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On the Vogue Shopping desk editors will regularly show-and-tell their latest wares, be it a vintage jacket they found in the corner of an unassuming store in a European city, or an enduring high-street buy they secured for a good price. Denim is a recurring topic of conversation, given most of the team wear it all year round.
We’re always looking to report on the brands that you can rely on for well-cut jeans, and often, the team will all wear the exact same pair. Topshop has long been a purveyor of hardworking denim, and any devotees will fondly remember the rails of Jonis and Jamies housed in the flagships (to the uninitiated: these are the names of its signature silhouettes, which I frequently championed at club nights in my teens). While the standalone stores are a thing of the past, the brand relaunched with a runway show at London Fashion Week last year, which has been followed by a new full denim range.
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As a loyal customer, a member of the “Topshop generation” and a stalwart denim wearer, I was more than excited to try on the collection. I wear denim pretty much seven days a week, meaning I’ve amassed quite an arsenal of silhouettes and washes over the years. Fittingly, I’ve also strategised a regimented denim storage system, to ensure that I have easy access to my jeans at all times. This also gives me visibility on what I have and what I might be missing – and right now, I’m in the market for straight-leg jeans I can wear for both daytime and evening purposes (and everything in between).
After looking through Topshop’s new denim offering, the perfectly-slouchy Ember jeans caught my eye. Cut with a nostalgic low-rise waistline and with belt loops, a zip fly and five functional pockets, the Ember fitted me exactly how I’d hoped. The rigid 100 per cent cotton denim – which is washed to give a worn-in vintage look – retained a flattering straight-leg silhouette, but with enough room in the leg to allow easy movement and most importantly, comfort. I wanted to achieve puddled hems, so I went for a 34-inch length.
To put them to the test, I wore them for a full day in the run up to Fashion Week, for everything from getting a coffee on my morning walk with my dog Honey to a day at the office tying up projects before the shows start. See how I styled the Topshop Ember jeans, below.
8.03am: The morning dog walk
The Ember jeans will be a hardworking companion I’ll wear throughout Fashion Week, but they’re also a comfortable option I’ve found myself turning to for slower days. Before the arrival of show season, I intentionally reduce my daily pace and prioritise getting a good amount of rest before the busier times hit. When I work from home, I tend to get up and out relatively early to walk my dog and grab a coffee – after years of practice, I’ve discovered that jeans and a bomber are failsafe options.
1.11pm: For the office
Comfortable jeans are a must for office days. After all, they need to endure my commute – sometimes a breakfast meeting en route – as well as sitting at my desk, moving between the photography studio and sometimes attending store appointments. The Ember jeans deliver on all fronts, with a structured yet louche fit that means I’m both office-ready and able to move with ease.
6:04pm: After work
The best jeans serve well beyond a working day. As a fashion editor, I’ll often go to events and dinners on weekdays, and I’ll regularly head straight to a venue from the office. For this reason, I try to wear outfits that can be easily transformed at the end of the day by switching out a top or shoe, or adding jewellery.
Denim Funnel Neck Bubble Hem Top