The five most flattering ways to wear denim if you’re over 50 (and why double denim is one of them!)

What in the windows of John Lewis would make you do a double take? I can tell you because this month’s exhibition made me stop and yawn.

Nine mannequins, nine outfits, all very different from the other – some chic, some summery, some ready for work – and all… denim.

I could say that denim is the new 24/7, dress up or down item. I can tell you that there were matching denim skirts and jackets on the catwalk at Dior. I could wax lyrical about the denim shirt at Loewe, or the suede-edged jeans at Miu Miu, or the tailored denim suit at Max Mara.

But nothing will convince you that denim has completely shed its casual image quite like seeing all the options from high street brands in the window of a mid-market British institution.

It’s official: you can wear denim at any age, and there are at least nine ways to wear it, five of which are of real interest to women who have moved beyond dungarees and studded jackets…

1. New A-line jeans

I call them A-line, some call them wide leg or palazzo style, either way they fit the same way as a sleek long A-line skirt, allowing you to wear them in a cocktail context.

Cropped: Katie Holmes wears cropped denim pants with wide legs

My favorite look from John Lewis was a pair of these (£75 and/or, johnlewis.com) with a white button-up tuxedo jacket over a slim white top — your new spring tuxedo. They also look good with a tucked-in shirt under a jacket or, for a more casual look, with a fitted sweater or tank top.

I still wear the very wide Me+Em jeans from last summer (€ 195,- meandem.com) with a velvet jacket with sharp shoulders, a cream satin shirt and boots with almond toes.

Please note: the denim should not be too loose, so that the silhouette is preserved.

2. The denim shirt

Once it was a western style with enameled press studs, now it is a tailor-made shirt made of soft denim and you wear it with trousers. Or you can combine a plain blue denim shirt with slightly darker straight or wider jeans.

Double denim, especially when you wear a smart blazer over it and add a belt and a block heel, is the epitome of smart casual. Try the fashion front row favourite, WNU, (£130, withnothingunderneath.com) or Whistle version (£89, whistles.com).

3. The denim skirt

There are over 50 on the John Lewis website; 28 at last count on the Marks & Spencer site, yet finding the right denim skirt is as much of a challenge as finding the perfect pair of jeans.

I’m still tempted by the ones with panels that look like the first denim skirt I had made from cut-up old jeans, but unless you have a small waist and hips, that style feels too bulky.

What is important about the modern denim skirt (the one we wear) is that it falls below the knee (shorter looks old fashioned), probably midi (there are plenty that go to the ankles, but they are much more difficult to wear ), not too tight and a medium slit at the front is needed. Too high a slit and you won’t wear it; too short and you feel hindered.

The M&S Collection Denim Skirt ticks all the boxes above (£29.50, marksandspencer.com) and John Lewis’ own brand skirt also fits the bill (£55, johnlewis.com). Wyse has a smart dark wash A-line midi skirt on sale (£115.50, wyselondon.com) that you can wear to work with a short jacket over a T-shirt or polo shirt, or outdoors with a tucked-in blouse with long sleeves.

4. The denim jacket

Forget the classic four pockets. Avoid the oversized trucker style (it looks like we’re wearing our husband’s hand-me-downs).

Best bet is a sharp Alexander McQueen style denim blazer with peak lapels (£65, riverisland.com) or try Karen Millen’s (on sale for £139.20, karenmillen.com) and wear it over all black (now it looks good with a polo collar with trousers), or cream, or white in the summer.

5. The denim jumpsuit

You either love a jumpsuit or you don’t, and if you’re one, then a denim jumpsuit – for casual wear with sneakers or ankle boots – is a no-brainer.

The key is to make sure the denim is light and soft and not bulky. Try Marks & Spencer’s sky blue belted model (€49.50) or the great new relaxed style from Me+Em (€250). If only everything were that simple.