If you’ve ever wondered how to wear double denim and still look fresh, fun, and fabulously modern—this is your sign to try it! Double denim may have once been called the “Canadian tuxedo,” but we’re here to reclaim it as a versatile style choice for women of every age.
And if you think there’s only one way to wear it—just jeans and a jacket—let us open your eyes to the many creative combos out there.
Quote of the day: “The end of a melody is not its goal.” Friedrich Nietzsche
This week, the Thrifty 6 decided to tackle this “blue-jean baby” of a trend with our own unique twists. And what I Love about this concept is how we each took the double denim idea and made it totally our own. Whether you’re new to wearing double denim or you’re a longtime fan, you’re bound to find inspiration here.
Denim is the norm for women of all ages nowadays. Recently I showcased my daily outfit looks with 7 days of different styles of jeans. And the crew has showcased denim skirts, flare jeans outfits and denim shirts and white jeans in the past.
In addition to those older articles, this one is chock-full of double denim since it includes my crew PLUS the women of my Thrifty 6 group.
As much as I love my site, Jodie’s Touch of Style, I really enjoy putting together my daily emails. I consider my emails an extension of my blog that is chocked full of positive inspiration that one friend calls a “Variety Show.”
Lesley proves that double denim doesn’t mean the pieces have to match exactly—and thank goodness for that, because playing with contrast adds personality and dimension! She paired a light blue denim jacket with crisp white jeans, which gives the outfit a summertime vibe that’s bright and approachable.
Lesley’s story: “I wanted to show many different washes/colors of denim. Except for tee & purse all pieces are denim. OMGosh, I grew up as denim became a staple wardrobe fabric for my generation. White denim was VERY fashion forward spring of my freshman college year. My Easter present was a pair of white jeans.
The first time I wore them on campus, I was so Hot! Until I dropped a meatball on myself ☹️. No problem. I went back to the dorm and soaked in bleach overnight, and the stain came out 😊! Look, Mom, I can do my own wash. The next time I wore them, I gracefully dropped to a sitting position on quad yard grass. The knee popped right out 😳. These jeans then became my first pair of jean shorts that summer.
But don’t you love how Lesley was the boss of her clothes even then? Making them into shorts is positively smart.
To tie everything together, she added a red-striped tee and red sneakers (seriously, doesn’t everyone need a pair?).
It’s like a little nod to nautical style, but with modern energy.
Details:
-The red baseball hat is such a great way to add flair to the look (and can even be helpful for a bad hair day, as I’ve written about).
-Lesley even brought in other colors to the look with her bracelet.
Charlotte went full vintage-chic with this look, and I absolutely adore how it turned out. In fact she went above and beyond including 3 denim pieces.
She layered a denim vest over a chambray plaid shirt and paired it with classic straight-leg jeans for an all-blue ensemble.
What makes this look work is the subtle variation in textures and shades of blue. The vest has some wonderful seaming and structure, and worn over the checked blouse, it adds polish and interest. Her sparkly slip-on shoes bring a bit of glam to the look without sacrificing comfort—just like Charlotte always does!
And if you know my mom, then you know she loves her accessories. Since the outfit was all blue, she gravitated towards blue accessories. But you could wear almost any color if you wanted them to pop from the outfit.
Details:
-These jeans were found when we challenged each other to style thrifted outfits. My mom is not one to wear jeans very often, yet there are times they are essential. Which is why secondhand shopping can be ideal.
-Make sure to check out the “patches” on the back of her vest in the photo we took from behind.
-Glitter sneakers may not be on your list of “must haves” but my mom has ended up wearing these a ton. I love how they add an element of bling to any outfit.
Yes, you can wear double denim and still feel lightweight and breezy! I went with a monochromatic white-on-white look using denim shorts and a coordinating vest.
This duo feels playful and summery, especially when topped off with a bubblegum pink tank and a colorful polka-dot scarf tied around the waist (like a belt with personality!).
I called this an accidental double denim set because I found the vest thrifting over a month ago and then just recently found the shorts. Both are the same brand with the same color of thread and details.
Details:
-I don’t know why the bendable necklaces went away, but I’m so glad they are back. I recently ordered 2 from Etsy so I could have other colors in my collection.
-These sheer socks have been my starter trick for wearing crew socks with my sneakers. I don’t think they are super noticable, but they are a fabulous detail.
-My pink “top” is actually a sports bra. I had it on when planning the outfit and loved how it looked with the denim set. It’s not the first time I’ve talked about this idea.
Style tip: Your closet becomes much bigger when you stop “categorizing” your clothes in your head. Your workout wear, Sleep wear and even your partner’s clothing can be worn for everyday use.
