These Are the 6 Biggest Summer 2023 Denim Trends, Period

We’ve been reporting on many of the rising denim trends in the realm of jeans throughout 2023, but for summer the most talked-about trends go far beyond jean silhouettes. Overall in recent jean outfits, looser, wide-leg shapes are still winning out as are classic straight-leg styles, and white jeans are a standout color that have been on the rise long before the arrival of summer. The biggest denim trends of the season, however, mostly revolve around non-jean pieces and more unexpected styles. 

One of the most viral pieces on the internet recently? Chanel’s denim ballerina flats that are practically sold out everywhere but point to a larger movement of denim accessories. Among them, ballet flats and bags that lend a more casual take on polished silhouettes. Outside of jeans, denim maxi skirts and bralettes are other pieces incorporating denim that are hot ticket items this season. Ahead, see the biggest summer denim trends of 2023 and shop the edit.

White Denim

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(Image credit: @fakerstrom)

White jeans have been wildly popular in 2023 long before summer even started, but are gaining even more traction for the season. Like other popular jeans, the silhouettes are mostly loose, wide-leg and straight-leg shapes.

Ballet Flats

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(Image credit: @savinachow)

Ballet flats are easily one of the most in-demand shoe shapes of 2023, so it comes as no surprise that they are appearing in the denim variety. They available at a range of price points, from Chanel's impossible-to-find designer version to under-$300 styles from brands such as Reformation.

Embellished Jeans

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(Image credit: @helenabordon)

If you already have classic blue jeans stocked in your closet, you may want to consider adding a pair of embellished jeans to your wardrobe. Right now, we're seeing everything from logo-printed versions such as the anagram style from Loewe to jeans finished with built in metal belt hardware from brands including Celine.

Bags

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

Bags are also getting the denim treatment. This is especially true when it comes to some of the most popular bags of recent years, which have recently dropped in blue denim varieties. Standouts include the Bottega Veneta Jodie bag and the Chanel 22 bag.

Maxi Skirts

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(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

Longer hemlines are a defining theme in 2023 fashion, period. So, how are we seeing that translated to denim? Long, floor-sweeping maxi skirts, which have become a staple amongst cool fashion insiders. While we've already seen the trend picking up since the beginning of the year, the momentum is continuing strong into summer.

Bralettes

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(Image credit: @handinfire)

We can thank Prada, in part, for the surge in denim bralettes. Last summer, the Italian fashion house introduced a version finished with the brand's iconic triangle logo and since then other versions have entered the market. Consider this to be the summer packing essentials to add to your suitcase for vacation looks.

Next: The Verdict Is In: Experts Told Us What Will Be Big In Fashion for Fall 2023

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Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.