Fashion

The Best High Fashion Designer Jeans of All Time

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4 weeks ago

June 7, 2024

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a man standing in front of a group of people — The Most Iconic Intricate Runway Denimgetty

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Beyoncé’s elaborately stitched-and-patched patterned denim chaps in the video for “Levii’s Jeans” off Cowboy Carter caused a run on Levi’s back in April. But embellished jeans have always had a way of capturing our attention, stoking a different kind of denim obsession. There are jeans that are the building blocks of a wardrobe, but then there are jeans that are the life of the party—bold, extravagant, unexpected, undeniably high-fashion.

Houses like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton—and more recently, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and Valentino have all given us big designer denim looks on the runway, while celebrities have set the internet ablaze by dipping into their archives, as Rihanna did with a pair of $15k Gucci by Tom Ford jeans, from the house’s Spring 1999 collection, on a random Wednesday in L.A. back in 2021.

With denim on the mind, we broke down 13 of our favorite designer-jean runway moments.

CHANEL

Autumn-Winter 1991-1992

a person walking on a runway — PIERRE VAUTHEY//GETTY IMAGES

For the 1991 Fall collection, Karl Lagerfeld went all-out Material Girl, with Madonna music playing in the background while models walked down the runway—which sounds like the perfect scene for these incredible over-the-top jeans. Adorned with gold Chanel buttons, that added just the right amount of campy flair, these jeans brought a shot of youthfulness and vibrance to the otherwise typical tweed skirt suits Chanel-lovers were used to seeing. — Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, senior fashion & accessories editor

GUCCI

by Tom Ford Spring 1999

These Gucci by Tom Ford jeans from his spring 1999 collection are so memorable—they are a collectors item. Rihanna wore these beaded-waistband-and-feather-hemmed stunners out and about in L.A. in 2021. — Nicole Fritton, executive fashion director

CHLOÉ

Fall 2003

What a time this was for the house of Chloé! The brand was celebrating its 45th anniversary with none other than Phoebe Philo at the helm. Aside from the banana-printed t-shirts, which she made for their Spring 2004 collection the following season, this denim look she showed is at the top of the list of all-time favorites. What more could you ask for with these bohemian vintage-style jeans in a hot cut, with floral patchwork, and topped off with over-the-knee red boots? Perfection.—JAC

LOUIS VUITTON

by Marc Jacobs Spring 2014

a person standing in front of a fountain — imaxtree

For Marc Jacobs’s final show at Louis Vuitton in Spring of 2014. he showed a glamorously Victorian take on dressed-up denim: feather epaulettes on an embroidered jet beaded tulle dress over classic, blue straight-leg jeans. — NF

DOLCE & GABBANA

Spring 2015

a woman in a black dress — Daniele Oberrauch

From tap shorts to corsets, baroque prints, and flamenco polka-dot dresses, the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2015 collection took a sublime turn when these exquisitely fitted straight-leg jeans adorned with pearls, gems and metallic crescent hearts came down the runway. It’s just what we needed to break up the hot evening looks yet, paired perfectly with a babydoll lace transparent camisole. I love that these were worn with embellished ballet flats and a gold bag that looked like a cigarette case, for the perfect cool-girl finish. —JAC

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Spring 2016

a person wearing a dress — Alessandro Lucioni

Sarah Burton’s Spring 2016 collection for Alexander McQueen featured an opulent take on denim-on-denim. They court-like jacket, embroidered with a country-inspired garden of flowers in sequins and a worn-in feel, offered the perfect reflection of Burton’s not overly precious approach. — NF

BALMAIN

Spring/Summer 2019

a person walking down a runway — Alessandro Lucioni

Olivier Rousteing always brings an element of French influence to his sculptural silhouettes, and it was no different for his Spring 2019 collection, showing these distressed and puzzled jeans with a tailored and structured tweed jacket. The mixed elements of DIY distress and cuff layers, along with shirt arms tied around the waist made you take a second look. —JAC

BOTTEGA VENETA

Fall 2022

The first look out on the runway of Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection at Bottega Veneta for Fall 2022 was a classic-blue jeans and the perfect white tank. Lean in a little closer and notice that the jeans are leather. Brilliant! —NF

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

by Julien Dossena Fall 2023 Couture

Julien Dossena designs for Rabanne, but for Fall 2023 Couture Week, he took the helm for a the season as a guest designer at Jean Paul Gaultier. One of the most stunning moments in the show was when these trompe l’oeil beaded jeans walked the runway with a sweeping lace gown for extra drama. —JAC

VALENTINO

Couture Fall 2023

The simplicity of a white shirt and jeans was perfectly elevated by Pierpaolo Piccoli for his Fall 2023 Valentino Couture collection. The opening look, worn by Kaia Gerber, was a tribute to this classic style—except the jeans were hand-embroidered with hundreds of glass beads. For another look, Piccoli had a pair of vintage Levi’s 501s embroidered with gold sequins. — NF

UNDERCOVER

Fall 2024

The every day feel of jeans is what draws people in. But when you add 3D appliqué of a gold raffia tuxedo stripe down the side, it’s a sweet playfulness that sparks a bit of joy, which is just what designer Jun Takahashi did with this collection by re-working classic garments with jeans. —JAC

STELLA MCCARTNEY

Fall/Winter 2024

a woman walking on a runway — Isidore Montag

Stella McCartney will always be a designer that leads in conscious ways of production and bigger-picture messaging. Her Fall 2024 collection came with urgent messaging around the need to preserve Mother Earth, but the clothes were still relaxed and overall fun. Her take on denim with chap detailing were perfect, especially with the metallic overlay for a bit of extra shine. Someone page Beyoncé!—JAC

GUCCI

Resort 2025

a person walking down a sidewalk — Isidore Montag

In London last month, Sabato De Sarno debuted his third collection at Gucci for their Resort 2025 collection. These jeans with blue-and-white threaded bead fringe details offered a quintessential touch of Gucci glamour, ornamenting daywear so it feels special. — NF