If denim had a bad pandemic – and it did, with joggers and athleisure taking over – it’s now back. And this spring, anything goes. High-street denim comes with a twist; denim shirts come quilted; jeans have added stretch and look like tailored trousers. It’s denim, but elevated.
Fancier stuff exists – Balenciaga denim is hot but pricey – but this is where rental comes in. Mud, for example, “leases” its denim for a full year with the intention of having it worn over and over (denim is one of the few fabrics that actually softens and improves with wear).
If you like your dad jeans or mum jeans or 1990s styles, secondhand is the best choice. If you’re not keen on the idea of used, try “vintage” denim brand Re/Done, which upcycles denim to create new styles. Sustainable denim has never sounded more appealing. Morwenna Ferrier
Buy it
Stretch indigo jeans, £175, daiwear.com
Super comfortable, made in the UK and with 66% less water impact.
Patchwork shirt, £79, aligne.co
Made with 50% less water than regular denim.
Quilted jacket, £245, rixo.co.uk
Wear over a floral dress.
Rent it
Striped jeans, from £44 for four days’ rental, by Alexander Wang from mywardrobehq.com
Style statement jeans with a classic crewneck jumper.
Black jacket, from £98 by Balenciaga from hurrcollective.com
Denim mini, €7.55 a month, mudjeans.eu
Lease your denim and return it after a year for recycling.
Thrift it
Dungaree dress, £40 by Tommy Hilfiger from rokit.co.uk
Style over a cropped T-shirt or polo neck.
Striped shirt, £32 by Wrangler from beyondretro.com
Wear a denim shirt open over a logo T-shirt for a 90s throwback.
Ripped jeans, £124 by Re/Done from theoutnet.com
Rework vintage denim and give it a modern twist.
