23 of the Most Iconic Denim Looks We're Still Copying Today
We’ve declared this week Denim Week on Who What Wear UK. For the next seven days, we’ll be equipping you with all the info and inspo you need to hunt out your next pair of jeans.
While jeans have been around for nearly 150 years, it wasn't until James Dean wore a pair in Rebel Without a Cause that the trousers became a bona fide fashion item. Since then, plenty of stars have made jeans so iconic, from Elvis to Kate Moss—jeans are clearly one of the most popular items of clothing in our wardrobes to date. To remind you just how important they are, we've got a list of the ultimate denim icons of all time.
In 1955, James Dean starred in Rebel Without a Cause. He played troubled youth Jim Stark. His wardrobe of a T-shirt, a red Harrington jacket, and blue jeans defined the teenager.
And thus the classic white shirt–and-jeans combo was born.
No, we're still not over their breakup, especially as we've stopped seeing matchy-matchy looks like this on the red carpet.
Baggy denim never looked so good as it did on Destiny's Child (with the exception of All Saints, of course).
The Boss is known for a) great tunes and b) double denim.
The cropped, high-waisted jeans on Brigitte Bardot made curvy women everywhere rejoice.
Alexa's style might consist of a lot of dresses, but next to that, she's rarely seen without wearing a pair of trusty blues.
Surely the chicest way to wear denim?
Winona's '90s style is exactly what we'd love to be wearing right now, including these high-waisted jeans.
Without Kurt, we wouldn't have a love of patchwork, ripped and generally grunge vibes with our jeans.
Ugg boots and jeans = exactly what we were into in the early to mid '00s, and it was all down to one woman: Sienna Miller.
The original designer cowboy, Ralph Lauren, made it chic to wear ranch-style boots with double denim.
Of course we had to include Jane Birkin. Whether it was with a pair of flats, a simple tee or a basket bag, Jane's well-worn jeans look is one we're still trying to copy.
Pictured: Two reasons you always need stone-washed denim and a sleeveless tee handy in your wardrobe.
TLC made frayed, ripped denim look cool.
Back when he wasn't a household name or even a pinup (hard to imagine, we know), Brad Pitt still looked incredible in a pair of blue jeans.
The woman who's responsible for our love of skinny jeans. Bow down to Kate Moss.
Proof that jeans, a nice top and heels is totally rock 'n' roll.
Princess Diana's royal outfits weren't just eye-catching on the red carpet—she also knew how to dress down in a cooler way than any other royal before her. Case in point: these jeans, these cowboy boots, that blazer and that baseball cap.
In the early seasons of Friends, before Rachel worked for Ralph Lauren, there was some great denim action going on.
In one of the most iconic scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Golightly (played by Audrey Hepburn) wears a pair of jeans while singing "Moon River." It's one of the only times we get to see her not dressed up.
Who knew a white vest and a high-waisted pair of jeans could look this good?
We still can't get rid of our bell-bottoms thanks to Farah Fawcett.