The Dish on Denim for Fall

By: Sharon Mosley

Whether you’re a teenager planning your back-to-school wardrobe or a Mom checking out the latest trends in jeans, denim should be at the top of your shopping list. There are plenty of ways to put some “jeanius” in your fashion life this fall.

“Denim just gets stronger and stronger,” says Donald Johannesson, creative and design director for Dish Jeans Ltd, a Vancouver-based contemporary denim company. “For this fall, you’ll see it in every kind of garment you could imagine, from jeans to skirts to vests and jackets, shirts, dresses, even accessories, shoes and bags, in every wash variation possible, making it the pivotal fabric in building any wardrobe.”

You’ll also notice that it is no longer a “faux pas” to wear two denims together, says Johannesson. “Everywhere you turn, double and triple denim looks are being worn,” he adds. “It just makes a statement that this fabric has finally attained mass acceptance everywhere and highlights its versatility.”

So, what pieces does the denim guru suggest style-savvy women of all ages add to their wardrobes this season? Here are his top five picks:

— The Chambray Shirtdress. A casual style in lightweight chambray, the shirtdress is the perfect way to dress up denim this fall. In mini-lengths, it’s a great layering piece over tights, another must-have fall fashion statement. For even more layering possibilities over tanks and tees, scope out chambray in a denim shirt, too.

— Jeggings. Details count on denim this fall, and the skinny jeans or “jeggings” (jeans that look like leggings) are big on the list for trendsetters, especially when they have eye-catching designs details like zippers. Dish’s legging has ergonomic side seams that skim and slim the outer edge of the thigh, curving around the knee and slanting toward the front of the leg, ending in a long zipper opening that gives the legging extra pizzazz.

— Denim on denim. Once a fashion “don’t,” mixing denim pieces is this fall’s newest “do.” The way to pull it off seamlessly without overdoing it, according to Johannesson, is all a matter of degrees. “Remember to combine light shades with dark ones to avoid a monochromatic look,” he says. Check out layering pieces — including shirts, vests and skinny jeans — in varying shades of denim that blend colors together. One of my personal favorite combos: the dark vest over a lighter chambray shirt and teamed with medium-washed blue jeans.

— Flares with flair. The skinny jean may be a big hit, but this fall’s freshest jeans have got some flare to them. Choose from low-rise trousers or classic flares in figure-flattering fits. These are the denim pants that often will work for the office with a blazer or stylish blouse.

— Add some plaid. Give your denim a preppy twist with a plaid shirt. Dress up a sea of blue jeans or denim pencil skirts with plaid in a colorful combination, such as purple and teal — one of the season’s best trends. Johannesson suggests adding a feminine touch to plaid with a ruffled shirt, which tops off a denim skirt in a stylish dark wash for a sophisticated take on this menswear pattern.

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