Fashion Icons Redefining Denim in 2025

Denim reclaimed its place in the zeitgeist in 2025. From global campaigns to stage-worthy looks, it was a year when celebrities, influencers and emerging style icons made headlines not just for their work, but for the jeans they chose to wear.

The Denim Hot List recognizes the movers, shakers and boundary-pushers who shaped the conversation. SJ Denim highlights the figures whose bold fashion choices, inspiring personal style and consistent influence transformed denim from an everyday staple into a cultural marker of identity and effortless cool.

The SJ Denim editors selected them for their influence on current trends — and for where denim is headed next. Though some are the faces of campaigns, their influence on the category runs far deeper than advertising. While Sydney Sweeney, for example, generated significant buzz with her American Eagle campaign, she was not included. While the ads sparked controversy and conversation, the overall affect on style and trends was muted.

1.

Fashion’s Muse: Mahmood

The Italian star’s avant-garde take on denim is exactly why he sits at the top of this year’s trendsetter list.

Making music may be his day job, but setting trends has become Mahmood’s unofficial side hustle.

While the Italian singer slightly stepped back from the spotlight this year — recovering from the emotional intensity of his third studio album, “Nei Letti Degli Altri” ( “In Other People’s Beds”) — the trend driver didn’t take a break from delivering jaw-dropping, gender-blurring looks.

This year, oversize denim anchored his wardrobe, surfacing in some of his most memorable looks. One moment, he was strolling along the beach in oversize jorts and a leather jacket punctuated by a hyper-realistic tiger-head backpack; another, he paired slouchy, light-wash jeans with a deconstructed, lace-up top featuring a dramatic keyhole cutout — a silhouette that pushed his gender-blurring aesthetic even further. And on more than a few occasions, he customized his denim himself, layering brooches and charm-like accessories around his waist for an avant-garde-like finish.

For red carpets, however, Mahmood dialed things in. At Prada’s runway show, he opted for a snugger pair of jeans styled with a flannel — still effortless, but with a sharper, more tailored edge.

Cementing his status as a formidable fashion force, the influential artist walked the runway for Yohji Yamamoto’s fall 2025 menswear show in Paris, appearing in a sculptural layered look including a long, ivory coat worn over a structured black jacket and billowing cream trousers tucked into heavy black boots.

Taking his relationship with designers to the next level, he followed the runway with a rare red carpet appearance at The Fashion Awards alongside designer Willy Chavarria earlier this month. On paper, it was one of his more pared-back looks — an oversize black coat worn with nothing underneath, giving a sensual, almost monastic edge, paired with slouchy black trousers. But the styling is what pushed it over the top. Mahmood debuted a new hairstyle, far removed from his usual clean-cut look, transforming the outfit from simple to striking.

Adding to an already impressive style résumé, he also landed a major campaign with European fashion giant Zalando for its spring 2025, starring alongside “Sex and the City” actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

2

Y2K Fever Dream: Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson’s latest era is powered by Y2K-infused denim, charms and sequins.

Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson has the world in a trance.

Though Larsson first broke out in 2013 with her debut EP, “Introducing,” it was this year that the tastemaker fully seized the zeitgeist, propelled by the runaway success of her infectious single “Midnight Sun.”

The track became a staple of her opening set on Tate McRae’s sold-out “Miss Possessive Tour,” where Larsson leaned heavily into Y2K-inspired looks — most often built around a chic pair of micro denim shorts. But instead of treating denim as a simple base, she ignited a full-blown craving for jean accessories, adorning her denim and sequin shorts with an explosion of trinkets and charms that quickly became a signature.

Larsson carried the aesthetic offstage, too. She was spotted hiking in acid-wash purple jeans with a matching bra top and a charm-laden chain belt. And to promote her new album, she doubled down on the nostalgic energy, dancing in low-rise True Religion jeans with a chain draped across her hip, cementing her status as one of the most influential forces behind denim’s latest Y2K resurgence.

