Dressing Up The Denim Look

Dressing up for work can be a pain when all you want to do is slip into your favourite comfy cozy yoga pants, or at least your old worn out blue denims. Luckily Casual Friday is always just around the corner, but still it would be nice to make better use of your jean collection, right?

This pant style known for being the trademark 'dress down' fashion has come a long way from rips, holes, and acid wash. Now you can select from a wide assortment of styles, many 100% suitable for the office. It's all in how you wear them!

Check out our tips on how to wear jeans to work:

Dark Wash 
You won't get away with anything but dark wash jeans as they are the dressiest of their kind. From very dark blue to almost black you just can't go wrong with this style, they're perfect for a night out with the girls and they're great for making legs look ultra slim.

Jeggings 
They've become popular almost over night and it's no wonder; in the casual vs formal debate they're the best of both worlds. A combination of jeans and leggings, jeggings are the perfect go-between with the look of jeans and the lightweight feel of stretchy tights. Available in a variety of the same styles and washes as jeans, they're an excellent fit for going in to work with comfort and still looking fashionable. Go with a dark wash pair of jeggings and throw in some heels. H&M offers a great selection of jeggings, however if you're looking to wear a fitted blouse make sure you get a pair with standard zipper and button rather than plain elasticized. The Jessica Simpson line of jeggings is also fantastic and fits well for all sizes.

Long Tees
A long shirt, sweater, or dress to accompany a pair of pants makes a great outfit that is more focused on top than bottom. Find a nice long length with a fancy style, like a cowl neck fitted sweater or empire waist shirt dress. Add some cute earrings, bracelets, and a pair of high cut boots and you've got a well put together ensemble. Alternate shirts and jewelry daily to keep the look going with a different spin.  

Shoes 
Because jeans are thought of as the ultimate 'kickin' around' pants, we're used to seeing them with a pair of Chucks or old jogging sneakers. Footwear defines the look. As mentioned, boots are a great way to dress up this otherwise dressed down image, and the fancier the better. Go leather /faux, suede, intricate detail along the side, high heels. On that note, depending on the weather, a pretty pair of pumps can take you from cute to classy in a flash.

Cut Style  
Whether you opt for boot cut, straight leg, or slim fit is all up to you and should be selected according to your figure. Skinny jeans are a common favourite (jeggings are a similar alternative), but the traditional straight leg is a fit you can't go wrong with. They're comfortable, trim, and won't hang off of you. Before choosing a cut, make a mental note of what you are most likely to wear with your pants and then decide which style is most appropriate.

Image from MorgueFile 

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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