The four denim items I would rebuy if I lost them tomorrow
Updated
9Product Reviews
There's a trend on social media where people talk about the items they would rebuild their wardrobes or makeup collections with if they had to start from scratch.
Sometimes it's 'the 10 items I would rebuy for my wardrobe', or any other number.
It's a good way to take stock of what you have so you know which items are your must-haves, your buy-agains, your can't-live-withouts – with the overall goal being a better understanding of your personal style and hopefully fewer regret purchases in the future.
I wear a lot of denim, so I thought I'd try this exercise with a wardrobe category as opposed to my whole wardrobe.
So if all my denim disappeared tomorrow, here's what I would buy again.
High-waisted, straight-to-wide leg, full-length jeans
Levi's Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans
9Product Reviews
I am a Levi's jeans loyalist and have a few pairs, including the classic 501 style and Wedgies (fellow fans will know). When I bought the Ribcage jeans for the first time – named for its super high, ribcage-skimming rise – I wasn't sure if I would keep them.
Firstly, I love stiff denim that is 100 per cent cotton; these are 99 per cent cotton, 1 per cent elastane. (It's worth noting that different washes of the same style of jeans will have different material blends.) Even though there's only a tiny amount of stretch it's obvious when you've spent years in super rigid denim that softens over time.
They were also the longest pair of jeans I owned, and I flirted with the idea of getting them hemmed because all of my jeans (at the time) came to my ankle bone. (Also, I am only 164cm tall so 'ankle length' on a model is 'full length' for me.)
The Ribcage jeans sat in my wardrobe unworn for a few months. And then something changed. I'm not sure what it was but I suddenly started reaching for them – maybe the trend cycle was favouring full-length pants, maybe I started wanting a slightly wider-shaped leg, or maybe I appreciated the tiny amount of stretch they afforded me during winter months when I indulged in a bit too much comfort food.
When I travelled to Europe in November last year they were the only pair of blue jeans I packed and I was confident they would go with everything, all my tops and my shoes.
They have now become my favourite pair of jeans and, without sounding too dramatic, I can't imagine life without them.
Goldilocks-length denim shorts – not too short, not too long
Levi's 90s 501 Shorts
9Product Reviews
These denim shorts are my perfect just-hanging-around pair. The length works for all casual settings and they're long enough to let you sit comfortably in all kinds of positions – there's no risk of flashing.
They're 100 per cent cotton but don't feel stiff. I love the frayed hem that gives a slight edge without making it look like I've been attacked by a cat (I can't do ripped denim anymore).
And that colour blue – ugh, it's so good. I wish I could find full-length jeans in this shade. Tip with buying Levi's (as with many other things): if you like a certain wash you need to snap it up because they usually change them with seasonal re-releases, even if the cut of the jeans is classic.
I wear these pretty much everywhere except for the office.
Some other options worth considering:
A denim shirt that's slightly oversized
ST MRLO Marie Denim Shirt
9Product Reviews
My vision for a denim shirt is something I can wear in lieu of a regular shirt, so I don't want it to be too oversized or shacket-like. I don't want it to be tight due to the material, but I also don't want to be swimming in denim. I prefer a slightly boxy fit over something fitted in the torso.
I have been known to wear a Canadian tuxedo from time to time, and because denim can be quite thick I need the perfect fit to ensure there's not too much bulk when I tuck it into another denim skirt or jeans.
My preferred wash is a light-to-medium blue, I enjoy a chest pocket, and I don't want the denim to be too thick because I like to roll up the sleeves and have them stay put. Basically, I want a denim shirt to wear to work when I am feeling a little cowgirl-y.
A denim midi-skirt with a side or back slit
Levi's Mid-Rise Denim Mid Skirt
9Product Reviews
When denim midi skirts started #trending I was hesitant to get on board. But then I found a skirt that was surprisingly unique to everything else on the market (at the time): its slit was on the side.
I think what hadn't appealed to me about so many of the other denim midi skirts I was seeing was the front slit – sometimes it creates an awkward upside-down V-shape, and from what I've heard they can be prone to flashing.
But let's be clear, with any denim skirt that goes past the knee you need a slit somewhere, unless you want to be shuffling around the whole day.
My Levi's denim skirt, in the perfect wash of blue, is what I wear when I feel like wearing jeans (which is often) but want to look a little more feminine, or if it's hot. The side slit comes up quite high in a way that's a little sexy, but still office-appropriate.
So now I feel like a longish denim skirt is a staple in my wardrobe – I wear mine at least once a week.
And if I couldn't rebuy my exact skirt I would settle for one with a slit at the back.
Assembly Label Denim Maxi Skirt
All About Eve Ray Denim Maxi Skirt
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