3

The Culture Curator: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s “Cowboy Carter” era puts denim back in the cultural spotlight.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter brought a jolt of excitement to the denim industry in 2025 through music, collaborations, stage costumes and one of Levi’s largest global campaigns to date.

Dedicated to honoring her Texan roots, the 35-time Grammy Award–winning artist embraced custom Western denim — and trompe-loeil denim — throughout her nine-city “Cowboy Carter” tour, wearing looks crafted by Diesel, Dsquared2, Levi’s, Roberto Cavalli, Telfar and more. The Beyhive rose to the occasion as well, showing up in bootcut jeans, denim vests, Western shirts and personalized pieces that matched the tour’s boundary-pushing spirit.

For Levi’s, the four-chapter “Reiimagine” campaign featuring the “Levii’s Jeans” singer became a platform to reintroduce its signature products to younger audiences while revitalizing the brand’s iconic advertising through the vision of filmmaker Melina Matsoukas. “I am honored to work with Levi’s to create quintessential American iconography,” Knowles-Carter said. “Denim on denim has often been seen through a male lens, so this reimagining campaign, which celebrates the iconic female perspective, is important to me. I look forward to exploring innovative ways for our visions to align in empowering women and honoring their strength.”

Beyond the commercials, the collaboration introduced a denim capsule collection inspired by Knowles-Carter’s denim-on-denim looks, along with a series of reimagined logo ringer T-shirts. The moment positioned Levi’s to own the head-to-toe denim lifestyle space in 2025, expanding further into denim skirts, dresses, tops and jumpsuits.

“Levi’s isn’t a legacy brand it’s a brand with an incredible legacy that has consistently remained at the center of culture,” said Kenny Mitchell, global chief marketing officer of the Levi’s brand at Levi Strauss & Co. “Through Reiimagine and our partnership with Beyoncé, one of the most influential artists of our time, we’re building on decades of classic Levi’s iconography and celebrating what it means to lead with intent and confidence.”

The campaign was a focal point in several of the company’s earnings calls this year, during which Michelle Gass, Levi Strauss & Co. president and CEO, noted Knowles-Carter’s cultural impact.

“One of the things that really is significant about the Levi’s brand, and we place a lot of emphasis and investment in making sure that Levi’s brand remains in the center of culture. And I don’t think there’s any better evidence or proof point than having someone like Beyoncé, who is a culture shaper to actually name a song after us,” Gass said.

4

Denim’s Leading Cowgirl: Lainey Wilson

Wrangler collaborator Lainey Wilson pushes the boundaries of Western denim.

Fashion can’t keep up with country music star Lainey Wilson.

With deep roots in Western culture, it’s no surprise that the ACM-, CMA- and Grammy Award-winning musician has a wardrobe anchored in denim. What is surprising, though, is the speed at which she’s gone from wearing the category to shaping it — largely through her ongoing partnership with Wrangler.

Wrangler first teamed with Wilson in 2023, tapping her for a fall campaign. The collaboration quickly evolved into codesigned collections, including styles for kids. By August of this year, the brand unveiled the fourth installment of the ever-growing partnership. Each drop pulls directly from Wilson’s signature aesthetic: a fusion of vintage Western references, curve-accentuating flare and bell-bottom silhouettes and modern glam.

The Wrangler x Lainey Wilson collections have exceeded expectations, delivering strong global sell-through and exceptional engagement across digital and retail channels. Beyond performance, Holly Wheeler, Kontoor Brands vice president of global brand marketing, said Wilson has helped “reinforce Wrangler’s place at the center of culture, proving that Western wear can be both iconic and unmistakably current.”

“Lainey embodies the spirit of modern Western culture in a way that feels both deeply authentic and completely of-the-moment,” Wheeler told SJ Denim. “The collaboration has been a driver of Wrangler’s strategic initiative around female growth and has introduced the brand to her rapidly expanding fan base — from country music loyalists to fashion-forward consumers and those discovering Western style for the first time.”

