There's no denying that a stylish pair of jeans is a total wardrobe must-have. Who could have possibly guessed that the universally adored style, invented in the 19th century, would come to fulfil such a different function in contemporary wardrobes in relation to its original use.
Jeans were first worn as workwear by manual labourers because the super strong diagonal twill weave required to create denim was (and still is) extremely durable. Fast forward a few years, denim jeans are worn by practically everyone, and certainly not restricted to the confines of workwear. In fact, unless your office dress code is super chill, most of us wouldn't dare to rock jeans to work – how the times have changed.
MORE: How to style double denim
Light-wash blues, creamy off-whites and muted ecrus are all perfect for staging a dressed-down summer denim moment, but in the depths of winter as we currently stand, we've turned our attention to shades that fall on the darker end of the spectrum.
And we're not alone – Stella McCartney showcased utilitarian separates within its fall/winter 2022-23 runway crafted from rich black denim with faded seam accents, including peplum tops and generous fit straight-leg styles that were cinched in at the waist with military belts.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe dark denim agenda was also present at Isabel Marant which saw mid-waisted baggy styles teamed with sheer polo necks adorned with lattice-style beading.
READ: The best flared trousers and how to nail the retro trend this season
RELATED: Baggy jeans outfits that are perfect for winter
Whereas within Dior's Cruise collection it was all about inky blue straight-leg styles with major button cuff detailing. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri brought noughties nostalgia to the fore via monogrammed bomber jackets, turning to glossy black brogues to highlight the slightly lustrous sheen of the dark blue denim.
If you're looking to invest this season, we adore styles by Frame, 7 For All Mankind and Victoria Beckham, but the more moderately priced Reiss, Cos and Everlane all offer some excellent alternatives.
Hello! Fashion shares our favourite ways to style dark denim jeans:
With a powdery-hued shirt
© Photo: Getty Images
16 Arlington feather-detail slim-cut jeans, £495, Farfetch
SHOP NOW
With slouchy heeled boots
© Photo: Getty Images
With a leather coat
© Photo: Getty Images
Yoko high waist wide brown jeans, £40, Monki
SHOP NOW
With an ultra-wide collar shirt
© Photo: Getty Images
With a vibrant knit
© Photo: Getty Images
Ellendale Denim Pant, £70, Dickies
SHOP NOW
With a bold asymmetric jacket
© Photo: Getty Images
With a cropped cable knit
© Photo: Getty Images
Agolde Baggy Low Slung jeans, £280, Net-A-Porter
SHOP NOW
With a matching jacket
© Photo: Getty Images
With a tweed jacket
© Photo: Getty Images
Mason Low Loose Cargo Jeans, £59, Weekday
SHOP NOW
With a wool overcoat
© Photo: Getty Images
With futuristic accessories
© Photo: Getty Images
Blue high-waisted ultra-flared jeans, £47, River Island
SHOP NOW
Like this story? Sign up to our Hello! Fashion newsletter to get your weekly 'Fashion Fix' delivered straight to your inbox.
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.
