I Used to Be Intimidated by Denim—Now It’s the Backbone of My Wardrobe

Once upon a time, I was afraid of denim. Truly. I remember crying before a denim fitting when I was a junior editor at a women’s magazine—an experience that, at the time, felt only slightly less intimidating than public speaking. I was tall—much taller than everyone else in the office—and I was convinced denim simply didn’t “fit” me. Not literally, not aesthetically, not spiritually. The inseams were too short, the silhouettes felt off, and somewhere along the way I’d decided jeans were a category that worked for other people.

I was wrong.

One of the senior editors—clearly wiser and far less dramatic than I—pulled a few pairs for a denim shoot and insisted I try them. And suddenly, there they were: jeans that were actually long enough. Jeans that sat properly at my waist. Jeans that, dare I say, looked good. It was a small fashion revelation, the kind that quietly rewires your relationship with your closet. I walked into that fitting thinking denim wasn’t for me and walked out wondering how I’d lived without it.

Fast forward more than a decade and denim has only gotten better. The options—especially on the premium side—have expanded in all the ways that matter: thoughtful cuts, beautiful washes, and, most importantly for the vertically inclined among us, proper long inseams. Denim has finally caught up with the idea that bodies come in different proportions, which feels both revolutionary and long overdue.

These days, I’m unapologetically a denim girl. I can’t imagine my wardrobe without it. I’m partial to a Canadian tuxedo, high-waisted silhouettes, flare bottoms, and the kind of stiff denim weight that actually holds its shape. There’s something reassuringly unfussy about it: denim that feels intentional but never overworked.

Below are some of my favorite denim pieces to mix and match or wear together. Most of them lean casual, comfortable, and easy, the kind of pieces you reach for without thinking. But denim also has a talent: with the right heels, a sharper jacket, or a slightly elevated top, it can turn unexpectedly polished. Which, in my experience, is exactly the kind of versatility worth crying over—though thankfully I no longer have to.

Brooke Ely Danielson styles denim on denim with a beige peacoat