Denim: How To Make Spring's Hottest Trend Office-Appropriate

Forbes

30-04-2025

Rihanna, April 21, 2025 at Giorgio Baldi
'Double denim is back—and chicer than ever,' Harper's Bazaar recently declared. Rihanna proved the point last week, stepping out in head-to-toe denim: dark jeans, a denim jacket and a matching Dior handbag. Her look signaled what fashion insiders already know—denim is no longer just for weekends.
That shift comes at a pivotal time. With companies like JPMorgan Chase and Amazon enforcing full-time office returns, and others like Meta and Salesforce adopting hybrid models, professionals are once again dressing for the office. For many, that means moving beyond the sweats and leggings of remote work—and rethinking their work wardrobe.
The good news is that denim—once dismissed as too casual for many office settings—is getting a workplace-friendly upgrade.
"People always think of jeans as casual,' celebrity stylist Dani Michelle shared, 'but you can really dress them up.' And fortunately for us, the Spring/Summer 2025 runway collections offered a clear roadmap for doing just that. Designers like Cinq à Sept, Kobi Halperin and L'Agence showcased denim dresses, matching pants suits and deconstructed denim separates that seamlessly blend trend and professionalism.
Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 looks from l-R: Cinq à Sept, Kobi Halperin, L'Agence
To embrace denim in the office, think beyond the basics. Here are a few options if your office dress code leans business casual or creative:
Retailers across all price points are embracing the 'denim-in-the-workplace' trend, offering office-appropriate pieces for every budget. For instance, Prada's classic denim shirtdress ($1,850) offers an investment option, while American Eagle Outfitters offers a version for under $30. For a great denim blazer, choices range from Alice + Olivia's Lana jacket ($595) to Amazon's popular $46 alternative. Denim footwear is also trending: L'Agence's Gilliane denim pumps ($325) or Zara's denim ballet flats (under $50) both offer stylish options.
If your office policy permits jeans, there are ways to ensure your denim choices align with your office culture. Consider the following:
From L:R; Daisy Edgar-Jones, Katie Holmes, Zoe Saldaña, Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid
As more professionals return to office life, dressing for work is once again part of the daily routine. Fortunately, the evolution of denim means that comfort and professionalism no longer have to be at odds—and that denim can absolutely be part of a sophisticated work wardrobe.