The Most Flattering Colors to Wear With Every Denim Wash

last updated 16 January 2020

It's likely that you've noticed denim comes in a wide variety of washes—ranging from extremely light to the deepest of blues. Since each shade is different from the next, figuring out what to wear with your jeans can be a challenge. Below we break down each wash along with the color it pairs best with. That said, by no means are we saying you can only wear certain colors with a particular wash. However, the list ahead can come in handy the next time you get dressed. Keep reading to find out which colors flatter your favorite denim wash.

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A dark burgundy paired with these light-wash jeans allows the denim to really stand out. If you were to pair the jeans with a white shirt, for example, the light blue color would get washed out.

Wayf

Emma Puff Sleeve Lace Top

Tiger Mist

Xander Jacket

Superdown x Draya Michele

Agatha Straight Leg Jeans

Wit & Wisdom

Ab-Solution Stretch Ankle Skimmer Jeans

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Medium-wash denim typically has some fade, which can be tricky to style. A rich emerald green complements medium-wash jeans by bringing out the dark and light shades of the denim.

Parker

Arya Blouse

Show Me Your Mumu

Farren Turtleneck Sweater in Green Fir

H&M

Skinny High Waist Jeans

Re/Done

'70s Ultra High Rise Bell Bottoms

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A darker medium wash looks great paired with navy blue. Since the jeans are not dark enough to wash out the navy color, the two different shades end up bringing out the best in each other.

Christopher Kane

Blue Cupchain Cropped Sweatshirt

L'Academie

The Suzanne Top in Navy

J Brand

Heather High Rise Button Fly Jeans

Slink

High Waist Wide Leg Crop Jeans

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In my opinion, no color that looks better with dark-wash denim than red. Its jewel tone makes any pair of dark-wash jeans look more expensive because of the vibrant contrast it creates.

ASTR the Label

Sepulveda Sweater

Sanctuary

Noelle Print Smocked Cuff Blouse

Frame

Le High Super Flare Jeans

Mango

Straight-Fit Theresa Jeans

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When given the darkest wash of denim, why not pair it with one of the lightest and brightest colors that come to mind? The rich dark-blue of the denim will make your yellow top look bright and happy.

Lovers + Friends

Royale Bodysuit in Yellow

Free People

My Only Sunshine Sweater

Joe's Jeans x We Wore What

Danielle High Rise Skinny Zip Jeans

Madewell

High-Rise Skinny Jeans in Danny Wash

Looking for more inspo for your endless jean outfits this winter? Try these.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated by Aleksija Vujicic.

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.