Jeans & a nice top...

The low-effort, high-impact duo we all secretly rely on.

May 08, 2025

∙ Paid

Hey friends,

Let’s be honest. When someone says ‘just wear jeans and a nice top’ it sounds simple. Easy. Effortless. But also, incredibly vague. What is a nice top? What if your jeans don’t feel particularly party-ready? Is this code for ‘look like you made an effort, but for the love of God, keep it relaxed and don’t take it too seriously’?

So today we are cracking the code. Whether you are heading to a pub garden, brunch with the girls or a date night where you want to look like you tried without looking like you tried… jeans and a nice top is your new best friend. Let’s give her the glow up she deserves.

But what even is ‘a nice top’?

Excellent question. A ‘nice top’ is essentially the clothing version of someone saying you look ‘well’. It’s a bit vague, slightly unhelpful, but mostly said with good intentions.

Here’s how to decode it:

If it’s got a bit of sparkle, an asymmetric sleeve or an interesting neckline, that’s a nice top.
If it’s something you would not wear to Tesco but would wear to drinks in Soho, that’s a nice top.
If it feels like a rediscovered gem every time you pull it out of the wardrobe, then that’s a nice top.

Lace, silk, satin, anything with a dramatic shoulder, a cheeky cut out or a little embellishment all qualify. It is the opposite of your gym hoodie and the spiritual cousin of your going out dress.

So what jeans are we actually wearing now?

The jeans of 2025 are all about ease. We are talking wide leg, lightweight & baggy, barrel leg, high waisted and the ultra flattering straight leg. Skinnies are supposedly back, but not on my watch, sorry not sorry! So instead I would suggest going for a slimmer leg straight jean with actual breathing room. Think slouchy cool girl energy with a hint of nostalgia. Extra points if they’re a bit vintage, a bit frayed, or have the perfect lived in feel.

This year, the denim motto is: if you can sit cross legged in them and still feel cute, you’ve nailed it. (Of course that’s if your aching hips allow you to sit crosslegged - at my age it’s getting harder by the day) But you catch my drift!

Zara straight vintage style jeans, £35.99

Cos Barrel jeans, £85

Levi’s lightweight linen & denim jeans, £100

Agolde crop straight leg, £300

Arket barrel jeans, £97

Mother high rise tapered jeans, £300

Reformation dark wash, £178

Reformation slim leg jeans, £178

Jeans with a Twist (aka when your trousers are the main character)

If your top is feeling a bit meh but you still want to serve a look, let your jeans do the talking. This is where details come into play. We are seeing contrast stitching, jewel encrusted, interesting details, asymmetric waistbands and denim that looks like it moonlights as a piece of modern art. Patchwork? Go for it. Embellishment? Yes please. Jeans with zips in weird places that somehow work? That’s fashion, baby.

These are the jeans that say ‘yes I made an effort’ without you having to actually iron anything. They are outfit elevating by nature, meaning you can pair them with the most basic white tee and still get compliments. Which, let’s face it, is the dream.