There's a particular stretch of early fenced weather, somewhere between winter coats coming off and proper summer not quite arriving, when a denim shirt does more work than anything else hanging up. Layered over a jumper on a cold morning, then on its own by lunchtime when the sun's decided to show up. It's the kind of piece that handles a day that can't make its mind up, which is most days really.
If you've never owned one, start with a mid wash in a straight, slightly boxy cut rather than anything fitted. A fitted denim shirt looks brilliant on a hanger and then does something odd the moment you sit down or reach up for a cupboard. The boxier shape gives you room to layer it over a t-shirt now and tuck it into something smarter later, and it won't gape at the buttons the way a snug one will after a few washes once the fabric's relaxed. The difference between a good one and a disappointing one shows up fast in the details nobody photographs: proper metal buttons rather than ones that flake after a hot wash, double stitching along the seams that doesn't fray the first time it catches on a bag zip, and a collar with enough structure to stand up on its own rather than flopping like it's given up. Cheap denim shirts go thin at the elbows within a season. Good ones go soft there instead, which is a completely different thing and worth paying attention to when you're trying one on.
It sits well with almost everything you'd already reach for. Knotted over a plain dress it stops things looking too neat. Worn open over a white t-shirt and jeans it somehow doesn't read as double denim, which still surprises me every time, though I wouldn't push your luck with two matching shades. It's good thrown over leggings on a school run sort of morning, and good again, buttoned properly with the sleeves down, under a blazer for something that needs to look a bit more put together than it actually was to assemble.
For colour, a mid or slightly faded wash is the easiest to live with by a mile. Dark indigo looks sharp for about three wears and then shows every crease and watermark going. A pale, worn in shade hides the general chaos of a day far better and actually looks more deliberate the softer it gets, which is the only time fading has ever worked in my favour. Black denim is lovely for about a month before it turns an uneven grey that no amount of careful washing fixes.
Tomorrow morning mine is going over a plain white top with straight leg jeans and trainers, sleeves rolled, nothing clever about it at all.
Oversized ShirtsGreen Denim Oversized Shirts That Have Caught Our Eye
Green Denim Shirts: Our Current Favorites
Linen ShirtsGreen Denim Linen Shirts We Love Right Now
Cotton ShirtsThe Prettiest Green Cotton Denim Shirts Around Right Now
Cotton ShirtsGold Cotton Denim Shirts to Pair With Everything
Going Out Denim Shirts Worth a Closer Look
Frill Denim Shirts That Have Caught Our Eye
Floral Denim Shirts to Pair With Everything
Fitted Denim Shirts That Feel SpecialAlso worth a lookOversized ShirtsAn oversized shirt is the thing you put on when you want to look like you've made an effort without actually making one.See the collections →
Shop Our Favorite Faux Leather Denim Shirts
Our Top Evening Denim Shirts Right Now
Embroidered Denim Shirts We’d Happily Wear on Repeat
Satin ShirtsDenim Satin Shirts That Earn Their Place
The Denim Shirts We Keep Going Back To
Linen ShirtsDenim Linen Shirts for Sunny Days Ahead
Oversized ShirtsDenim Oversized Shirts Edited Down to the Best
Our Favorite Cut Out Denim Shirts
Cropped Denim Shirts Worth a Closer LookAlso worth a lookLinen ShirtsI avoided linen shirts for years because the first one I owned creased if I so much as…See the collections →
Crochet Denim Shirts Worth a Closer Look
Cream Short Sleeve Denim Shirts That Tick Every Box
Oversized ShirtsCream Denim Oversized Shirts Picked by Us
Cream Denim Shirts With Real Wardrobe Staying Power
Cotton ShirtsCream Cotton Denim Shirts We Can’t Stop Looking At
Cotton ShirtsA Closer Look at the Best Cotton Denim Shirts
The Corset Denim Shirts Your Wardrobe Is Missing
The Check Denim Shirts Shortlist
Casual Denim Shirts: Picks We Stand ByAlso worth a lookBlack ShirtsI avoided black shirts for years because every one I owned went grey in the wash within about…See the collections →
Our Edit of the Best Button Denim Shirts
Burgundy Denim Shirts That Go With Everything
Oversized ShirtsBrown Denim Oversized Shirts We Love Right Now
The Best Brown Denim Shirts to Shop Now
Cotton ShirtsBrown Cotton Denim Shirts to Pair With Everything
Our Top Boxy Denim Shirts Right Now
Blue Sleeveless Denim Shirts That Make Outfits Feel New
Blue Short Sleeve Denim Shirts We’d Happily Wear on Repeat
