How to Wear: Dressing Up Jeans
It’s likely you already have a pair of jeans in your closet, and you probably get a ton of use out of them, but in this guide we want to help you figure out how to get even more wear out of your favorite pants, and that means you’re dressing them up!
Jeans are exceedingly versatile and if you mind the few tips we’ve given below, you’ll find more occasions to be pulling them out of your closet.
The Jeans Need to Fit…Well
The most important thing about wearing jeans for a dressier occasion is to make sure they fit. If you’re wearing them to run errands or catch a baseball game or whatever, you can probably get away with a more ill-fitting pair. But when you’re looking to dress up your jeans, they need to fit just right.
Generally, this will mean a slimmer cut although we’ve seen plenty of dressy looks with a straight fit too. What’s important is that they sit on your waist and don’t ride up or down. You’re going to wear a belt (which we talk about below) but you don’t want to rely on the belt to hold up your pants, just to cinch them tight. You want the jeans to highlight the silhouette of your leg, but they don’t need to hug your leg necessarily.
Finally, and maybe most importantly, they need to be the right length. They should have a slight break and lay gently on your shoe (we talk about that below too). If you wear bootcut jeans because you wear boots, fine, but you should opt for a pair with a narrower leg opening. This means less excess fabric and a cleaner look altogether.
Darker is Generally Better
When dressing up your jeans, a darker color is generally the way to go, especially if you are going out at night. If you want to wear a black pair of jeans or even a dark gray pair those work great for dressed up occasions but so can a pair of dark indigo jeans. Rinse jeans (the darkest option available) are usually best. And no destructed denim please!
Picking the Right Shoes And Belt
You have quite a few different shoe options when you’re dressing up jeans. You can wear a leather derby, a loafer, a monk strap, a moc shoe, a variety of different boots, or perhaps even a clean leather sneaker.
Remember, the derby is the more versatile leather dress option (oxfords are generally just for suits), but you can a wear a bunch of different types. Shoes with broguing work well or even suede shoes. Pebbled leather (the kind that looks textured) is also a good option. What’s important is that the shoes are clean, polished (if they are leather), and the laces and sole are in good condition.
Different types of boots also work like chelseas, lace-ups or mocs. And again, both leather and suede are valid options. Avoid rubber boots.
If you want to wear a pair of sneakers, opt for a clean leather pair. You want to avoid tennis shoes with logos so put away your Nikes for your night out.
And of course, you’ll need a matching belt! Your leather or suede don’t need to match exactly but they should be pretty darn close.
Which Shirt is Best?
When picking your shirt remember our general rule of thumb: texture and wash signal casual. As such, you’ll want a crispier shirt like a poplin or dobby. Solid colors are great, but prints and subtle plaids can also work well. We especially like a nice gingham!
You’ll probably also want to avoid a button-down collar, can be a bit casual and can look a bit weird next to the lapel of a blazer (mentioned below) if you go that route.
Layering is your Friend
Dressing up your jeans largely comes as a result of layering with the right pieces. In most cases, this will mean grabbing a blazer or sport coat but depending on the weather (and the exact occasion) you could also layer a sweater over your shirt.
So what kind of sport coat? Well really you have a ton of options. Cotton, wool, linen, or blends of all three are all great. You can also take a jacket you have for a suit and wear it with jeans. The one caveat we have is not using a black blazer. A black blazer doesn’t really go with blue jeans, and it’s hard to match a black blazer with black jeans if you try to go that route. But almost anything else in your closet is fair game!
Layered sweaters are also a great option, but note this is a bit more casual than a blazer, but that might be OK for your specific occasion.
Some Notes on Styling
In almost all occasions where you are trying to dress up your jeans, you should be tucking in your shirt. So let this be another reminder to find a nice belt that matches closely with your shoes.
Other details will also complete the look like wearing a watch (if you’re a watch guy) and styling your hair. Remember a little product can go a long way.
We hope, in this brief guide we’ve given you the confidence to start dressing up your jeans. We think you’ll quickly find that these truly are the most versatile pant in your wardrobe.
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