Jeans are fashion’s most democratic and versatile item – a universal wardrobe staple, loved equally by designers and models, punks and preps, mums and dads.

They feel right on the runway, at home, at a party, out for dinner, at the airport, running errands or behind the desk at work.

“Denim gives you a truly visceral feeling,” writes Amy Smilovic, the influential founder of American fashion label Tibi, who’s spent years exploring and documenting wardrobe fundamentals. “Denim in its finest hour brings ‘chill’ to any outfit. Conversely the denim that works the hardest can also boost the style quotient of a simple oversized sweatshirt.”

Denim might be as common as it gets – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth celebrating. Here we talk to 11 fashion-forward Aussies about their favourite pair of jeans. Where they got them, how they style them and why they wear them on repeat.

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

I remember I’d just moved into my Rushcutters Bay apartment when I got these. It was a new chapter, and I did a Covid shopping spree. They have a long strap that I wrap around my waist a few different ways, or let it hang. They haven’t been tailored. I’m not really an alterations person – I actually will wear clothes until they fall apart and then I’ll tear them apart and use them in my studio as fabric.

I purchased this pair on sale on Ssense about three years ago – I also have the matching oversized jacket. Then last year I purchased the same pair in a light blue acid-wash denim because I was getting so much wear out of them.

They’re mid-rise up the waist and the colour is a neon lime – chartreuse with an acid wash finish. The fit is a wide-leg, slightly boyfriend style which is flared with frayed hems.

I typically wear a lot of colours and clashing prints – or the exact opposite with a lot of black – and these jeans weirdly go with any of that. My current favourite combo is wearing them with my really boxy structured red Issey Miyake blazer and my new Poppy Lissiman Nana net tote in blue and cherry. It’s a clash of colours and textures but somehow looks quite harmonious – to me anyway!

These light-blue distressed straight-legged jeans have a number of patches haphazardly sewn onto them alongside expressive threads that hang off the patches. You can almost imagine the sewing machine building up these layers. There is an irregular colour treatment that ages super interestingly. The style also has a longer leg that bunches up around the shoe. I love this look, but I often end up with wet jeans when it rains. Still, I love the natural staining that occurs from this.

I love the tactility of this pair and the way it has aged. The scuffs, the tears, the worn-ness all add to the history. It makes sense in the context of my work and life. I also love the bright punches of the daisies.

I generally wear them with a cropped shirt or T-shirt. They sit super well with sneakers or a classic leather shoe. I have worn them to events and even just out and about. They can be lifted or styled to feel super casual.

I’m a big vintage Levi’s fan – especially 501s and 509s. I bought this pair in Tokyo last year. They’re straight leg, slim-fitting, light wash and perfectly worn in. Ultra soft!

I love shopping vintage, but sometimes finding the perfect denim is a chore. I was determined to pick up some great vintage pieces in Japan – these were the first pair I grabbed and they were absolutely perfect. I wore them loads that trip and have the best memories walking around Tokyo and trying street food in them.

I love denim. I always have a few good jeans on rotation in my closet. They’re such a staple in the way I dress. You’ll catch me in denim a couple of times per week.

I live in jeans! My mother worked in denim for 33 years, so I grew up around it. I love the fit and cut of these ones. They wrap around your butt really well, while still falling nicely from the thigh into a straight leg.

It’s a really classic straight-leg button-fly washed black denim. There is some discolouration in the leg, showing red ink marks that can occur in the dyeing process during production. But I don’t mind the imperfections.

I’m a pretty uniform kind of girl and wear denim pretty much every day. It’s generally jeans, a cashmere tee and an oversized blazer or jacket of some sort. But these ones are definitely my preferred nighttime jeans. I reach for them whenever I need a dressier look. I love wearing them to events with a boot or heel.

I bought these jeans with my friend Natasha. We went into the Rolla’s store together and tried on the long sailor jean in different washes. It was a fun, rainy afternoon in Fitzroy – we were ducking in and out of the change rooms to show each other how everything fit. We both loved the style and ended up buying the same pair!

