There's no denying that a stylish pair of jeans is a total wardrobe must-have. Who could have possibly guessed that the universally adored style, invented in the 19th century, would come to fulfil such a different function in contemporary wardrobes in relation to its original use.
Jeans were first worn as workwear by manual labourers because the super strong diagonal twill weave required to create denim was (and still is) extremely durable. Fast forward a few years, denim jeans are worn by practically everyone, and certainly not restricted to the confines of workwear. In fact, unless your office dress code is super chill, most of us wouldn't dare to rock jeans to work – how the times have changed.
MORE: How to style double denim
Light-wash blues, creamy off-whites and muted ecrus are all perfect for staging a dressed-down summer denim moment, but in the depths of winter as we currently stand, we've turned our attention to shades that fall on the darker end of the spectrum.
And we're not alone – Stella McCartney showcased utilitarian separates within its fall/winter 2022-23 runway crafted from rich black denim with faded seam accents, including peplum tops and generous fit straight-leg styles that were cinched in at the waist with military belts.
The dark denim agenda was also present at Isabel Marant which saw mid-waisted baggy styles teamed with sheer polo necks adorned with lattice-style beading.
READ: The best flared trousers and how to nail the retro trend this season
RELATED: Baggy jeans outfits that are perfect for winter
Whereas within Dior's Cruise collection it was all about inky blue straight-leg styles with major button cuff detailing. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri brought noughties nostalgia to the fore via monogrammed bomber jackets, turning to glossy black brogues to highlight the slightly lustrous sheen of the dark blue denim.
If you're looking to invest this season, we adore styles by Frame, 7 For All Mankind and Victoria Beckham, but the more moderately priced Reiss, Cos and Everlane all offer some excellent alternatives.
Hello! Fashion shares our favourite ways to style dark denim jeans:
With a powdery-hued shirt
16 Arlington feather-detail slim-cut jeans, £495, Farfetch
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With slouchy heeled boots
With a leather coat
Yoko high waist wide brown jeans, £40, Monki
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With an ultra-wide collar shirt
With a vibrant knit
Ellendale Denim Pant, £70, Dickies
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With a bold asymmetric jacket
With a cropped cable knit
Agolde Baggy Low Slung jeans, £280, Net-A-Porter
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With a matching jacket
With a tweed jacket
Mason Low Loose Cargo Jeans, £59, Weekday
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With a wool overcoat
With futuristic accessories
Blue high-waisted ultra-flared jeans, £47, River Island
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