Top 5 Denim Looks for Summer 2023
Denim was huge in Summer 2023 and it got a bit of an upgrade. It would be very easy to take it for granted, but looking at it in a new way opens new doors of stylistic opportunity. I’ve worked extra hard over these past few months experimenting with upcycling with my Dream Duos, and some of my favorite creations have been the ones I’ve made with denim. I’ve taken some older pieces I’ve had and thought about how I could update them in innovative ways, or I’ve gone out and looked specifically for a look I wanted to pull off. The results have been better than I expected and it proves that denim doesn’t have to be a safe option. It can be adventurous.
These are the Dream Crochet’s top 5 denim looks for Summer 2023.
Asymmetrical Skirt
Upcycling this denim skirt was too much fun! I wanted to play with the design in a different way, so I cut diagonally across the skirt for an asymmetrical look. I then added crochet to fill in the missing section and sewed some rounds of crochet ruffle detailing. A crop top or an off-the-shoulder top would complement this perfectly.
Denim Maxi Skirt
This design was one of the biggest upcycled transformations. I cut along the inseam to this pair of denim and crocheted the front and back opening to make it into an upcycled denim maxi skirt. The effect is striking and manages to retain the coolness of summer and be breezy at the same time. Pair a graphic tee with this look and you're good to go!
Reworked Denim Skirt
For something more subtle yet still interesting, this reworked denim waistband skirt is a dream come true. I cut across the top of a pair of denim and crocheted a full skirt. What makes it so much fun is that it unbuttons and makes and the denim adds an edge to it. You can go so many ways with this one. A lacy top can pull out the softness or a band tee is a reminder of the denim element. It's truly a versatile look. It was so popular that I wrote about the inspiration behind the reworked denim skirt to provide an inside look.
Denim Flair Leg
One of my favorite things about upcycling denim is how it can revitalize a piece that you'd gotten tired of. This is what happened with this old pair of jeans. I cut a slit on the sides of both legs and attached crocheted the respective sides together. This created turned them into flair legs, which were more fun and funky. I'd wear this with a flutter sleeve or wide sleeve top to keep with the throwback theme.
Bermuda Shorts
I turned these jeans I've had for years into bermuda shorts with tiered crochet and I surprised myself with this one. I don't often wear this style, but upcycling them in this way made it more interesting. It reminded me of mermaidcore, which was big this Summer, and the matching halter top has a cool effect. This could also work with a casual tee or a solid halter top to really make the shorts stand out.