Light wash denim jeans have become the most divisive piece of clothing on the internet, with some claiming they shouldn’t be worn as an evening look.
A recent post on top.
While light blue jeans and a T-shirt have long been an effortless off-duty staple, many have questioned them as a look for an evening occasion.
“Anyone have any theories about how light wash jeans became evening jeans?” read user @rwxoxo’s message.
They continued: ‘After 6pm, especially in the colder months, you rarely saw anything lighter than an indigo.’
The answers varied: some agreed that lighter denim should only be worn during the day, while others didn’t see what the problem was.
‘I hate sounding like an old head. It’s absolutely crazy that everyone dresses exactly the same. We used to dress like this, but at least we had some flair!!” wrote one person.
“I can’t stand sounding like an old timer, but it’s crazy how everyone dresses the same now! We may have been poorly dressed, but at least we had some PERSONALITY…! exclaimed another.
Light wash denim jeans have become the most divisive piece of clothing on the internet, with some claiming they shouldn’t be worn as an evening look
Another fashion-conscious user theorized that dark denim is considered “work jeans.”
“After work, we free ourselves from these limitations and can embrace the lighter denims,” she added.
“Gen Z doesn’t know how to dress for the times of day/evening yet,” said another. “Now this is just a mediocre look.”
“Some people really don’t believe that different colors of jeans suit different times of day,” one user argued.
According to New York-based stylist Liz Teich, wearing lighter denim after dark is a Gen Z trend she sees among her younger customers.
“My generation (older Millennial) has always seen dark denim as dressy evening denim, so wearing lighter denim as ‘evening jeans’ is definitely a trend among Gen Z,” she explained.
Teich added that a popular “going out uniform” for Gen Z is the lighter wash denim and a black bodysuit.
“It’s easy,” she explained. “It has a slight nod to the effortlessly cool look of the ’90s (a la Cindy Crawford), and it’s a no-brainer because it always looks good with black tops.”
While light blue wash jeans and a T-shirt have long been an effortless outdoor staple, many questioned it as an evening look and said people should opt for a darker wash (stock image)
New York stylist Liz Teich explained that light-colored denim jeans are a nod to the effortlessly cool look of the ’90s, like Cindy Crawford (pictured in the 1992 Pepsi Super Bowl ad)
The answers varied: some agreed that lighter denim should only be worn during the day, while others didn’t see what the problem was
According to Teich, Generation Z is spending more on vintage denim, or at least on denim that looks vintage.
“Light denim is also versatile and can be worn casually or dressed up, so you don’t need a separate wardrobe for going out, especially since many girls these days wear sneakers at night,” she points out.
Not all generations agree, however, with Teich recommending darker denim for a sleeker evening look.
‘But if you follow trends or my age, dark denim is the way to go right now. It feels more elevated and polished, and acceptable for dressier situations,” the stylist suggested.
‘If you feel like it’s too much one color on a black bodysuit, try layering it for contrast.
‘You don’t have to wear what everyone else is wearing! One of the biggest trend predictions I make for 2025 is individualism in style.
“Find ways to make yourself comfortable, whether that’s through accessories or the way you style your jeans!”