As raw and selvedge denim continues to help fuel the growth of the premium denim market (to the tune of $1.4 billion total value), it’s no surprise to see how incredibly versatile the niche garment has become. Regardless of whether the environment and context is casual or professional, there’s a multitude of instances where throwing on your favorite pair just seems to “work”. However, in this article we’ll outline several ways to dress up your raw resulting in a more refined and polished appearance.

1. Pair With A Blazer

The first and most surefire way to neatly emphasize your raw denim is to throw on a blazer. Blazers are iconic and classy, they go with almost every outfit imaginable, and they give off a more mature and sophisticated feel.

If you happen to not own a blazer, don’t go out and just buy a traditional black version. Try dark blue, khaki, or a subdued striped blazer. The black is still of course an option, but giving your outfit some color and life will easily amplify your raw denim and overall style profile.

2. Find The Right Footwear

Changing up your shoes is step two and will definitely differ depending on the occasion. For business meetings or interviews, a nice pair of Oxford or Derby shoes could be the perfect fit. Or if you’re heading out for a date or nice night out, higher end, street wear sneakers aren’t unreasonable. This could range from (but is by no means not limited to) a classic pair of Jordan’s to your favorite set of Nike’s or Vans.

Those staple pair of leather shoes are certainly an excellent complement as well but it’s vital to set aside your work boots or your “daily beaters”. The main goal here is to showcase those shoes you’ve been keeping clean and stored away.

3. Bring Out The Button-Down

If a blazer is too much, or if changing your shoes isn’t enough for the occasion, then a simple and easy alternative is putting on a button-down. There’s an immense variety with button-down shirts, in that some are extremely formal, while others can lend a more industrial, yet clean, look to your outfit. The key is to prepare according to you destination.

4. Tidy Accessory Detailing

From wristwatches and rings to hats and eyewear, accessorizing correctly can really make your raw denim and overall look stand out.  If the environment is very professional but not overly conservative, creating a unique, yet tidy, color scheme always helps too.

Though wearing every accessory known to man can be overkill, a low maintenance and effective starting point is strapping on a proper watch. Particularly with a dark, rigid pair of raw denim, incorporating a suitable watch can leave a much more seasoned impression.

If you’re similar to me and prefer to tuck in your button-down shirts too, you’d be well served by incorporating a proper belt. You absolutely can’t go wrong with a standard black leather belt, but as is the case with blazers, adding some colours and little more personality into the mix never hurts.

5. Stray From The Beaten Path

Instead of your standard indigo blues, look into equipping yourself with black or even khaki-coloured denim. Some great examples are the Nudie Jeans Black Wax Coated, which are extremely versatile and look great; and the Naked and Famous Denim Chino Khakis, which can be used for any nice occasion or even around the town. These denims don’t fade like standard indigo denim does, and will most likely stay fresh since they probably won’t be worn everyday.

It goes without saying that raw denim is never out of the equation when you’re dressing up for a more professional or formal occasion. There are many numerous options to achieve the proper look you need, and the bottom line is to just try something out of your comfort zone and experiment.

If you have any related tips or approaches additional to the above, let us know in the comments below.