Dark Denim Fall Outfit

This autumn has been one of the laziest in terms of styling for me. I found a recipe for a look that I liked and it became a uniform; switching in and out different elements but maintaining the essence. That look was this dark denim fall outfit. A pair of hand-me-down Levi’s and a thrifted long denim coat paired together with various tops and accessories. I’m here to tell you, it’s okay to be tired and formulaic with an outfit that works – especially if it’s comfortable.

While going on long walks this past summer, I discovered this wall of virginia creeper and I KNEW it would be spectacularly red come autumn.  So what better place to capture my most beloved fall outfit than in this perfect autumnal little corner of the river valley?  

Styling Dark Denim

Never will I tire of the Canadian Tuxedo. It’s one of the top ways I like to wear denim and being from Alberta, it fits right in. Pairing my thrifted long denim jacket with a pair of wide leg faded Levi’s has been my go-to as of late. Comfortable yet put together. The nice part about slightly wider legged jeans is that they can accommodate a chunky boot while keeping the overall outfit looking proportionate. A skinny jean with a chunky boot has the tendency to veer on the side of cartoonish, not that that’s a bad thing! I do appreciate that style as well.

Thrifted Dark Denim Jacket

I wish I could take credit for this long denim jacket, but my dad actually found it while patiently waiting while my mom was thrifting. The number of fantastic coats I’ve procured via thrifting in Arizona statistically feels wrong. Is it because people go there and discard their unneeded layers? I’ll never know. I’ve worn this long denim jacket a number of times including this style editorial in Picacho Park. In addition to this wonderful score, I also got a tapestry coat that I lovingly refer to as my “cult leader coat” – this can be seen on my post about the Casa Grande Domes.

DARK DENIM OUTFIT FORMULA

The formula is simple: two basic pieces combined with interchangeable parts. As per my suggestions in the previous posts on how to make an all black outfit pop, I like to pair the muted palette with literal pops of colour. In this iteration, I’ve added a mix of subdued and bright accessories. My Bailey’s of Hollywood hat and Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses maintain the darkness status quo. In contrast to that, the yellow purse and purple soled ALDO boots correlate with the shades in my vintage Holt’s striped shirt. 

In other iterations of this outfit, I simply wore my beloved Vans Sk8-hi runners with a black mock neck long sleeve top. Barbie strived for an outfit to dress up or down and I have found that for myself. Because the length of the coat isn’t a typical denim jacket length, it elevates it beyond the uber casual classic trucker jacket. (See my styling of a black trucker jacket outfit or a light denim trucker outfit).

COLOUR BALANCE

The pops of colour are fairly balanced throughout the entire look. Though in retrospect, I should have worn a brighter lipstick or a pair of sunglasses with a coloured frame to be truly balanced. Regardless, the overall outfit works.

YELLOW LEATHER PURSE

I’ve had this yellow purse for decades now and it continues to be a goat of an accessory. I recently paired it with a silver jacket but it truly is so versatile. Originally, I remembering being hesitant getting it because yellow was a colour I avoided. I was convinced it made my then white blonde hair appear less platinum and more yellow. A dread that carried on long after I had ceased bleaching the shit out of my hair. Glad to report I’m recovering from both the skin damage due to bleaching along with my negative views of the colour yellow.

Outfit details

HAT – Bailey’s of Hollywood – c/o
SUNGLASSES – Yves Saint Laurent (I refused to call it “Saint Laurent”)
TOP – Thrifted Holt Renfrew brand
JACKET – Thrifted denim jacket
BAG – Yellow leather bag purchased at Winner’s
DENIM – Levi’s jeans from a friend
SHOES – ALDO boots – c/o

Dark Denim Fall Outfit

If a dark denim fall outfit isn’t casual enough, might I suggest checking out my Double Denim Day outfit post featuring a TRUE Canadian Tuxedo with a twist. In the meantime, I’ll be wearing this exact outfit with the addition of a few layers now that winter has arrived for me.

photographs – jesse sand + sandy joe karpetz