Fall's Must-Have Denim Styles Are Here for Whatever You Have Planned

Picture these with one of Everlane’s cozy new cashmere tees. (Personally, I’m feeling the pale lime iteration, but you do you.) Add a pair of loafers into the mix for an outfit that looks just as good at your Thursday night book club as it does at the farmers market on Saturday morning.

Relax, you say? Not a problem when I step out in these perfectly vintage-feeling beauties. Why not lean into the early ’90s vibe in your off-duty hours? Next time you’re headed to Friends trivia with friends, just add in a black crew-neck sweatshirt and your go-to black Chelsea boots.

I like to consider myself a maximalist, but after carefully assessing my go-to look—straight-leg black jeans, strappy black sandals, and a plain black tee—I have to admit that that’s so not the case. The thing you learn the longer you work in fashion is that an all-black look is a shortcut to looking more polished in practically any setting. Add gold hoops if you need a flash of color.

Where this true-blue pair is concerned, I’m picturing you, a cute short-sleeve mock-neck, an oversize blazer, and a nice bottle of wine (cheese plate optional mandatory) at a post-work happy hour with colleagues come Wednesday at exactly 5:31 p.m. and not a moment later.

I’ve been to a lot of shows over the years… And though I now steer clear of the pit (once you hit your 30s, you learn to be fine nursing your cocktail toward the back of the crowd with the other soon-to-be-middle-aged people), I still swear by a pair of worn-in black skinny jeans, leather booties (patent, if you please), and a lightweight muscle tank.

Finally scored tickets to that museum exhibit that’s been sold out for months? Same—see you at The Broad? These jeans make the perfect blank canvas for whatever you layer over them. I’m picturing a relaxed-fit tee and a laid-back jacket (in terra-cotta, obviously), but feel free to come up with your own masterpiece.

Because pretty much any off-duty look requires a pair of skinny jeans, no? This whiskered, perfectly vintage-looking pair (dig that button fly!) will be the bedrock of my weekend looks. If you happen to live in Los Angeles and frequent the Melrose Trading Post on Sunday mornings, you’ll more than likely find me there (wearing these jeans and this cardigan, a cup of black coffee in hand).

I’ll be honest: I own these and wear them literally everywhere. To the point where I’m pretty sure my friends would consider these part of my uniform. Dress them up, dress them down… doesn’t matter. They just work, and the looser straight-leg fit makes them an easy candidate for the most comfortable jeans in my denim arsenal.

Looking for a light, breezy look to wear on the weekends for brunch with friends at your favorite pancake spot? (Hot tip: When in L.A., it’s all about The Pantry.) Look no further. While these jeans won’t disguise syrup stains, they are roomy enough to accommodate a second serving. Keep the rest of your look equally laid-back by adding in these comfy white sneakers.

We don’t know where we’d be without our go-to black straight-leg jeans, especially here at Who What Wear HQ, where sleek denim constitutes a big part of our work wardrobe. Just make sure to keep things smart by way of a menswear-inspired button-down and some sharp leather slingbacks.