Denim looks to wear today, tomorrow and together

NEW YORK — Denim never goes out of style, but there are seasons when your old, reliable five-pocket jeans simply aren't enough. This is one of those seasons.

The jeans legging — aka jegging — is still going strong, and denim designers are also talking up the chambray shirt, asymmetrical motocross jackets, cutoff shorts and, still, the boyfriend pant. There are trouser styles and waistcoats for work, and, "rip-and-repair" jeans are a must for weekends.

Ralph Lauren had overalls on the runway and showed jeans under an evening gown. Even babies are getting premium denim.

And a denim-on-denim outfit, sometimes considered a fashion faux-pas in the past, is a bona fide trend.

"The American denim look is everywhere — it's in the air, it's all over the world," says Patrick Robinson, creative director at Gap. "The workwear feel is hot, especially for guys, and there's a sexy look for women. ... It's about cool Americans and how they live and we're trying to export that around the world."

Denim is proving a strong springtime seller in stores, says Stephanie Solomon, vice president of fashion direction at Bloomingdale's. She is particularly fond of the shorts and leggings paired with striped T-shirts.

"It probably has never had a larger impact on what we wear every day," agrees Durand Guion, men's fashion director for Macy's. "We had gotten just about as casual as we can get without getting in our pajamas, so we're looking to incorporate denim into our lives at least five days a week, but not just Saturdays. We're looking to step it up. You can wear a button-down denim shirt with a tie."

Helmut Lang co-creative director Nicole Colovos thinks people like that they can put their own spin on denim. And no pair of jeans looks the same on two different people.

"It's so individual, from how you wear it in, how you style it. The fit is molded to your shape," Colovos says. "You don't want someone else wearing your jeans."

Finding the best fit is trial and error, she adds, but once consumers find a denim label they like, they tend to be loyal.

Denim leggings aren't saggy and baggy, and that flattering, lasting shape is part of their appeal, says You Nguyen, Levi's senior vice president of women's merchandising and design.

He says he can't overemphasize the importance of the legging right now. It further evolves the skinny jean, which has moved from trendy to staple status, and it complements the tunic top and the slouchy blazer that are being touted for spring.