This year, the Kontoor Brands-owned heritage label even signed on as the exclusive apparel sponsor for Wilson’s “Whirlwind World” tour, where Wrangler hosted on-site activations, photo ops, giveaways and retail pop-ups.

Wilson’s denim style shines on the road. Crystal-embellished three-piece suits, studded jeans, metallic coated flares and printed jumpsuits are paired with chain belts and oversize belt buckles.

“Lainey’s style is unmistakable — bold, confident and rooted in a real sense of identity. She blends classic Western elements with a contemporary, fashion-forward edge, making the look both aspirational and accessible. Consumers connect with her authenticity and the way she uses style as self-expression. She isn’t following trends; she’s shaping them, which is why audiences across genres and geographies are embracing her influence,” Wheeler added.

5

Denim’s Leading Man: Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet turns denim fashion into pop culture moments.

From wearing a Haider Ackermann halter top at the Venice Film Festival to walking the Oscar’s red carpet in a butter yellow tuxedo, actor Timothée Chalamet has built a reputation on fearless style. But even devoted followers of his fashion evolution couldn’t have predicted his latest twist: a full-blown embrace of True Religion, which he debuted this year across a string of high-profile appearances for his Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.”

While True Religion has been steadily working to reintroduce its signature Y2K aesthetic — think statement stitching, low-slung fits and nostalgic collaborations — Chalamet has given that effort an unexpected jolt of cultural relevance. By choosing the brand’s velvet denim coordinates for a film premiere, he’s reframed its early 2000s identity into a vibe that feels sharp and modern.

Tina Blake, True Religion’s SVP design and brand image, said that having trendsetters like Chalamet wearing True Religion means the brand is doing something right. “As a brand, we love to stay ahead of the trends, and when someone as fashion forward as Timothée wears pieces from our collections, it’s validation that we are hitting the right marks,” she told SJ Denim.

Chalamet did the same for Wrangler this year, wearing the heritage brand’s black denim jacket and Western shirt to a film festival. He also wore the first custom men’s look made by the Zac Posen-led GapStudio — a duchess satin Icon jacket and loose jeans — to 97th annual Academy Awards nominee dinner.

Brands are feeling the impact of Chalamet’s fashion influence. According to Blake, buzz around True Religion surged after his appearances in the label. “There has been a lot of positive coverage, from Vogue to Hypebeast, Esquire and more, which is drawing global attention and helping the brand reach new audiences,” she said.

6

The Denim ‘Rush’: Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan has turns laid-back denim into his signature uniform.

It’s Troye Sivan’s world, and everyone else is simply living in it.

Although the Australian heartthrob spent most of 2025 offstage — and much of it promoting his brand, TSU Lange Yor — his street style continued to solidify his status as a fashion trendsetter.

This year, Sivan embraced a laid-back denim uniform, frequently pairing baggy jeans — a silhouette he unintentionally cemented as a signature through last year’s Gap campaign — with an oversize shirt.

Even during rare returns to the stage — such as his surprise appearance at Dua Lipa’s Melbourne show in March — Sivan kept the denim theme going, wearing sweat-like gray jeans with a matching hoodie.

The denim streak extended into his birthday celebrations as well. While performing alongside longtime friend Charli XCX at 2025 Primavera Sound Barcelona, the pop star wore a custom Levi’s look designed for the festival and constructed from vintage 501 jeans with repurposed leather detailing.

7

Rooted in the Classics: Christopher Nissen

Timeless denim is a uniform pop star Christopher Nissen never seems to outgrow.

For better or for worse, Christopher Nissen’s life is anything but ordinary.

In 2023, the Danish pop star stepped into the global spotlight with Netflix’s feature film “A Beautiful Life,” playing Elliott — a humble fisherman whose raw musical talent catapults him to overnight stardom — a role proved eerily parallel to his own trajectory.

Shortly after its release, the film shot to number one in 72 countries, and its title track, written and performed by Nissen, quickly surpassed 100 million streams, cementing him as a breakout voice beyond Denmark.

