Can You Wear Dark Jeans in Summer?

Reader Question:

Hi,
Can you wear dark jeans in the summer?  I have been thinking about this for a while and was hoping you might be able to shed some light on the subject.

Answer:

Absolutely!  The super saturated color of dark jeans look fantastic with a bright white top, or any of summer's bright colors.  Dark wash jeans are flattering, and add polish.  Your outfit will always look a bit dressier with dark wash jeans. 

A few styling ideas...

Try a very bright top with dark wash jeans.  Bright turquoise, green and blue can be very flattering on a wide range of skin tones, but they often look funny paired with a standard color denim.  Even a bright hot pink will look almost sophisticated when paired with dark denim.   To illustrate this point, look at how Alloy's turquoise Cowl Neck Tunic, $23, pops next to the dark inky denim (below left), compared to the rather blah pairing of the turquoise top with a standard blue jean color (below right).  

To finish this look off, I'd throw on some flip flops, and add a couple of gold bangles or a wood bracelet.

The dark pair is the J. Crew's Matchstick Jean in dark rinse wash, $98, the lighter pair is J. Crew's Bootcut Jean in authentic vintage wash, on sale for $75. 

  

I know I've highlighted nautical stripes in previous posts, but in summer, I simply can't get enough!  And nautical striped shirts look amazing with dark-wash denim.  The whole look is so crisp and clean, that despite the dark wash, it's still summer-y. 

Don't be afraid to try cuffing dark wash jeans for summer.  I love the contrast of the very dark wash with the light, light cuff.  Add big sunglasses, a ponytail and a baguette.  Speak only in French.  C'est beau, n'est pas? 

Because dark wash jeans are so flattering (downright sexy even!) I would be remiss if I didn't include a summer date night option for dark wash jeans.  For date night, I love mixing a pair of tight, sexy dark wash jeans with a bright white, romantic top.  Look for a white top with something special -  ruffles, or embroidery, or in a great texture like linen, silk, etc.  Pair with bare, sky high nude heels (pedi, please!), and add a gold little something around your neck.  Understated summer sexiness achieved.  Here are the items I'm coveting for my next summer date night:

I'm showing J.Crew's Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jean in twilight wash, $125, with the very fabulous Taline Shirt, $95, by Calypso.  This shirt has a Jane-Austen-meets-hippie-chick vibe that I love.  I'd pair this outfit with the bronze and jeweled Up Knows by Kenneth Cole Reaction, $79 at piperlime.com.  The necklace is the Lena Wald Love Charm Necklace, currently on sale for $162 at shopbop.com.

xo,

S

Comments

[rachel]

Great post - I love your nautical stripe shirt - any suggestions of where to find them? Can you add some budget friendly options too.
Thanks

[S]

Hi Rachel! My striped shirt is by Trovata, but was purchased some time ago. You can find some other cool striped shirts at Urban Outfitters (and some budget friendly ones also) here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/urban/catalog/common/highlited_itemcount.jsp_A&_DAV=true&itemCount=60&navCount=7&navAction=poppushpush&popId=WOMENS&pushId=WOMENS_APPAREL&id=W_COLL_STRIPES&090727wapp

Check out the Silence and Noise cropped striped T. It would be really cute over a long tank.
Hope that helps!
xo,
S

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