The Canadian tuxedo, aka double denim, can be a controversial outfit choice. That much indigo feels quite I’m Just Ken – though Ryan Gosling is actually Canadian – and, if the reference isn’t Barbie, it’s the poster couple of the mid-Noughties’ pop scene, Britney and Justin. But however much head-to-denim gets a bad rap, Vogue editors have always been subscribers.
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“Some people throw on suits for instant everyday polish – I wear double denim. I think it looks super smart,” says Naomi Smart, Vogue’s shopping director of Europe. “I especially love structured denim shirting – Wardrobe NYC and The Attico do great oversized options,” she adds. “I like to pair them with high-waisted or baggy jeans and an easy heel I can wear all day in the office.”
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She’s not wrong. It’s a fact of life that practically any shade of denim goes with any shade of denim, which means that whatever pairing you concoct will somehow look right. It’s an easy way to make denim look more intentional. As Smart explains, more denim actually looks more polished than less denim, especially if you factor a dressier accessory – a sculptural pendant earring, a studded ballet flat or a pony-hair boot, for example – into the equation.
On the streets, double denim isn’t controversial but a tried-and-tested combination, offering durability if the weather’s unpredictable, comfort and, crucially, impact. And because there are multiple ways to style it out, we’ve selected four of our favourites double denim looks that really make the formula work.
Shirt + neck-tie
