The Cool Girl’s Guide to Styling Denim

How to choose the pair that looks just right

by Nicollette Heath

Image by Maria Dikman

Whether or not you’re a fashion enthusiast, jeans are a challenging staple in every closet. We spend countless hours searching for the perfect pair that fits, looks, and feels just right. Then there’s the added pressure of styling those jeans with your wardrobe. 

The common denominator in many cool-girl outfits is jeans. Every pair looks perfectly suited for each outfit. Their secret? Cool girls understand what jeans work for them, what styles work best for their closet, and how to build looks around the cut of their jeans. 

With endless styles of denim to choose from, finding the right pair for your closet appears daunting. This guide will walk you through the three most common denim dilemmas that might be stopping you from being that cool girl with the perfect pair of jeans for any outfit.

Low Rise or High Rise?

Rise is highly personal, depending on torso length and the nature of your outfits. Low-rise can be more comfortable for shorter torsos, while high-rise tends to be comfortable for longer torsos, but it all depends on personal preference in fit and style. 

For outfit building, low-rise styles suit tighter silhouettes, as they help bodysuits or tucked-in shirts appear more proportional to the rest of the pieces. If you enjoy layering, consider adding low-rise into your denim rotation to better balance your outfits. High-rise works best for blousy tops and professional outfits. 

Straight Leg or Wide Leg?

Leg width all depends on the proportions of your outfit. The most versatile styles are the classic straight-leg and wide-leg. Straight jeans work best with larger upper silhouettes and sleek shoes, and are great for business-casual looks. Think chunky crewnecks, sweaters, or light jackets. Wide-leg styles add a casual flair and embellish outfits. They pair well with tight tops by balancing out proportions and work with almost any shoes.

Dark Wash or Light Wash?

The right wash, or denim color, depends on what colors you wear most often. A good rule of thumb is to pair light with light and dark with dark when trying to style jeans. However, the contrast between lighter accent colors and dark denim can create a striking and unique outfit. Darker denim shades also tend to be more versatile. If you can’t choose, a classic denim blue jean never fails and pair well with almost everything. 

Remember, this is only a guide, and you should always wear what looks and feels best for you. But the next time you find yourself in a denim dilemma, consider these tips to help you look and feel your best in jeans and to master that cool-girl confidence.