I'm a Stylist, and These Are the 2 Denim Trends You Shouldn't Sleep On

In our Ask a Stylist series, we're tapping a new expert each month to weigh in with all of their style insights. Return each week for a professional's perspective on what to know in fashion.

Superstylist Dani Michelle has likely inspired the way you get dressed. I know that her styling has certainly impacted how I'm shopping and the trends I feel excited to wear. With a roster of major celebrity clients, including Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Shanina Shaik, there's no question that she's shaping what fashion looks like today and has a huge influence on what's cool.

Curious to find out her take on the cool denim trends that matter in 2021, I asked her to share the silhouettes she's adding to her clients' wardrobes and believes deserve a place in our shopping carts. Rather than a long list of styles, she narrowed in on two key denim trends that feel directional and of the moment: oversize and low-rise jeans.

These two denim silhouettes may sound tricky to style at first, but with a strong presence on the F/W 21 runways and the street style scene, they're easier to pull off than you might think at first if you pay attention to some key styling tips. Ahead, learn about the two cool denim trends stylist Michelle is backing in 2021.

Oversize Jeans

Loose proportions are having a moment, with everything from upsized blazers to pants on the market. Now, baggy jeans are on the rise. A favorite trend of Michelle's, oversize jeans simply feel cool, which is why you'll spot them in the wardrobes of every cool celeb and fashion insider. A departure from the skinny jeans that dominated fashion for years and years, oversize jeans have a trouser-like shape and '90s-inspired vibe that I can't get enough of.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Courtesy of Our Legacy)

Worn with a throwback mesh top at Our Legacy, this look shows that aughts fashion is here to stay.

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On the fashion set:
(Image credit: @josefinehj)

This outfit is proof that adding a trench, T-shirt, and sneakers makes for a no-fail look, no matter which denim silhouette you're wearing.

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

A simple halter tank is another foolproof way to style oversize jeans.

Shop the trend:

Low-Rise Jeans

Low-rise jeans are the aughts comeback that I didn't see coming, but now that they've arrived, it's impossible to deny that they're having a moment. Rather than the form-fitting jeans that were popular in the early 2000s, Michelle recommends sticking with oversize silhouettes to make them more wearable and more fashion-forward. Style them with anything from a crop top to a sports bra and a blazer.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Courtesy of Y/Project)

Midriff-baring looks are in, and low-rise jeans are the perfect way to tap into the trend. This look on the runway at Y/Project showcases how to dress up the jeans by adding a printed scarf top.

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On the fashion set:
(Image credit: @idasjunnesson)

I love the idea of styling low-rise jeans with bikini bottoms underneath for an intentional pop of pattern.

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(Image credit: @samimiro)

Here's more proof that you'll want to layer a cool printed swimsuit under your low-rise jeans.

Shop the trend:

Next, The New Fashion Finds I'm Obsessing Over Right Now

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.