With that momentum, he launched an international tour in 2024, performing the movie’s soundtrack alongside fan-favorite cuts from earlier albums.

“When [I] did my first sold-out show in L.A. at the Troubadour…and the Bowery Ballroom in New York, that’s when I started realizing, like, ‘Oh, damn, we’ve been reaching a lot of people with this film, and people really connect with it,’” Nissen told SJ Denim. “I was very surprised. Surprised how it traveled, and how it just kept growing. That’s when I realized I really connected with a lot of people.”

While the idea of becoming a global pop star overnight might sound like a dream — and in many ways, it was — it also came with its own complexities.

According to the singer, the whirlwind pace, relentless travel and sudden shift in lifestyle brought challenges he’d never faced before. But the hardest part, he says, was being away from his wife and kids — something he “could’ve never prepared for, or understood how much it would hurt,” until he was living it.

“Being the father of two girls and touring so much [has] by far been the hardest thing,” he said. “The girls are [young], so you can miss out on a lot in their first years. So yeah, I was missing out on a lot. But I was also gaining a lot and building my career at the same time.”

Being a pop star and missing out on monumental life moments is no easy feat, but Nissen says it’s something he’s wished for since he was a kid — so finally getting to live it feels like a dream come true. That push and pull sits at the heart of his new documentary, “Christopher: A Beautiful Real Life,” which offers an intimate look at his rise toward global stardom as he navigates the very real challenges unfolding at home.

“When you let people in [the way I did through my documentary], you give them the opportunity to have an opinion,” he said. “This is my life — my wife, my kids, how we talk, how we communicate when we’re stressed — and I worried whether people would relate to our struggles or just write them off as trivial. But people really connected with it. At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to figure out the same work-life balance.”

Beyond showing fans a more personal side of Nissen’s life, the film also pulls them directly into the world he builds onstage — one shaped by emotion, movement and fashion.

“I’ve always been a very simple guy when it comes to fashion,” he said. “I have my few items that I really love, and denim has always been something I’ve had a real connection with. It’s one of the few things that has followed me through the years and through the different versions of myself, even musically. I grew up wearing it, I tour in it, I wear it with my girls… it just feels timeless and fits every part of my life without making it seem like I’m trying too hard.”

As he prepares for his 2026 shows — including early dates that have already sold tens of thousands of tickets — Christopher says his stage looks will continue leaning into that denim DNA. For him, it always comes down to fit and feeling; “if something looks great but doesn’t sit right, it’s out.”

“I just love that feeling of putting on the perfect pair of jeans,” he said. “The wash, the craftsmanship…when it hits, you just know. I was never the Elton John type who’d wear a big feather boa,” he added with a laugh. “I love it stupid-simple — a denim jacket, jeans and a white T-shirt. Whenever I imagine the future, there’s always a denim jacket hanging in my closet. That simple style, with the right wash and the right fit…that’s me.”

Favorite denim brand?

Christopher Nissen: Levi’s.

First denim memory?

C.N.: I skateboarded a lot as a kid and [was almost always] in Carhartt jeans.

Most-worn pair of jeans right now?

C.N.: It’s a pair of jeans from Loewe.

Vintage or new — what do you reach for more?

C.N.: Vintage.

Last clothing purchase?

C.N.: I think it’s those Loewe jeans.

Best fashion moment of 2025 so far?

C.N.: It’s actually what I wore on the cover of a Scandinavian music magazine called Gaffa — a long beige trenchcoat with jeans and a white T-shirt.

Favorite trend of 2025?

C.N.: I have a hard time believing skinny jeans are coming back, but I’m experimenting with it. My fits are getting slimmer and slimmer. I do love baggy jeans, but I’m open. I also love all the ’90s stuff that’s coming back. I’m such a ’90s kid, so seeing the ’90s return is kind of amazing.

Who or what inspires your fashion most?

