6. Denim

If Levis aren't exactly the paragon of haute couture, maybe Maria Grazia Chiurri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will change your mind. Denim at Valentino? It seemed more unlikely than burkas at Versace. But the label's ruffled chambray suits and belted A-line dresses rendered the utilitarian staple surprisingly elegant. Piccioli and Chiurri weren't the only ones rethinking denim for spring. Stella McCartney, Derek Lam, and Phoebe Philo, among others, proved that the pragmatic material was capable of holding its own alongside lace and chiffon; trench coats, zippered shifts, and even cocktail dresses demonstrated that denim wasn't just for jeans. More than a century later, it seems that the 1850s mining staple is finally getting its big sartorial break.



Celine



Akris

 





















Dsquared



Derek Lam

 

Edun

Sportmax

  



Valentino

Stella McCartney