I'm Convinced Everyone Needs This Unexpected Basic

At this point, you've probably caught on that I love to curate a great collection of wardrobe basics in my closet. From turtlenecks to oversize button-down shirts, there’s no shortage of cool basics straight off of the runways that are in the pipeline for spring. But there’s another one that I’ve been seeing bubbling up on the Instagram fashion scene as well: denim shirts.

Yep, the top has been popping up everywhere recently and I’ve been taking notes on cool ways to style the top. Whether you’re pairing one with a midi skirt, sweatpants, or tailored pants, there are endless cool ways to wear one. You could always slip into a head-to-toe denim look—in my opinion, the perfect balance of casual and cool. But there’s even more inspiration for how to pull it off. Here are nine stylish ways to wear denim shirt outfits, straight from the fashion set.

A Denim-on-Denim Look

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(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

Pictured: Mango top and jeans

I truly never get tired of all-denim looks but always love to see fresh takes on them. Here, I think the top tucked into slightly flared jeans is the perfect sleek (but casual) outfit.

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With a Midi Skirt

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(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

Pictured: Mango skirt

I've had my eye on denim midi skirts for a few years now but have never been able to figure out how to pull one off. This outfit pairing the long skirt with a denim button-down and knee-high boots is definitely one I want to copy immediately.

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Add Sleek Boots

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(Image credit: @lisa.aiken)

Pictured: Agolde jeans; Khaite boots

What really makes this outfit work? The white tee and collared shirt layered underneath the denim top. Add a pair of sleek boots and it's simply flawless.

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With '90s-Inspired Jeans

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(Image credit: @discodaydream)

Pictured: ACNE jeans

Loose, '90s-inspired jeans are making a major comeback, so it's only natural to spot a denim shirt outfit styled with them.

An Upsized Top With Skinny Jeans

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(Image credit: @giorgiatordini)

Pictured: The Attico top

If there's one style lesson I've picked up on in general these days, it's the movement to add upsized pieces into your wardrobe. Sometimes the baggy silhouettes can be tricky to pull off, but it's all about balancing proportions.

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Styled With Knee-High Boots

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(Image credit: @aimeesong)

Pictured: Khaite boots

Knee-high boots are the easy way to instantly make your outfit feel more polished and sophisticated. Case in point? This stunning look.

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With Tailored Trousers

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(Image credit: @samantheah)

Slouchy, tailored trousers are destined to be one of this year's biggest trends. Here's the perfect way to pull them off.

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Add One to Cozy Sweatpants

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

Pictured: Chanel shoes

If you're still living in sweatpants like I am, here's a cool way to make them feel fresh. Add a pair of slides and you have the ultimate comfy outfit.

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With Wide-Cut Jeans

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(Image credit: @frannfyne)

Pictured: Omens jeans and shirt jacket

Yep, another great take on an all-denim look. Here, a great way to style a wider-cut silhouette of jeans.

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Paired With Loafers

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Pictured: Aeyde shoes

Loafers are the cozy/sophisticated shoe trend that every fashion person has in their closet, so who wouldn't want more inspiration for how to style them?

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This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next, these trend-forward basics are the answer to your chicest-looking outfits 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.