Denim updates

Sydney-based denim brand Neuw has a knack for reinventing standard-issue menswear styles. This season, it partnered up with the estate of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat to print the artist’s work across a workwear collection. The Samo denim shirt, for example, features his seminal painting Light Blue Movers. It has been made with such skill that we’re not sure whether we want to hang it on the wall or wear it.

Designer Mike Amiri takes his design inspiration from the rock ‘n’ roll culture of his youth, along with California’s laid-back skate and surf scenes. These blue jeans capture that look perfectly. The brand combines a relaxed fit with a plaid print created using traditional tie-dye techniques. Wear them with the brand’s denim jacket and a white T-shirt to channel that easy West Coast way of life – even if you’re miles away from the Golden State.

Gucci might be the expert in more-is-more maximalism, but it is just as masterful when it comes to the quieter classics. These mid-rise straight leg jeans are just that bit more special than your standard pair. Cut from a rigid pure-cotton denim, they borrow from the silhouette of sharp-edged tailoring. Need something that answers the smart-casual dress code conundrum? This is it.

The denim jacket is one of those workwear classics that shows up in fashion time and again. For one that stands out from the crowd, look to JW Anderson – a brand well known for reinvention. Featuring ripped sleeves, the brand’s leather logo-patch and a spread collar, wear it with the matching jeans to nail double denim this season.

If you close your eyes and picture the perfect pair of jeans, your mind may conjure something that looks a little like Frame’s L’Homme style. Or what we’re calling ‘everyman jeans’ (it’s in the name). Their straight leg, mid-wash and sneaker-skimming length give them near-universal appeal. In other words, they’ll look good with just about anything.

When spring arrives and the sun decides to come out, few things can look as fresh as minimalist white jeans (just remember take care on the morning coffee run). You can rely on Bottega Veneta for the perfect pair. Cut with a classic straight-leg silhouette, they’ll be as relevant in a decade as they are today. When it comes to styling them, remember that all-white looks can look clinical, so bring some contrast to your top half.

This season’s slouchy cargo jeans are a not-too-distant relative of the baggy, rave-ready fits that also dominated for SS23 – see our Kenzo pick at number 8 for proof. To tap into the aesthetic, there’s no better designer than Martine Rose. Her collection with Tommy Hilfiger is influenced by the south London reggae and rave scene of her 1990s youth. Wear them with her take on the varsity jacket for a head-to-toe throwback.

Wide-leg jeans are the most popular style of jeans in menswear right now. “Why?” we hear you ask. The 90s revival across this season’s runways brought baggy styles with it. Add to that the fact that they’re way more comfortable than slimmer silhouettes, and there’s your explanation. Our favourite is this pair by Kenzo. Crafted from premium denim in a mid-blue hue, they’re easy to dress up (or down) depending on the occasion.

This season, designers – and fashion-week crowds – taught us to be creative with double, triple or quadruple denim, and to think beyond just jeans and jackets. Enter: newcomer Botter. The brand paid homage to Mother Nature with oceanic references, splashing this oversized polo shirt in sea-blue hues. Plus, it’s stitched from organic cotton, making it part of our Project Earth edit.

Airei is a hot name in menswear circles right now. Its fresh take on contemporary style straddles the worlds of streetwear and workwear with ease. Case in point: this black denim utility vest. The L.A.-based brand takes the countless pockets and hardy fabrics of traditional utility jackets and creates this voluminous style. Wear it with this season’s cargo trousers.