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Head-to-Toe Denim for Real Life

March 23, 2010 by WendyB

When I wrote about the head-to-toe denim look last week, I meant it when I said, “Never say never.” I figured most people would pass on the often-unflattering Texas Tuxedo look of jeans and a denim shirt, but that something more wearable would come along. It came along fast! Check out the sophisticated denim looks of the latest Acne/Lanvin collaboration.

Acne/Lanvin dress. Click to shop.

Acne/Lanvin jacket and skirt. Click to shop.

The dress shown here is over $1,000 and the jacket over $2,000, but I’m sure all the fast-fashion chains will have inexpensive knockoffs before you know it. (UPDATED TO ADD: Knock yourself out here, but it looks like it’s worth every penny of $24.80 and not a cent more. And I got this denim dress last year but it’s no longer available.) As the look gets around, I wouldn’t be surprised by a revival of the denim jumpsuit trend that was big in 2001 after Jennifer Lopez wore a Frankie B. suit on the cover of her J. Lo album. Just last December, Lopez was slammed for slipping back into a denim onesie, but I say she was ahead of her time. One of the Beautiful People — actress, singer, model, blogger — will follow in her footsteps and the look will click. Laugh all you want, but remember the scorn heaped on leggings, harem pants and boyfriend jeans before those looks gained momentum. Once the eye adjusts, ugly turns into pretty damn desirable.

And that’s all the excuse I need to repost my favorite Jennifer Lopez clip. Hey, J. Lo, do you want to defend your outfit?

UPDATED TO ADD: Gorgeous blogger Midtown Girl points out a denim jumpsuit in Zac Posen’s lower-priced collection for Saks.

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Filed Under: acne jeans, Celebrities, double denim, fashion trends, jeans Tagged With: jennifer lopez, lanvin

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pearl Westwood says

    March 23, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    LOL Texas Tux Ive never heard that before!! Those are two fab looks. We are post twins Ive just been posting about the double denim!

  2. Sheena says

    March 23, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    ::coughs:: I um…kinda wanted that Frankie B denim jumpsuit. If this movement picks up, perhaps I can finally have my J. Lo moment.

    • WendyB says

      March 23, 2010 at 2:42 pm

      Girl, I loved it too. I hope you do it so I can post a big photo of you on my blog!

  3. Midtown Girl says

    March 23, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    I have a denim jumpsuit..and it’s quite the statement piece, I must say..LOL!!

    p.s. Can you blame me??

    • WendyB says

      March 23, 2010 at 2:58 pm

      Having seen your spectacular figure, I think you could be the Beautiful Person who relaunches the trend. Post a pic!

  4. liz says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    I guess I have done head to toe denim before now that I think about it- a denim dress paired with (almost vintage at this point) bottega veneta denim booties.

    Love denim dresses.

  5. eyeliah says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    I could do the first look since it is a dress.

  6. stacy says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    So true… the eye adjusts. Otherwise, fashion would never be allowed to change. I’m really diggin’ that denim dress. Did I just say “diggin’?” I believe so.

  7. apparellel says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    i might have to break out my vintage denim jumpsuit. holla! i never say never, as i will almost always undoubtedly find myself in it at some point in time. haha. love.

    xxx
    t

    captcha: rotflmao. this in itself makes me rotflmao!!

  8. sharon rose says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    Hi there-the Lanvin/Acne pieces are just gorgeous, I must try and wear my denim McQueen playsuit sometime soon!!

  9. Helena Halme says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    I love denim, always have. Now in my forties I thought I’d not wear double denim again, but last weekend found a jeans shirt with sweet little pearl buttons in the shops in Hampstead and wore it out that night with my dark denim 7 jeans. I felt very on trend at Shoreditch House. A great feeling.

    Might get that denim dress next.

    Helena xx

  10. lisa says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    I saw pics of the Lavin/Acne collaboration earlier today and was stunned at the sophisticated things they did with denim. You’re right about never saying never when it comes to new trends, though. πŸ™‚

  11. Lenya Jones says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    That is my FAV JLo clip. She is a diva scream. And I don’t mind head to toe denim when its dresses, can’t do the tuxedo though.

  12. freeteyme says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    I usually picture denim being jeans or shorts or a jacket but never a dress. That denim dress worked though.

  13. Miss Janey says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    Miss J is inordinately fond of the dress… You have to love J. Lo- she never does anything half-way. Personally, Miss J loved this look for her. The girl can rock head wear.

  14. Iheartfashion says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    I have a button front denim dress I haven’t worn in about 10 years. May be time to pull it out again. I love the Acne/Lanvin one!

  15. Eli says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    now that I got my denim top I was almost brave enough to go out into the world with my Texas tuxedo but got embarrassed at the last minute and I changed. Doh!

  16. fashiontheorist says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    I’ve learned never to say never to any trend, because I inevitably end up eating (wearing?) my words. I don’t know that I’d be comfortable in jeans and a denim shirt, but now I’m wondering if I’ll find myself searching for a denim dress in the not-too-distant future…

  17. La Belette Rouge says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    That dress is fantastic. You make an important point about never saying never. I just said that about denim last week. Now I must eat my words.

  18. Tanya says

    March 23, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I wear harem pants (ducking to avoid tomatoes flying at my head). Took me a long time to embrace this trend. Used to wear head-to-toe denim in my youth, not sure if I’d go for it now, but that dress… Oh yesss.
    (Hi Wendy, I’m back from the sick)

  19. Reena says

    March 23, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    Wow…Gorgeous but uber-expensive! The best way to wear denim though

  20. Denise @ Swelle says

    March 23, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Kiss my ass! Ha ha!!

