Despite societal stereotypes, denim on denim can look good on anybody, and it is a timeless style. Trying to mix and match denim pieces can add excitement to your wardrobe and style. So, next time you do not know what to wear, consider mixing your denim for a casual outfit that can be worn anywhere.