There are limited options when it comes to finding the perfect pair of jeans, especially when you have a curvy body. I have spent a lot of time trying to make all kinds of jeans work. In all honesty, I have quite a few pairs in my wardrobe I’ve only really worn once or twice after purchasing.

I tend to gravitate towards high-waisted jeans and a wide or straight leg, so these ones nail the brief. I also love the front pockets. I keep reaching for them as they are the perfect length and hold their shape incredibly well wear after wear.

This style is the “Fireman” bootcut – part of Raf Simons’s debut collection for the house. This was peak Raf Americana: think minimalist tailoring meets small-town emergency services. It had grit, drama, and an orange leather patch that felt oddly poetic.

I bought them at Joyce department store in Hong Kong sometime in late 2017. The fabric’s a heavyweight cotton twill with that crisp-yet-dense handle that’s just a little harder to find these days. They’re a slight bootcut, structured through the thigh, gentle flare toward the ankle. It gives just enough drama without shouting.

I did have them taken up slightly – a small but dramatic adjustment. Fun fact: a lot of East Asians tend to have proportionally longer torsos, so the original 34-inch inseam was optimistic.

The reason I keep coming back to them is mostly nostalgia. I used to be attached to a womenswear line called Jonathan Liang and I bought these when it was just beginning to take shape. We were making regular sourcing trips to Hong Kong, showcasing in Shanghai and doing fashion week in Paris. Everything felt new, raw and a bit idealistic. These jeans remind me of that clarity – when creating something felt like a conversation.

I’ve owned loads of vintage white 501s. However, I wanted something baggier with a longer length and these white jeans felt very Phoebe Philo without the crazy price tags. I love the shape: they’re super baggy and low-slung. No rips. I personally don’t rock a ripped jean.

They’re from Auckland and I wore them on the road for our NZ trip, which was pretty special. I bought them new, which is rare for me when it comes to jeans.

I am definitely a jeans person. I have too many to count. I still wear pairs I bought over 10 years ago. I love a worn-in look and repair jeans I love over and over again.

I won’t wear just any jeans, it’s gotta be a pair with personality. I see denim as a blank canvas. I love cutting it up, painting it, heat-pressing designs on it and making it mine. I love mixing prints and textures. More is more.

I found these at a Salvos in Sydney over 10 years ago and knew straight away they were special. The patchwork caught my eye – I haven’t come across another pair like them, and I’ve been thrifting for years. I’ve customised them with Haus of Dizzy DTF prints using our in-house heat press.

They remind me of when I first started Haus of Dizzy in my little Sydney lounge room. I was working retail and thrift shopping because that’s all I could afford. I love that they reflect my style – loud, playful and a little nostalgic. I’m big on ’80s and ’90s references, and these jeans give that energy. Plus, I’ve added my own designs to them, so they feel personal. I always reach for them when I want to feel comfy but still look like me.

I’ve had these for about two years. They’re a really fabulous slim straight-cut jean, in a dark-indigo-wash Japanese denim. I normally gravitate to a baggier fit jean, but I was drawn to the beautiful wash, and then the fit was just fabulous on me – it makes me feel very long and lean.

They’re so easy and comfortable that I can wear them while working on set; they’re super easy to wear casually and then dress them up for an event or dinner – they’re honestly my go-to denim for a dressier look.

Generally, I style them with a singlet tucked in; sometimes with a shirt halfway done (also tucked in) or with a great jacket. I’ll normally wear my classic black loafers or my suede Dries Van Noten sneakers.

I never used to be a jeans person, but I’ve become more drawn to experimental takes on denim classics. These are a relaxed fit, slightly wider than a straight leg and “spliced” at the thigh with reversed denim attached. I love that they are an archetypal design with a twist.

I bought them online from HBX in 2022. I haven’t had this exact pair before, but I have other jeans and pants by Maison Margiela.

I wear them all the time – they need no occasion! They pair with practically everything, though mostly I team them with a singlet or a cardigan. They are just part of my day-to-day.

This story appears in our May 2025 Fashion issue, proudly sponsored by Mini, which lays down the new rules for Australian style in 2025.