    Forget head to toe denim, let’s all go for denim sheets!

  21. K-Line says

    March 23, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    It really is all about the eye adjusting. One of the most crazy outfits I ever wore was a stretch shorts jumpsuit (a romper?) with a hip belt (also white). It had long sleeves and the shorts were basically hot pants. I wore it out one night in Montreal when I was in University. It must have been 1989. Now I was ahead of my time πŸ™‚

  22. jennine says

    March 23, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    i thought i woudln’t cave on this one, but it’s all i can think about!

  23. Die Konigin Der Herzen says

    March 23, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Pass!

    Though I did want to tell you, I updated my current post thanks to you (this update was actually meant to be apart of the original post but I was in a rush out of the door).

    <3

  24. alixrose says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    I love these looks.. damn if only I had 2000 dollars.. oh well. You know I posted about jean on jean, I like the dress option more.

    Oh and now I have : “Cause am real.. ”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjx9oSJDAVQ

  25. Sher says

    March 23, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    I’ll wait for all of you to give me inspiration. I have a denim blazer that I’ve been trying not to wear with jeans. I just might accidentally slip it on some day.

  26. Annie Spandex says

    March 24, 2010 at 1:22 am

    A Swedish man in head-to-toe denim and long white hair once hit on me so brazenly it was kind of offensive. Lol.. He was dressed just like the Gap girl. Acne/Lanvin are doing it way better. He might have had a better chance had he been wearing those πŸ˜‰

  27. Girl Japan says

    March 24, 2010 at 3:58 am

    I LOVE, love the first dress, now that’s what I call dress Denim! Is it still a major NO NO not to wear denim with denim.. what do you think?

  28. Natalie says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:03 am

    I tried the double denim thing on my blog a week or so ago and it kind of worked. Maybe it just has different connotations depending on where you’re from?
    I am so in love with that dress! Mr. Elbaz is just my ultimate!

  29. Tor (fabfrocks) says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:42 am

    I love that first dress! I’m sure it won’t be long before Topshop et al have one on the racks

  30. Jennifer says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:59 am

    I’m finding I’ve been reaching for my denim again. Feel so USA!

  31. enc says

    March 24, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Now THIS is how to do head-to-toe denim. I love that shift. I only hope the denim is drapey, or it’ll be too stiff.

    I can’t remember a time when I’ve liked what J.Lo has worn, but I really love her attitude about not defending herself. I respect her backbone about her own choices.

  32. pretty face says

    March 24, 2010 at 10:01 am

    I don’t think the dress counts as denim on denim, though, does it?

    I think dark black denim jeans with a light denim shirt would look really cool. xx

  33. Looking fab in your forties says

    March 24, 2010 at 11:15 am

    Love the dress, I have never seen denim look so sophisticated!

  34. Rebekah @ Shell says

    March 24, 2010 at 11:25 am

    oh my! that dress!!!

    i must confess that while maternity shopping a few weeks ago at h&m, i snapped up a swinging little chambray tunic to go over a pair of faded super-skinny jeans. at first i was like, “really? i’m doing this? i’m actually going THERE???” but honestly, it looked so cute and fresh that i did…I WENT THERE!!!

  35. Iron Chic says

    March 24, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    *Ahem* Canadian Tuxedo…and my eyes STILL hate harem pants, thank you.

  36. kirsty says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    sometimes it can defo work xoxox

  37. I. Grace says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    Totally loving that denim Lanvin dress! Though still not digging the harem pants, at least not on me. I like it on a few others I’ve seen though. =)

  38. Lynette says

    March 24, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    WendyB, it’s hard to believe that dress is denim! I wonder why the model looks mad at the world?

    Glad you like Tinkerbell’s latest photo. What did you think about Milton’s kitchen sink?

    Winona is the anti-spam word. There’s a Winona, Mississippi, where no doubt Spam is for sale in at least one local grocery store!

  39. Shaz says

    March 25, 2010 at 7:51 am

    It’s funny how fashion critics jump up and down when someone tries something new, and then next season they’re wearing it. It happens with every trend doesn’t it. I try not to be too critical of what others wear anymore, just enjoy the splendid flamboyance.

  40. miss sophie says

    March 25, 2010 at 8:34 am

    lol i think it’s each to his own. i’d really like a chambray something or other for the spring and summer. it’s such a lovely warm weather fabric with its own history!

  41. ash fox says

    March 25, 2010 at 9:50 am

    i love both looks. the detail on that jacket is stunning.

    x

  42. misscavendish says

    March 25, 2010 at 11:01 am

    The dress I’d wear in a flash. Anything else in demin, noooo!

  43. miss cavendish says

    March 25, 2010 at 11:02 am

    Or DENIM, even . . . πŸ™‚

  44. parisbreakfast says

    March 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Well the head-2-toe Denim look IS VERY big at H&M Paris…have they been talkin’ to Jenny?
    I kept thinking of her song when I passed Louboutin’s fav bistro and his shop..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJgEvoRgg3Y
    Love those drawings behind the denim dress

  45. TheShoeGirl says

    March 25, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    HAHA- I hate JLO. I do agree though that ugly sometimes turns to pretty if you wait long enough…

  46. Kristin says

    March 25, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    Ugly becomes palatable pretty darn fast doesn’t it? That Lanvin dress is gorgeous. LOVE the gathering!

  47. aya says

    March 26, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    That blue dress is just gorgeous! πŸ™‚

  48. Alya says

    March 27, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    Just this week, I learned that I should really never say never! I ordered a denim shirt online, and I never thought I’d see the day when I would pay hard earned cash to buy one!

    I swore I’d never wear a denim top again (after the 90’s), but well, here I go again!

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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