ABOVE: Looks from Adam Selman (from left), Colovos and Estaban Cortazar.
SOMETIMES LOVED, sometimes despised, the total denim look — aka the Canadian tuxedo — has been out of the fashion spotlight for more than a decade. It was too often associated with cowboys and a 2000s aesthetic. That changed with the spring/summer 2018 collections, which sounded the call clear and loud: This blast from the past is back in full force.
Creating a double denim outfit is a perilous art, one that can pretty quickly turn into a fashion faux pas. Remember the matching denim ensembles worn by Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards? As Timberlake would say, however, “What goes around comes around.” And so, total denim rises from the ashes of the acid wash.
This season’s looks are playful and versatile, from the dark wash with white stitching and ultra-feminine corset at Mugler and the vibrant color-washed combos at Stella McCartney, to the layered gray denim pieces cut in a loose boyish shape at Givenchy. With the trend’s return, come new rules — or, more appropriately, an absence of rules. Total denim acts like a chameleon, letting fans mix cuts, shades and washes and use embellishments like studs, pearls and perforations at will.
The brand Colovos shows a utilitarian denim look with XXL pockets and a clean, minimalistic cut in dark wash denim; at Tom Ford, an oversized jacket meets bralette and boyfriend jeans that mix and match masculine and feminine pieces. Chanel, on the other hand, creates a romantic and modern combo with a light-wash destroyed denim jacket and an A-line skirt.
The Off-White take is a sleek reinterpretation of the classic, western-inspired look: monochromatic bleached denim jacket and jeans topped with white cowboy boots. The silhouette is refined yet street-smart and a fresh, less-is-more reinterpretation of the cowboy look.
Although the head-to-toe denim trend has seen darker days, the hype is definitively back. So, if you’re looking for an effortless statement appearance, dust off your denim and give the 2.0 Canadian tux a try.
