The hardest working look in fashion

Since the advent of denim – as workwear and then, thanks to Levi Strauss, as the item every James Dean wannabe just had to own – we have seen more iterations of the hardworking cotton-blend fabric than we could count, and this season is no different.

From playsuits to boiler suits and all that lies in between – namely dresses, jumpsuits and short-shorts – there really are no limits when it comes to when and where denim can be worn. Although, for the Irish woman, there are still big no-nos: nobody in their right Irish mind would wear denim to a wedding, although it’s safe to say the same can’t be said for our London-based cousins, so perhaps a change is coming down the line in black-tie terms, too.

For the moment, stick to denim in slightly less formal circumstances: for lunch with the girls, East’s denim dress is a sure winner; for a date, try a dress from Mary Katrantzou’s collaboration with cult jeans label, Current/Elliott. For casual Friday in the office, Dorothy Perkins’s white jeans could do the job; and Asos’s culottes are definitely Saturday-shopping appropriate.

So what’s worth paying attention to? Acid-wash and distressed jeans are out, while true blue is in. As with so much else, casual insouciance is key – and if you must double up on denim, do so with a cheeky smile and a bright pink lip. There’s nothing worse than taking oneself seriously while dressed like a Garth Brooks groupie.