C.N.: Jeremy Allen White.

8

GRWM Trailblazer: Alix Earle

Influencer Alix Earle takes a playful approach to denim fashion.

Like many women navigating denim’s ever-evolving silhouettes, Alix Earle is figuring out how to style the trend — but she’s doing it in front of millions on TikTok.

The Gen Z creator-turned-entrepreneur first rose to prominence in 2022 during her senior year at the University of Miami, known then for a wardrobe full of bikinis and going-out outfits that fit South Florida’s party culture. Since then, Earle’s style has undergone a major evolution, now featuring elevated designer pieces, thoughtfully styled looks and, more than ever, bold new takes on denim.

Her collaboration with Frame in January — a brand that has borrowed a page from Guess’ playbook by partnering with rising female talent — helped catapult skinny jeans back into the spotlight, despite her generation having relegated the style to the backs of their closets just five years ago.

Earle’s commentary in her “get ready with me” videos is relatable — she’s often candid about not knowing which shoes work with a certain pair of jeans or what top to wear with an oversize denim jacket. Baggy fits, cargo jeans and paint splattered barrel jeans are often paired with a shrunken top. The “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up is also willing to take denim risks like wearing stretch denim capri pants and bra top for day out on the Jersey shore, or a pair of Y2K-inspired low-rise bootcut jeans by True Religion for a college football game. On TikTok, Earle said the jeans made her “feel vintage.”

Denim has taken up more space in her wardrobe since her NFL boyfriend Braxton Berrios was traded to the Houston Texans in March. She wore a Jean Paul Gaultier denim set for her first visit to the city, and since opted for cutoff Levi’s shorts and cowboy boots for her game day looks.

9

Midwestern Grit: Slayyyter

Slayyyter’s raw, denim-driven aesthetic is shaping her most defining chapter yet.

This year, the hyper-pop princess — who first surfaced on SoundCloud in 2016 before breaking through with early hit singles like “Bff” and “Mine” — has been on a relentless creative streak, rolling out back-to-back infectious tracks like “Cannibalism!,” “Beat Up Chanel$” and “Crank.”

According to the singer, each song is laying groundwork for a fully realized new era, one slated to culminate in a larger release next year.

“I definitely have a larger project/album planned for next year, I am just taking my time with the roll out,” Slayyyter told SJ Denim. “Everything moves so damn fast now…but I’m taking a [more meticulous approach] and having a ton of fun with putting things out this way.”

Though the St. Louis–born performer centers music above all else, her fashion footprint has expanded just as quickly as her musical career. That growth is especially clear in her latest visuals, each arriving with a sharply defined aesthetic code — campy, nostalgic and abrasive in the best way possible — with denim anchoring many of the looks.

Take, for example, the punk-slashed jorts in “Beat Up Chanel$” or the shredded, Americana-leaning silhouettes in “Crank,” helping crystallize the character she’s building.

“I think denim is [undeniably] classic, [so], with this album I wanted to paint a self-portrait of a Midwestern American girl…and blue jeans go hand in hand with that,” Slayyyter said. “[That’s why] some of my more boyish looks in ‘Beat Up Chanel$’ or ‘Crank’ utilize a lot of shredded denim.”

While this era is shaping up to be one of her most defining — both visually and sonically — Slayyyter notes that the creative approach behind it has shifted from previous projects.

Instead of building outfits purely to “serve crazy looks and fashion,” she’s treating the styling as character work, approaching the wardrobe the way a costume designer would for a film. The intent, she said, is to construct a persona rather than just assemble outfits.

“I style myself and sometimes hand-create wardrobe pieces for visuals. It’s an extremely important part of my creative process,” she said. “I have felt so inspired by many things [this go-around]. Men’s streetwear, 2014 internet fashion, the whimsy and sparkle of childhood princess costumes, ‘Uptown Girls’ and Brittany Murphy over-all. I love putting something soft and feminine with a rugged or boyish piece. Midwest-core or whatever you want to call it has also inspired me a lot.”

