The "Dated" Denim Trend I Didn't See Coming

One perennial fact of fashion is that it's constantly drawing inspiration from the past. Nothing is ever wholly new (besides talent)—it's just been repackaged in a way that feels fresh. Once you recognize that fact, it's easy to comprehend when certain pieces, trends, or silhouettes manage to make a comeback. But even with this awareness, the revival of specific items can catch you off guard occasionally. Such was the case for me with the revival of denim accessories. 

Denim is far from new, as we see designers take this tried-and-true textile each season and add a trendy twist. When it comes to the prevalence of this fabric, I shouldn't be surprised, yet here I am with my jaw fully agape. And while I'll admit I tend to be a little dramatic, anyone with an excellent memory can recall—and maybe cringe at—how denim reigned supreme in the aughts. It was a time when every It girl (from Beyoncé to Brittney Spears) was wearing a head-to-toe denim look almost to their detriment. 

That period is a massive contradiction from the way we've seen this textile used in recent seasons in the form of jeans and maybe the occasional Canadian tuxedo. But with the release of spring/summer 2023 collections and even fall, it became apparent that this fabric has subtly crept off trousers and jackets into accessories. Now, before you opt out of this trend, you'll want to keep reading as I've broken down how it has reemerged on the runway and how the fashion set is styling it. Plus, I've shopped out the 39 best denim shoes, bags, belts, and even hats at every price point.

On the Runway:

Not to sound redundant, but as previously stated, you can always find denim on the runways. In more recent collections, we've not only seen designers use more extensive techniques to revitalize denim, but they've also taken to using the textile for accessories. For example, in Givenchy's spring/summer 2023 collection, Bella Hadid wore a denim bralette and a low-slung matching skirt while carrying an oversize denim hobo bag.

At Diesel, Creative Director Glenn Martens used techniques like distressing to add depth to his denim pieces and had everything from bags to shoes made from fabric. Then, at Sergio Hudson, a denim suit was styled with a matching denim trunk bag from Brandon Blackwood. But it's not just designers that have taken to this trend… so has the fashion set. 

On the Fashion Set

Denim is a beloved staple among the fashion set, and we've seen many take this textile and embrace it in the form of accessories. Some have styled complete head-to-toe looks with more trend-forward separates (e.g., relaxed low-slung jeans or denim skirts with moto-inspired denim jackets). Others have used a denim bag, pair of shoes, or belt to break up a look. But no matter which route was taken, it's clear after looking at recent street style images that this formerly "dated" trend has gotten a daring upgrade in the minds of the fashion set. Now, if you're still not sold on this trend, you'll want to keep scrolling to see all the cute denim accessories you can shop online now. 

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Next: This Not-So-Subtle Shoe Trend Has Officially Gone Viral—25 Ways to Style It