Valerie put a chic twist on double denim by pairing black jeans with a blue chambray shirt—technically still denim-on-denim, but with a sophisticated contrast. What keeps it extra fabulous is how she layered a printed scarf with bold shades of red and orange, bringing warmth to the otherwise cool palette.
Her black flats are equal parts stylish and practical, while the vibrant striped top underneath adds a splash of energy. She’s also rocking those statement earrings and bold sunglasses.
Details: .
-I was enthralled with how Valerie used the shoulder tab to hold her scarf styled over her shoulder. The scarf wasn’t JUST for decoration either. We went to a lecture after this and she used it as a wrap to keep warm in the AC.
-The scarf acts as inspiration for bringing in different colors for her extras. Gold purse and necklace as well as the brown earrings and sunnies replicate the colors in the scarf.
Style tip: A button up shirt works brilliantly as a lightweight jacket. And if you like oversized ones, make sure to check the men’s section where you are shopping.
You might hear the words “double denim” and instantly flash back to Britney and Justin’s infamous matching outfits from the early 2000s. But trust us, today’s denim-on-denim trend is a lot more wearable and a lot less costume-y!
One reason it works? Denim is a universally loved fabric that comes in all shapes, shades, and silhouettes. Whether you prefer loose boyfriend jeans or a structured vest, you can mix and match pieces to suit your body and your mood.
Here are a few general tips to help you master the double denim look:
Our Thrifty 6 group really shows the versatility of this trend. Each of us took double denim and ran in a completely different direction, which gives you loads of looks to put together from your closet.
Don’t you love how both Lesley and Valerie thought to wear striped tops with their double denim? Prints are a great way to break up solid pieces that might not feel easy to wear.
It’s not about following a strict formula—it’s about feeling great in what you wear and experimenting with pieces you already own. And if you’re a thrifter like we are, chances are you already have a few denim goodies waiting to be reimagined.
So next time you’re staring into your closet, wondering what to wear, why not double down on denim? Mix it, match it, and make it your own.
With the fashion and textile industry being a major contributor to landfills and other environmental pollution, we decided to make it the mission of this little group to focus on second-hand items. I feel like there is no shortage of denim to be found at the second hand stores.
Insider tip: Don’t forget to check out the men’s and kids’ sections of the store because you might be surprised.
Check out the other members of the Thrifty 6 group for all kinds of ideas.
Insider tip: If there aren’t many wonderful secondhand shops near you, I have included a list of online shops that I love at the end of this post.
“I thrifted this long denim vest (dress) about 5 years ago and I don’t wear it often so it was the perfect piece to highlight for this thrifty challenge. I paired it with an old pair of denim shorts (not thrifted) and a newly thrifted blouse, scarf, and necklace. My moccasins were also a thrifty find a few years back. I am not a huge fan of double denim but I loved this combination! “
“I never liked jeans. Did love denim jackets and skirts though. But I did not even wear jeans in my puberty! Everyone wore them and I really could not see the charme of them. But for the past few years I started to appreciate it a bit more and look at me now! Double trouble denim! These jeans are a favourite, and the blouse is pre loved! I wanted to wear heels but forgot all about it as my head was into leopard!”
“I can’t say for sure where this denim waistcoat came from, but I think it belonged to my brother in the late 70s/early 80s. I rediscovered it fairly recently in an ottoman at my mum’s old house and it’s in great condition. The label is Brutus – not one I’m familiar with. Anyway, I’ve paired it with palazzo style jeans from Marks and Spencer, creating a nicely balanced outline. The blouse is also second hand (from Vinted of course!).”
“Double Trouble Denim’ is the T6 theme for April and there sure is trouble with this denim!
These unusual and super-cool jeans are far too tight for me – I can just about get away with standing, but sitting is very problematic!
They’re Italian vintage, not sure of the decade but they definitely predate stretch-denim.
The style is incredibly high-waisted with popper fastenings which can pop open at any time!
So, I’m sad because I love this look but it’s completely impractical and can never be worn…
…yet I’m happy because it’s perfect for this T6 photo shoot before the jeans are sold.”
“My favorite way to wear double denim is to make sure the pieces are in different colors/washes. Here I’ve paired thrifted dark blue trouser jeans with a thrifted black denim vest with pinstripes in white and a few different blue colors. For a winter-turning-to-spring color palette, I added various shades of light blue with white and silver to complete the look.”
If you don’t have great secondhand stores near you, then another great option is online thrifting. These are the ones I’ve used more than once (except Swap, but it comes highly recommended by a friend)
thredUp—this link gives you $10 (and me in return).
Poshmark — here is the post about how to shop the site.
Preworn–10% off with code JODIEFILOGOMO
Etsy
ebay
Swap
Uncommon Closet— nonprofit to help women.
Gild the Lily–a local Michigan store that sells online.
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