Denim trends come in many forms, but in my opinion, the easiest ones to incorporate into your wardrobe are the ones that have to do with a specific denim wash. For the past several seasons, dark denim has dominated the denim color trend landscape and remains relevant, but it’s impossible not to notice that a new trend is taking hold in 2026. And the shoe style of choice to wear with it is heels.

The denim color I’m referring to is light-wash blue denim, which hasn’t been as popular as it is now in years. Something I love about light-wash jeans is they have a vintage quality to them, even when brand new. They also add a cool ’90s look to an outfit, which we all know is always appealing. Another light-wash denim characteristic is that it’s inherently casual, but fashion people are turning that notion on its head. Instead of pairing light-wash jeans with sneakers or flats, in 2026, more often than not, they’re pairing them with heels. The typical denim-and-heels pairing has long been black jeans (or dark wash), but the choice to wear heels with light-wash jeans instead is undoubtedly a conscious one. It dresses them up and makes them look 10 times more elegant in an instant.