Style discussions are rarely as ubiquitous as when the topic is denim trends. It doesn’t really matter where you live or what your aesthetic looks like – chances are, denim is an important part of your wardrobe.
Ever since they were patented by Levi Strauss in 1873, jeans have become a core fashion staple that transcends time and place. If you think about it, it’s probably the one piece of clothing that connects most people.
But where is our collective world of denim heading in 2026? Just in time for your New Year’s fashion resolutions and a fresh wardrobe update, we’re here to bring you five clearly-defined 2026 denim trends that will unmistakably help evolve your personal style into next year.
Get Up, It’s Time For Workwear
As it usually happens during times of recession and great global challenges, style heads into the opposite direction as decadence becomes an antidote to austerity. But the SS26 season showed a way to merge the two as conservative, functional dressing showed its frivolous side, too. In a somewhat controversial take, Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu label paid homage to the working class women quite literally – by layering sturdy pinafores and leather aprons over dainty florals and lace dresses.
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But there were also some more subtle takes, with brands like Bode and Maison Margiela showing nods to workwear classics via pieces that are equally fun and practical. Think long denim duster coats or classic carpenter jeans jacket embroidered with colourful threads. And if you’re feeling like a Miu Miu girl – why not get yourself a denim apron and layer it over your floral dress?
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Back to Basics
Every season, fashion crowds a return to the most classic jeans – and this year is no different. Away from barrel shapes and razor-cut skinny jeans, some designers are comfortably sitting in the neutral territory of straight-leg, mid-rise, soft blue wash. But the trick is to use these classic pieces as a way to tone down the frivolity that’s happening up top. At 16 Arlington, blue denim poked out of a feather-embroidered midi dress, while Jonathan Anderson put together simple denim skirts and jeans with elaborately structured tops. In 2026, take the plain jeans as an opportunity to finally pull off that outrageous thing in your wardrobe that still has a tag on.
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In The Raw
For experts around the world, raw and selvedge denim is not just a trend – it’s a forever golden standard and a worthy investment. But it seems like fashion designers are continuing to embrace the structured textile and innovating on traditional silhouettes. For classic versions, look out for Japanese brands like Evisu and Momotaro, which are also present across resale sites. For some high-fashion inspiration, look out for Celine, where Michael Rider turned the volume on French style stereotypes in a playful way. Or maybe you’re more of a high-waisted, wide-leg type of person so Sarah Burton’s Givenchy version feels more on-brand. Whichever direction you end up taking, the raw denim look is a great way to take jeans into a more formal direction.
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Patch It Up
What would a denim report be without a heavy dose of DIY? Arguably the best blank canvas in all fashion world, your jeans are the perfect opportunity to express your hobby. You are into bedazzling? Do it to your jeans! Your grandma taught you how to patchwork? Your favourite jeans will love it. You might enjoy cutting up old jeans and turning them into a handbag, like Stella McCartney, or simply fixing a hole with a contrasting crochet stitch, this is the time to let your creativity shine. And if you’re not particularly crafty, there are ample already DIY-d pieces out there, ready for you to pretend you made it. Don’t worry, we won’t tell.
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Is It Denim?
Although being mysterious is not for everyone, it can offer quite a fun take on denim. Whether it’s unexpected colours or innovative textile treatments, there is something utterly delightful about trompe l’oeil and the way fashion designers have embraced the guessing game. Tolu Coker played with formality with a sand-coloured twinset, while brands like Burberry and Acne Studios continue to push the boundaries of what denim feels like to touch, thanks to the variety of coatings applied to the material. And for that bold explosion of colour, look no further than Diesel, a heritage brand that continues to innovate this traditional material. Bold, transformative and unique – there’s no better mantra to embrace in 2026!
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