Denim shirts are a truly modern way to step up your look

How To Wear A Denim Shirt

Dubious about the jean shirt? Don’t be. This underrated item has enjoyed a recent fashion revival and is now a stylish menswear staple for every season. Here’s all you need to know about donning denim.

Denim shirts are a truly modern way to step up not only your off-duty look, but also your smarter ensembles. What’s more, find the right colour, style and fit and your outfit opportunities are endless.

Style

Depending on your look, there are two key types of denim button-downs to play with:

Heavyweight – If you’re into oversized, casual cool, then a heavyweight shirt is your best bet. Creating an alpha-male aesthetic and a rugged, blue collar vibe, this style pays homage to traditional American heritage and is ideal for layering. Paired with a grandad jersey, lumberjack jacket and a pair of hiking boots, heavyweight jean shirt outfits form a quintessential outdoor look with a distinctly masculine flavour.

Lightweight – For complete versatility, a lightweight slim-fit shirt can be worn in multiple ways, both casual and tailored. It looks just as great unbuttoned with joggers as it does dressed up with a textured wool tie and tweed blazer. A lightweight denim shirt is also the ideal trans-seasonal item, able to be worn over or under layers depending on the weather. In fact, whichever way you wear it, lightweight denim shirt outfits are sure to get you noticed in a crowd of cotton.

Colour

When donning denim above the waist, the general rule is to opt for a light blue denim shirt or faded wash, which will coordinate with your current clothes more easily than a heavy hue. A washed out denim also works with all skin tones, keeping you looking bright and brilliant rather than sallow and sickly. You could even go for a black denim shirt. Just remember to contrast your shirt with dark or tan trousers (indigo or black jeans if you’re doing the denim double) and a splash of colour.

Fit

Nothing spoils a great outfit like a bad fit, and when investing in a denim shirt it’s important to take sizing into consideration. A shirt that looks too big or baggy will not have the desired effect – even if you have opted for an oversized aesthetic (the key is that your shirt is still sized correctly, rather than simply being ‘too big’). Remember, a shirt should draw the eye towards the face – which is framed by the collar – as well as create a flattering outline of the body, so it is important to pay attention to the fit.

In order for your denim shirt to look its best on, remember the following rules:

Ensure your shirt sits correctly across your back by checking the seam meets at your shoulder bone.

Check the collar won’t constrict your neck by sliding two fingers into the shirt when it’s buttoned up. Even if you intend to wear it open, this is a good test of size as any more fingers and the shirt may be too loose – any fewer, and the collar is likely too tight.

Your shirt should be loose enough around your arms and torso to allow easy movement, but not so loose that it billows. You should not be able to pull more than 4” of fabric away from your body.

The cuff should end where your palm meets your wrist, which is about an inch beyond your wrist bone.