Don’t assume that with summer’s arrival, it’s time to ditch your denim. The hardy fabric is a wardrobe essential all year round, even more so in an unpredictable Irish summer. Making denim summer-appropriate is all about striking a balance of comfort, breathability, and the flexibility to adapt if the temperature decides to rise.
On the 2025 catwalks, the more relaxed, easy-breezy notion of denim continued. Loose, lightweight silhouettes were the go-to choice for jeans at Chloe, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta. One standout trend? Drawstring waists. A new addition to the denim roster for summer, the stretchy-style waistband has given rise to the “sweatpant jeans” trend. These hybrids combine the comfort of joggers or sweatpants with the classic look of denim. Designers Gabriela Hearst, Dior, and Bottega also offered their versions of comfy denim that could pass for track pants.
If you prefer a more elevated version, the wide-leg style crafted from authentic denim will still offer the same breezy, comforting style with a little more structure and polish. Cuffed denim is another detail that designers and the high street alike have embraced; whether your jeans come pre-rolled or you do a DIY job, this styling hack adds a lighter, more relaxed feel to denim while helping to balance proportions. Cuffed denim puts your shoes in the spotlight – so pair them with ballet flats, sleek trainers or pointed kitten heels for the evening.
On the other end of the denim scale, dressier and tailored styles dominated the catwalk shows of Chanel, Bally, and Stella McCartney. Chanel dusted cuffs with intricate beadwork, while McCartney went all out with shimmering, co-ordinating denim sets that are ideal for making a statement at summer occasions. Answering the call for elevated denim, Bally went refined with pintuck denim that could pass for tailored trousers. Meanwhile, inky dark denim washes made a surprising appearance on the catwalks of Jil Sander, Max Mara, and Schiaparelli, giving denim a more formal edge for summer.
Bringing a more couture sensibility to denim, Irish designer Helen Cody recently launched HC Denim. This new sub-brand offers handcrafted, made-to-measure denim pieces reflecting her decades of expertise in bespoke design. Each piece is crafted from luxury deadstock denim, and the initial capsule collection features tailored jeans, denim dresses, and corset jackets. “Denim is such a democratic fabric, but we are treating it like couture – everything is hand-cut, tailored, and crafted in-studio,” says Cody.
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Another handcrafted offering is Dublin-based Native Denims, a denim atelier that creates bespoke, made-to-measure jeans. They’re expanding their denim roster with more womenswear later this year, including barrel-shaped jeans and waistcoats.
If you prefer to keep it on the light spectrum, cream, ecru, and chalky whites were the mainstay denim hues at Chloe and Isabel Marant. These shades are a perennial summer trend, but for 2025, the key to making it look contemporary lies in the cut – try barrel, wide, or straight-leg styles. Styling-wise, go tonal. Mix and match various neutral shades of ivory, cream, and stone for a fresh summer look.
Another summer denim classic is the cut-off short, but for 2025, they’ve gone grown-up. Enter the jort – the jean short, or bermuda short. Longer in length, typically sitting just above the knee, they are a dressier, tailored version of the casual cut-off. Enhance the tailored style of the shorts by pairing them with a shirting or an oversized blazer. When it comes to footwear, try ballet flats, pointed courts, or slingback kitten heels for added elevation.
