Written by Lewis Cameron​

Sat. 13. Oct.

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Three years ago saw a defining moment in the revolution of the denim shirt. I.e. The denim shirt made its glorious return. Fast forward to present day fashion and I can inform you all, my wardrobe contains at least five. All of which find regular use on a weekly basis. Two light shades. One dark from Versace for H&M. Another dark blue version and a grey black distressed alternate.

The last two mentioned however have undergone a dramatic change since their original purchase. My dark denim shirt is now covered in gold fabric paint with two oversized Crown emblems on either shoulder. The collar tips also painted gold with mini star detailing painted alongside the white stone buttons.  My grey and black distressed denim shirt having been revamped most recently to feature harsh gold studs on both of the chest pockets.

Why did I do this? Because I got very bored with wearing the same old denim shirt time and time again and I had the means available to rework and revamp them, so why not?  It is ridiculously accessible for people to embellish, stud, paint, patch, tie-dye, bleach and rip a denim shirt to death through vintage stores and the remarkable and reliable world of Ebay.

DIY fashion bloggers have being doing it for quite some time now and with the catwalk influence taking its toll, the high street has finally begun to catch up where men’s reworked denim is concerned.
Zara offer a country vintage take on the trend with studs along the shoulder stitching with a slightly more formal take in the form of a no studding alternative but with a contrasting black leather collar. 
For the more eccentric runway collector, Zara’s colourful paisley print panelled denim shirt is a must-have.

Continuing with the paisley print option is high-street haven River Island with a pale blue shirt featuring a soft off-white scarf print detailing throughout the fabric. Perfect for blending with other styles of denim creating the modern mix and match effect in an instant. Other options from River Island include a blue light wash denim shirt with fairisle pattern knit back and pocket detail for those looking to inject a touch of Autumn/Winter into their denim related attire. Or a plain black denim shirt featuring a single row of gold studs on either side creating a sophisticated take for those looking to move for a slightly more formal alternative.

High-street destinations aside, my go to guide has got to be Asos Marketplace. It contains so many quirky and innovative pieces available with one goal in mind to create a one-off piece. For example, one particular garment featured leopard print patterns sown strategically onto pockets, elbows and sides. Words cannot describe how outrageously awesome it was. A quick browse reveals a leather collared retro piece and an amazing 90s inspired floral embroidered version. All available for £30 or under.

What are you all waiting for? Go get your reworked denim! And if one is strapped for cash simply pick up a pile of studs from Ebay. If you can’t be bothered to pick up a glue gun and make your fingers feel ridiculously numb as a result of the studding process, buy yourself a pair of gold collar tips…they lift any denim shirt from dull and drab to dapper and dream worthy in an instant.

Items available from Zara.com, Riverisland.com and marketplace.asos.com. Images courtesy of Zara, River Island and Asos Marketplace.