Acid wash denim was one of the most popular trend of the 1980s, with everyone from Cindy Crawford to Madonna stepping out in high rise bleached jeans and jackets. But the history of acid wash jeans actually goes back to 1960s surfer culture, when people in California used chlorine bleach to give a “sun-bleached” vibe to their denim.
But it didn’t really become a staple until the early 80s, when iconic American clothing brand Guess featured bleached jeans in their 1981 collection. From there, “acid wash”, “stonewash” and “bleached” denim has been made into everything from jeans to jackets, jumpsuits and even dresses.
Since then, it’s come in and out of fashion, and can sometimes seem a bit dated. Despite that, there have been glimpses of acid wash jeans at the 2024 Paris Fashion Week, and on celebrities like Sophie Turner (as reported by People). So, here’s how to make the bleached denim look work for you.
The light blue signature wash remains popular to this day and is a mainstay when it comes to high waisted and skinny leg jeans. Meanwhile, Designers such as Isabel Marant and Balmain featured acid wash styles in their 2019 / 2020 collections.
What’s more? Street style stars such as Kendall Jenner, Charlize Theron and Katy Perry have recently stepped out in acid wash jeans making them an it-girl must-have.
Charlize Theron
Katy Perry in head to toe denim.
How To Wear Acid Wash Jeans?
To help you work your acid wash denim items, here are a few handy style notes to remember.
Pair oversized boyfriend jeans together with cute cropped top and pair of strap heels to make to look more feminine.
When opting for denim head-to-toe (hello, Canadian Tuxedo) team an oversized denim shirt with baggy jeans and complete the look with statement accessories such as a big sunnies and a big coat.
Mix it up by matching a floral summer dress with an oversized denim jacket and with colorful accessories.
Embrace the trend with an acid wash jumpsuit – match it with simple white sneakers and white bag.
Straight leg styles are ideal for a layered look. Case in point: loose ankle-length jeans with layering matching polo and an oversized jumper.
Swap short shorts to denim biker shorts, pair them with simple heels and statement blazer.
This contemporary street style look consists of a tie-dye denim skirt made from a denim jacket, match it with boots and puffer jacket.
Denim jacket inspired dress. Wear a long denim jacket as a dress, wrap a belt around the waist to make more fitted look.
Men’s head to toe denim, match jeans and denim jacket a hoodie and a bag.
Pair jeans with white t-shirt, hat and colorful sneakers.
RELATED: BEST JEANS FOR WOMEN
AGOLDE Carrie denim shorts, $210, net-a-porter.com.au
BALENCIAGA asymmetric frayed denim skirt, $1450, net-a-porter.com.au
TOTEME flair high-rise wide-leg jeans, $309, net-a-porter.com.au
KSUBI oversized distressed denim jacket, $200, net-a-porter.com.au
VICTORIA, VICTORIA BECKHAM high-rise skinny jeans, $298, net-a-porter.com.au
If you have a pair of old denim laying around, you can create your own pair of acid washed denim at home with just few steps.