Katie Holmes is trying to bring back double denim - here's how she's making it look good

It’s official: Katie Holmes can do no wrong in the eyes of fashion. Outfit case in point: Her recent Canadian tuxedo look.

Pairing denim with denim is typically seen as a fashion faux pas, with images of Britney Spears in that denim corset and maxi skirt springing to mind first, which is why many steer clear. Holmes, with her enviable knack for making even the most casual looks appear chic and pulled-together, has managed to put denim duos firmly on our radar for 2021 - the actress successfully rewrote the denim style script while out and about in New York this week with her boyfriend, Emilio Vitolo Jr.

She’s been sporting an array of denim-on-denim looks throughout lockdown, so what did she do differently this time? Let’s dissect the off-duty outfit.

For starters, in her ongoing quest to deem double denim fashionable, she's perfected how exactly to do it which is handy for the rest of us.

In November, she tucked a bleach wash denim shirt into coordinating slim leg jeans, pairing them with lemon Bottega Veneta mules and a cognac-hued slouchy tote for a slightly glam vibe. More recently, she opted for all-white denim, wearing a shacket with matchy boyfriend jeans, and pairing with a dramatic black leather trench coat. For her latest denim look, she chose colourful trainers, which are typically not in her minimal style remit.

We can deduce then that it seems her trick for styling double denim and our main takeaway is to opt for unconventional pairings to modernise it. Think a leather blazer over a denim shirt with matching jeans and ballet pumps, or heeled leather boots with loose-fit jeans, a striped shirt and a denim blazer.

The silhouette is just as important. Holmes made the case for the slim-fit version of this look late last year, then dabbled in a slightly looser fit in the cream denim look. This latest oversized version is much more modern, effortless and of-the-moment, nicely setting all dodgy skin-tight 90s comparisons aside and paving the way for The New Double Denim.

We’ve not so much as glanced in the direction of our denim drawer since lockdown began, but Holmes has had us googling ‘denim shackets’ for the past few days, with plans to pair them with boyfriend jeans immediately. Anyone else having a cashmere bradigan-gate déjà vu?

Denim pairings to try now

The shirt + skirt

Midi skirt, £80, Levi’s + denim shirt, £55, & Other Stories

The shacket + jeans

Chore jacket, £84, Everlane + Mom jeans, £19.99, H&M

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