That mix of references fuels the visual identity she’s shaping and denim helps define the character. Though that intention is driving Slayyyter’s visuals, it’s also showing up in her day-to-day style, where the same denim-heavy, Midwest-coded, rugged-meets-glitter signatures play out off camera.

“I wear jeans and a T-shirt with some kind of leather jacket almost every day,” she said. “A lot of the pieces I have styled with during this album are from my own wardrobe…the sparkle star shoes and pink and the pumpkin trick or treat bag are all things I would wear.”

While this chapter and its fashion language are only beginning to unfold, Slayyyter says the response from fans has already been “the best part” of the journey.

“I went in to make this album saying it would be the last one I’d ever do, and the positive response to everything made from a very pure place has been nice to watch,” she said. “Overall, I feel extremely tapped in with my sound and style, and I’m excited to expand on more things an try new directions for whatever comes after.”

Favorite denim brand?

Slayyyter: Levi’s.

First denim memory?

S.: My mom putting me in mini overalls for school.

Most-worn pair of jeans right now?

S.: Levi super low, low-ride jeans.

Vintage or new — what do you reach for more?

S.: Vintage! I hate most things new out [of] the store.

Last clothing purchase?

S.: Some 1930s dancer costumes off eBay.

Best fashion moment of 2025 so far?

S.: Me wearing mud boots.

Favorite trend of 2025?

S.: I don’t like trends.

Who or what inspires your fashion most?

S.: Brittany Murphy, the Midwest, princess costumes, rhinestones and whimsy.

10

Pop Star Treatment: Addison Rae

Addison Rae makes a case for throwback denim.

One-part Y2K and one-part coquette, pop star Addison Rae has established a unique personal style based on lingerie as outerwear, slogan T-shirts and loungewear that nods to her dancing roots.

When she wears denim, she goes for bold items like a vintage Tony Alamo New York denim jacket, shrunken shortalls, knit indigo pieces by Knorts and denim booty shorts by August Barron. The “Diet Pepsi” singer is also known for adding feminine accoutrements to jeans, from showgirl-worthy rhinestone belts and to simple satin ribbons around her waist.

In August, Lucky Brand unveiled the Addison Ultra Low Flare, a jean codesigned by Rae that captures the essence of pop girlies past and present. The 100 percent cotton, hip-hugging jean is fitted from hip to knee and has a 2000s flare leg opening and comes in two custom washes — the dark wash Hidden and light wash Bare.

“Addison” decorates the jean’s limited-edition back patch, while the fly sees the return of the brand’s vintage “Lucky You” label.

“This was a truly organic and authentic partnership. Addison was already a fan of the brand and spotted wearing Lucky,” said Jimmy Carter, senior vice president, merchandising at Lucky Brand. “She reached out to us about a particular style from our archives and that’s how the conversation developed. Partnering with her to design and launch her own jean style flowed naturally as she shared with us her inspirations including what makes her feel Lucky. She was very hands on with the jeans as well as the marketing.”

The first three deliveries of the jean sold out and there are no signs of slowing down. Carter added that the style has performed well on the brand’s site, in its stores and for its wholesale partners.

“Addison embodies what we aim to achieve at Lucky Brand in our denim assortments; she’s fashion forward, innovative and playful in her approach to style,” he said. “It’s been great seeing current and new customers discovering Lucky through the partnership; purchasing and styling the jean their way.”

11

Best in Cass: Cass DiMicco

For Aureum founder Cass DiMicco, denim becomes a backdrop for the statement-making accessories she loves.

Cass DiMicco has truly mastered the art of accessorizing, often using denim as her blank canvas.

A T-shirt, loose-fitting jeans and a statement belt is the go-to uniform for the Miami-based cofounder of Aureum, the jewelry and Italian leather accessories brand known for simplistic designs and luxury-quality materials. The uniform suits Florida’s casual and laidback attitude not to mention her work-from-home lifestyle.

