I commute in London every day, and if there’s one thing these constant trips up and down the Elizabeth line have shown me recently, it’s that London girls have a new go-to jean. In a subtle but decisive shift, lighter washes and baggy fits are being sidelined in favour of richer, more refined dark-wash, straight-leg silhouettes. Against the darker backdrop of early-year dressing, these inky hues feel perfectly attuned to the city’s greyer, chillier mood.

Influencer @nlmarilyn wears dark wash jeans with a scarf jacket.

Lately, it feels impossible to walk through London without spotting this denim trend in action. I’ve clocked it daily on my commute, and what’s especially striking is the silhouette shift that comes with it. This season’s dark-wash jeans are cut slimmer and sleeker, a marked move away from the oversized shapes that dominated before.

Influencer @lucywilliams02 wears dark wash jeans with a checked jacket.

They pair excellently with the glossy leather jackets currently circulating through wardrobes as temperatures begin to lift, but they’re just as elegant styled with structured blazers or dramatic scarf coats. The deeper wash gives them a sophistication that lighter denim simply can’t rival, lending even casual outfits a considered, grown-up finish.

Influencer @smythsisters wears dark wash jeans with brown boots and a brown leather jacket.

I might be biased, but Londoners are some of the best-dressed city dwellers out there, and I’m always happy to follow their lead. Keep scrolling to discover the chicest dark-wash straight-leg jeans worth investing in now.

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