Dark wash denim is a seasonal staple, but we shouldn’t be too hasty with packing away paler pairs of jeans. They still have a place in our cold weather wardrobe even though light washes are traditionally associated with summer. Emilia Fox doesn’t play by this fashion rule and in January she showed how stunning light jeans can be with more colourful knits.
The actor regularly provides outfit inspiration, whether as herself or as her Silent Witness character Nikki Alexander, and this outfit for an appearance on Saturday Kitchen was a riot of colour and cosiness.
Shop Light-Wash Jeans
M&S Lyocell™ Blend Wide Palazzo Leg Jeans
Palazzo jeans are ultra wide-leg and flowy, making them incredibly comfortable and easy to fit over a huge range of boot and shoe options too. These ones are similar in cut and tone to Emilia’s and come in four different lengths. The fabric has lyocell™ for a soft feel and they’re high-waisted.
Zara Z1975 High-Rise Straight Jeans
These jeans have raw hems like Emilia’s for an off-duty edge and they are high-rise, with a straight-leg shape. They fall to ankle length which is perfect for showing off your favourite ankle boots and they fasten with a zip fly and button.
Boden Vintage Blue Wide-Leg Jeans
You can get 10% off these jeans with the code C7R7 right now and there are several different colours to choose from, though these pale blue vintage-esque ones are a gorgeous choice. They come in petite, regular and long versions and are designed to be full-length with flats.
Complete The Look
Boden Edie Pink Fair Isle Jumper
Fair Isle jumpers are the epitome of traditional styling and they’re also exceptionally popular right now. This one from Boden is a fun blend of different colours that will work right through to spring. You can currently save yourself 10% off the price with the code C7R7 too.
M&S Patent Mary Jane Ballet Flats
Emilia Fox’s cherry-red Mary Jane flats were from Boden and sadly aren’t available anymore, though these patent M&S ones are a great option instead. They’re affordable and would be lovely instead of heels for a festive party or date night. The glossy finish makes them stand out and the straps help to keep your feet secure in them.
Next Multi Stripe Crew Neck Jumper
Made with a hint of wool in its fabric blend, this warm jumper makes a serious statement with its bold multi-colour striped pattern. It has a classic crew neckline, long sleeves and ribbed trims. Pair with light jeans and red ballet flats and you’ve got yourself an Emilia Fox-esque outfit.
White jeans outfits can be tricky, so going for light wash denim makes things slightly easier and can often be more forgiving too. Emilia embraced how casual pale jeans naturally are by going for the loose palazzo silhouette, though you can also style wide-leg jeans like hers more smartly with the addition of a shirt or blazer.
She went down a cosy rather than tailored route and styled her jeans with a vibrant striped jumper and cherry-red Mary Jane ballet flats – both from Boden. It’s one of the best British clothing brands if you want great quality and bright designs, and Emilia’s jumper and shoes were mood-boosting pieces for a grey winter day.
You might think that the vibrancy of the colours would wash out light denim, but they actually worked so well together.
(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for RBG Kew)
The jumper and shoes were balanced by the pale blue jeans and the red stripes in the knitwear tied in with her flats for a sense of cohesion. Of course, not everyone will want to go quite as bold as Emilia Fox did in January.
Pastel hues complement light denim gorgeously and if you’re a neutral fan, you can also style jeans like hers with warm tans, greys and khakis. The one thing I wouldn’t necessarily do is wear light jeans with a black or really dark jumper as this can be quite a stark contrast.
An important take-away from the Silent Witness star’s ensemble is how useful lighter jeans can be when you want something to go with paler or brighter colours and really make them pop.
Light-wash denim makes a refreshing change from indigo for winter and looks great with a slouchy jumper or cardigan as an everyday look. Emilia chose wide-leg jeans, though for every style out there there’ll be a pale-toned option so if you love straight-leg, barrel-leg or skinny designs then stick to what you know works for you.
This will naturally make it a bit easier if you’re trying out wearing pale blue jeans for the first time as you already know it’s a silhouette you feel comfortable and confident in. If you’re a pro pale jeans wearer already, why not have fun and experiment with a statement patterned jumper like Emilia’s for a playful twist?