“I worked corporate jobs before this and we weren’t allowed to wear jeans, but now denim is what I reach for the most,” DiMicco said.

DiMicco’s work is increasingly taking out of her abode, but denim continues to follow. This year, the designer partnered with Chelsea Parke Kramer, a fellow Miami entrepreneur and founder of Parke, the women’s denim-focused lifestyle brand. The duo launched the Parke x Aureum collection in April, a 10-piece capsule wardrobe of timeless essentials like premium sweats, basic T-shirts and tanks, sculptural stud earrings, a leather belt and oversize denim.

The collaboration gave DiMicco the chance to design the denim pieces she’s always envisioned — from a refined shacket and versatile jean shorts suited for both the beach and the city, to high-waisted, wide-leg jeans she describes as “elevated sweats.”

“I knew exactly what type of silhouettes I wanted,” she said.

Silhouette and color are the qualities DiMicco prioritizes most when shopping for denim. She favors simple, easy-fitting jeans in cream or off-white, though she also gravitates to deep indigo and black washes. These hues work seamlessly into her year-round wardrobe, she said, providing a clean, chic foundation for the bolder accessories she loves.

“I do wish I could find more interesting neutral colors. A lot of brands offer stark white, but I’ve been on the hunt for colors like brown, tan and dark khaki. I’ve lived through a decedent amount of trend cycles, and I still just prefer simple uncomplicated denim,” she said.

The collection is available for purchase on both websites with prices ranging from $45 to $200. — Chelsea Parke and Cass DiMicco

DiMicco is also venturing to Italy more frequently these days as Aureum expands its footprint in handbags. The brand introduced the Vittoria bag this year, a full-grain Italian leather top handle bag created in Florence, distinguished by minimal hardware and logos. The bag’s handle stitching is a subtle nod to the brand’s Irina earrings.

This month, the brand will launch the Cassandra clutch named after its dedicated founder. “I’ve been working on it for over a year, perfecting it,” DiMicco said.

Handbags were a natural next step for Aureum. The brand’s Italian-crafted leather belts already account for roughly 80 percent of sales, with customers appreciating the strong value for the quality offered. Expanding that same value proposition into handbags was a seamless progression.

Plus, DiMicco enjoys a good denim and leather moment. “I love the look of casual denim with dressier accessories. That balanced, effortless look is so chic,” she said.

Favorite denim brand?

Cass DiMicco: It changes all the time, but right now I really love Redone, Khaite, DL1961 and Levi’s.

First denim memory?

C.D.: Growing up, there was a store on Long Island where I would get bell-bottom jeans. My mom would bring there to shop for school.

Most-worn pair of jeans right now?

C.D.: Redone’s ’90s High Rise Loose in cream.

Vintage or new — what do you reach for more?

C.D.: New. Vintage seems more like an L.A. thing.

Last clothing purchase?

C.D.: A pair of black loose-fitting jeans from DL1961.

Best fashion moment of 2025 so far?

C.D.: Launching handbags. I’ve been a lover of designer handbags my entire life — I got it from my mom. It’s been an amazing experience going to Italy, selecting leathers and meeting the team crafting the bags.

Favorite trend of 2025?

C.D.: I’m into zebra lately. We just launched a zebra belt. I like to keep my clothes simple and have more fun with accessories.

Who or what inspires your fashion most?

C.D.: I love Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Elsa Hosk. I’m also inspired by how brands style their looks for the runway, especially YSL, The Row and Khaite.

12

First Lady of Denim: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama votes blue — jeans.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama continued to flex her ability to pull off runway-worthy denim looks in real life in 2025. Long known for championing American fashion talent, Obama has evolved her style from the colorful J.Crew knits and skirts of her early White House years to embracing core American staples like designer denim in her post–White House life.

