Distressed Denim: Professional
There's truly nothing better than a single item of clothing that can be used to dress up an outfit or make an outfit extremely casual. I'm talking about my favorite year-round staple: distressed denim.
When I purchased my first pair of distressed jeans a few years back I was convinced the only way I could truly get away with wearing these pants was if the outfit itself was weekend-casual. It wasn't until this last year I started taking the risk to dress up my denim. In this latest collaboration with KNDM Co., I am showcasing how to wear distressed denim three-ways: professional, weekend casual and date night.
This first denim look is highlighting my favorite way to experiment with distressed jeans and that is making denim appropriate for work / professional occasions. I swear by these American Eagle medium-wash jeans, they have just the right amount of distress but aren't completely covered in holes. My preference for distressed pants is minimal, preferably only a few holes near the knees. With this pair, I actually don't mind the additional rips and holes up the legs since the holes are still fairly small in size.
To dress my look up, I'm wearing my favorite black studded Halogen heels from Nordstrom. These heels are extremely comfortable and are a good height; not to mention, they go with everything while adding a little extra sass to an outfit with the studs. My Gibson front-zip blazer from Nordstrom is what really kicks this outfit up a notch and is truly what deems this look as appropriate for a work/professional setting. I love the subtle detailing of this blazer with the front zipper and subtly padded shoulders; it goes with everything and is a great mix and match piece! I decided to keep my undershirt simple with a lengthy black scoop-neck and scooped side detailing from Nordstrom's Brass Plum that ties in nicely with my black heels and white blazer. As much as I struggle with incorporating pops of color in my outfit, my color-blocked cross-body purse by French Connection from the Nordstrom Rack does the trick. I love the versatility of this bag as you can rock the bold red or a muted/pastel purple depending on your look and mood. I am showing off the bold red for this styled look as it creates nice contrast with the rest of my outfit.
My biggest rule of thumb when wearing distressed denim? Don't let it scare you. Be bold when you wear it, rock it when you think you can't -- there's truly no better feeling than getting away with wearing your favorite "ripped pair of jeans."
*Click the images to enlarge. If you repost these photos please provide proper credit to West Coast Aesthetic and KNDM Co., thank you! xo
