I Just Got Back from Paris Fashion Week—These 5 Denim Trends Are Bound to Show Up in London Next
Parisians know how to dress up denim, and these trends come with a little extra je ne sais quoi.
It's been a particularly busy fashion month, and whether reporting live from the front row at London Fashion Week or celeb-spotting in New York, one thing I always make time for, whatever the city, is to note the street-style trends. Designers may set the tone for what we're going to wear next season, but the crowds outside the shows are a strong indicator of what's resonating now. One standout this season? Just how much stylish Parisians love denim.
If you thought the typical French wardrobe was still bouclé jackets, cigarette trousers and ballet pumps, I can assure you that times have drastically changed. People in the French capital love experimenting with shape, colour and texture, and whilst the French will always be known for their appreciation of the classics, modern dressers are also incorporating playful pieces and fun accessories into their looks, refreshing what we consider to be the archetypal French "uniform".
This March, Paris was full of spring-ready outfits built around denim staples. Yes, there were jeans and blouses, jeans and tees, jeans and jackets, jeans and… well, just about anything, but there were also plenty of denim jackets and skirts, too. For too long, humble denim has been relegated to casual territory, but Parisians know how to style it up to its full potential.
Curious as to how you can make denim feel fresh in 2026? Keep scrolling to see the five denim trends that have been doing the rounds this PFW for some inspiration. After all, it's one of the fashion capitals of the world for very good reason.
1. Ultra-Distressed Jeans
Style Notes: Parisians might have a reputation for being polished, but that's not going to stop them from getting into a down-and-dirty denim trend like roughed-up, distressed jeans. If they look like they've been slept in, rolled around in and worn day in and day out for years, they get the cool-girl stamp of approval. We called it first, and the rise of the "messy girl" aesthetic is a rally against the quiet-luxury, clean-girl look that has dominated fashion for the past couple of years. This season, it pays to look like you haven't tried too hard, so don't.
Shop Distressed Jeans:
Just enough "worn-in" detailing to look cool without being scruffy.
Slouchy fit? Check. Worn-through patches? Check. Scuffed and ripped? Check, and check again.
The very nature of this bleached-out grey wash stops these from looking too pristine.
Faded, whiskered and creased (intentionally) throughout.
A subtle nod to the trend for those not wanting to go the full hog.
2. White Jeans
Style Notes: Yes, you can wear cream, ecru and white trousers outside of summer, and at Paris Fashion Week, attendees were wearing white washes of denim with warmer layers like funnel-neck jackets and mohair cardigans over tanks and tees. There's something surprisingly luxe about cream denim in looser, relaxed fits, but especially when accessorised with heels and chic mini bags.
Shop Cream Jeans:
The best-selling shape also comes in white.
This whole look could have stepped straight off the streets of Paris.
The crop is so perfect for showing off your shoes.
Everlane knows how to execute basics with superior quality.
A perfect mid-rise straight-leg cut.
3. Quirky Details
Style Notes: With so many pairs of straight-legged indigo and true-blue jeans on the market, Parisians are looking for a point of difference that makes their denim stand out. Little touches like studs, embroidery, reworked waistbands, contrast stitching and raw hems help turn simple jeans into a talking point, and follow the lead of designers like Coperni, Acne and Diesel, who are rewriting the denim rulebook in the 2020s.
Shop Detail Jeans:
These have real Isabel Marant energy.
E.L.V is known for its reworked and repurposed denim.
Yes and yes to this boho detail.
These would look so good with a puff-sleeve blouse and sandals.
Not a standard waistband or zip in sight.
4. Double Denim
Style Notes: Perhaps it's time to rebrand the "Texan tuxedo" as the "French fancy", because whilst Americans have moved away from double denim, Europeans are leaning into it. Unlike the original slim fit of the '80s and '90s, this time around, we're doing double denim supersized. Baggy jeans stuffed into boots, balloon jackets tucked into waistbands: the bigger the better for Parisians who are adopting this easy outfit combo for a dose of off-duty cool. Sorry, skinnies, this look is all about roomy denim that prioritises comfort.
Shop Double Denim:
I love this pared-back take on the denim jacket.
Don't forget the matching jeans.
Size up for a looser fit.
This wash is so luxe.
5. Long Denim Skirts
Style Notes: I would be remiss not to include skirts on a list of the best denim trends to come out of Paris this season. Often falling well below jeans, jackets and shorts in the best-denim rankings, the overlooked denim skirt is just as versatile as its cousins, but with a little more spring/summer appeal (if you ask this editor). On days when clingy jeans are just too much, long denim skirts strike the perfect balance between coverage and airy freedom, and the French prefer theirs in mid-blue washes that go with everything from blouses to bomber jackets.
Shop Denim Skirts:
The perfect length to wear with an elegant low heel.
The dream denim midi.
I'd wear this through autumn/winter too, with knee-high boots.
A longer maxi works so well with flat sandals.
All the strategically placed pleats give this full body and shape.