This year, the 61-year-old podcast host and author made a strong case for statement-making denim. Metallic silver coatings, balloon-shaped fits, two-tone constructions, laser print florals and tinted washes were some of the ways Obama — and her stylist Meredith Koop — expressed her personal style through denim. An eye-catching belt often punctuated her looks, which spanned chic boho to edgy and oversize.

Double denim is a favorite styling trick. A cinched khaki denim jacket with bold gold buttons and matching maxiskirt was the ideal casual uniform for Obama’s sit down with actress Tracee Ellis Ross. For an interview with Robin Roberts on “20/20,” Obama wore a boxy jacket and cuffed, wide-leg jeans. A trio of brooches by Alexis Bittar popped against the denim set’s yellow-tinted wash. And naturally, an appearance at SXSW in Austin called for a denim tuxedo — a rust colored set by Rabanne accented with lace details.

13

The Denim Muse: Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith leans into his denim heritage.

Jaden Smith’s unconventional style shines in denim. The former G-Star collaborator and Levi’s campaign face understands the fabric’s transformative range, pulling references from streetwear and luxury to shape an aesthetic that defies traditional gender norms and keeps fans guessing what he’ll step out in next.

Though the multihyphenate has taken a step back from designing denim — Smith was appointed the first men’s creative director of Christian Louboutin in September — he continues to bring memorable denim looks to Paris Fashion Week.

In March, Smith styled a tweed peplum top with light wash jeans for Louis Vuitton’s fall 2025 show in March. This fall, he went shirtless in Louis Vuitton denim coordinates at the fashion house’s spring 2026 show. He chose a raw denim tuxedo — plus Louboutin red accessories and body paint — for the BOF 500 Gala.

Smith has proven to be somewhat of a muse for Pharrell Williams, the creative director of Louis Vuitton Men’s. Smith and Williams collaborated on a line of sustainable denim for G-Star in 2018.

14

Off-Duty Denim: Aitana

The Spanish hitmaker turned denim staples into the foundation of her fast-growing fashion influence.

Rising global star Aitana is quickly making her mark in fashion.

While the Spanish singer — who first gained national recognition in 2017 as the runner-up on “Operación Triunfo” — turned heads this year with a series of jaw-dropping red-carpet moments, she also kept fans hooked with her off-duty style.

Ahead of Formula 1 in October, Aitana arrived in a Marine Serre denim tuxedo emblazoned with the designer’s signature crescent moon motif. The look wasn’t an outlier, either. Serre’s denim has become a staple in her rotation, including a looser, more relaxed version she wore during rehearsals for the Latin Grammys.

Denim also appeared across her brand collaborations throughout the year. Aitana teamed with Adidas on a limited capsule rooted in shared codes — energy, legacy and community. In the campaign, she leaned into a sportier denim aesthetic, wearing oversize jorts, a baseball cap and a zip-up sweater marked with the label’s iconic three stripes. In the beauty space, she kept things notably pared back as light-wash jeans and a white T-shirt became her uniform across multiple YSL Beauty campaigns.

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Baby: Yungblud

British rocker Yungblud brings back the low rise.

Leather, denim and skin have been the quintessential uniform of rock ‘n’ roll since the ’60s, but the brazen style has taken a back seat in recent years to relaxed fits, overzealous stylists and head-to-looks plucked straight from the runway. However, 28-year-old U.K. rock star Yungblud is stirring up sartorial chaos with his gender-fluid wardrobe, punk-driven aesthetic and frequently shirt-less looks — plus his new apparel label, B.R.A.T.

While jeans are not a centerpiece to his stage wardrobe, low rises often are, signaling a return of gravity-defying bottoms. The dangerously low leather pants he wore during an Ozzy Osborne tribute at the 2025 MTV VMAs sparked an online debate about flashing pubic hair. Chunky wallet chains and belts with hearty hardware are also part of Yungblud’s look.

Off duty, Yungblud’s style choices are just as unpredictable. While the Chrome Hearts fan is regularly seen in basic black jeans, a shrunken tee and matching denim or leather jacket, he’s also known to rock a kilt or high-waisted suit.