How to Style Black Wash Jeans: Tips for Casual and Dressy Outfits

Black jeans are a winter wardrobe must-have, offering endless versatility and effortless style. Today, I’m sharing 9 chic black wash denim outfits, complete with styling tips to help you create polished looks for any occasion.

9 Fall/Winter Outfits with Black Wash Jeans

Black wash jeans come in a variety of silhouettes and are available at all price points. If you need to refresh yours, I rounded up my top recommendations at the end of this post in a convenient shopping widget. You’ll notice that I generally prefer the black washes with some subtle fading and distressing to the inky black washes. I like how they add an edgy vibe to an outfit, and they’re easy to dress up or down, which makes them super versatile and helps reduce cost per wear. Meanwhile, here are 9 easy outfits with black wash jeans for your winter style inspiration!

Keep It Casual With A Utility Jacket

One of my favorite pairs of black wash jeans is the AG Mari, a slim, straight-leg jean with a hint of stretch. My exact pair is the City View wash from last season, but 8 Years Black Salt looks very similar. I styled them here with a long sleeve gray tee with stripe detail and burgundy suede sneakers for a sporty look that I wear running errands and working from home.

I topped it off with an oversized utility shacket in a soft shade of rust that relates to one of the stripes in the t-shirt. I love this mix of muted colors, and I think they’re especially nice for fall. My crossbody bag is the Hammitt VIP in a buttery black pebbled leather with gunmetal hardware. It’s a great bag for casual looks.

Pistola Utility Shacket (S) // Evereve Ella pullover (S) // AG Mari (29) (similar for less) // Vince Oasis (8) // Hammitt VIP crossbody // Jenny Bird earrings // Gorjana Parker Necklace // YSL sunnies (budget option)

Go Sporty With a Relaxed Pullover & Black Jeans

Another easy way to style black wash jeans is with a “beyond basic” sweatshirt, like this stripe-trim pullover in a deep rust shade. I love the boxy fit, side stripe details, and raglan sleeves for a sporty, laid-back vibe that still looks polished and put together.

I finished the look with my white leather VEJA Esplar sneakers with black accents to tie in the black from the jeans and a pair of chic sunglasses with the shiny black frames.

Taylor Stripe Trim Sweatshirt (S) // AG Mari (29) (similar for less) // VEJA Esplar (39) // YSL sunnies (budget option)

Add a Preppy Twist With a Houndstooth Jacket

For a dressier look that’s still highly versatile, I styled these same jeans with a black cashmere sweater and a wool blend zip-up jacket in a brown/black houndstooth print. I have this Rails Cheyenne Zip Jacket in a solid black from last year, and I wore it quite a lot, so I know this houndstooth version will be a great addition to my fall/winter wardrobe.

Rails Cheyenne Houndstooth Zip Jacket (S) // Vince Classic Crewneck Cashmere Sweater (M) // AG Mari (29) (similar for less) // similar loafers // Quince box bag // Jenny Bird earrings // triple chain necklace // YSL sunnies (budget option)

The black sweater I’m wearing underneath is the Vince Classic Crewneck Cashmere Sweater. It’s a simple crewneck style, but the quality is exceptional, and I really like the easy fit. I can see having this in my closet for many years. The triple chain necklace is a nice way to add some casual bling to the outfit, and I also wore these gold tone Jenny Bird earrings and my favorite YSL sunnies.

The black loafers are okay with this look, but in combination with the classic houndstooth patterned jacket, I feel like the outfit skews a little too conservative for my personal style. I meant to bring my rag & bone Walker Chelsea Boots to wear with this outfit, and I think they would feel much more authentic, but both are solid options. Also, this Quince box bag adds an elegant touch.

Get Cozy With A Fair Isle Mockneck Sweater

For a more budget-friendly alternative to the AG Mari slim straight jeans, the Gap Factory High Rise Vintage Slim Jeans are a great option. I paired them with a cozy fair isle mockneck sweater in complementary neutral tones for a timeless, wintry vibe. The loafers give the outfit a classic, preppy touch, but you could easily swap them for Chelsea boots if you want a more rugged look.

To toughen up the outfit and add a contrasting texture, throw on a faux leather bomber jacket. This one is an amazing price right now, and I love the shearling collar for an extra cozy detail.

Side note: With the addition of the bomber jacket, I would definitely prefer a black leather or suede bootie to the loafers, or you could also wear a low profile sneaker such as the VEJA Esplar.

Gap Factory Faux Leather Shearling Bomber (S) // Gap Factory Fair Isle Mockneck Sweater (S) // Gap Factory Soft Vintage Slim Jeans (30) // similar loafers // Quince box bag

Elevate Black Denim With a Luxe Striped Cardigan

Another way I like to wear black wash jeans is with this Rails stripe cardigan that’s part of the Bloomingdale’s Black Friday promo (save $25 off every $100). The classic camel-and-black color combination always feels polished and sophisticated, and I love the boxy, slightly oversized shape. It’s the perfect blend of relaxed and refined. The bold stripe pattern adds just the right amount of interest, while the black block-heel ankle boots keep the look modern and pulled-together.

I added gold jewelry to complement the warm camel tones and a structured black tote for extra polish. I feel like this outfit strikes the perfect balance of casual elegance!

Rails Geneva Cardigan (S) (option) // AG Mari (29) (similar for less) // similar Marc Fisher boots (8) // similar sunglasses // similar tote // similar link necklace // similar hoops

Create a Sleek Monochrome Look With Black Denim

Black wash jeans are my favorite foundation for a monochromatic winter look, and the FRAME Le Slim Raw Fray Hem Palazzo Jeans have a slim wide leg silhouette that’s right on trend. Here, I’ve styled them with a short-sleeve sweater, suede kitten heel booties, and the AllSaints Orten Leather Bomber Jacket.

This leather bomber adds the perfect touch of toughness while keeping the vibe luxe and sophisticated. For more budget-friendly options, Quince has a washed leather bomber that’s under $200, and Gap Factory has a faux leather option that is currently on sale for $40! You seriously can’t beat that.

AllSaints bomber jacket (8) (budget option) // Treasure & Bond sweater – 30% off (M) // FRAME Le Slim Raw Fray Hem Palazzo Jeans (29) // Sam Edelman booties – 47% off! (8) // Hammitt VIP crossbody // FRAME belt (90) (budget option) // Victoria Emerson bracelet // silver hoops

For a dressier version of a monochromatic all black outfit, I paired a luxe cashmere sweater with washed black flares. The PAIGE Laurel Canyon is my favorite bootcut style. My exact jeans are from last year, but this Black Sands wash is similar. I added black suede booties and topped off the look with a cozy faux fur jacket.

This Luxe Faux Fur Jacket from Sanctuary has a versatile 24″ length and a stand collar. I feel like the zip-up style is slightly more casual than the shawl collar style I’m wearing below with the sequin top. I tend to wear this one with more casual looks for winter date nights, as shown here.

Sanctuary faux fur jacket (S) // Vince Weekend Cashmere V-Neck (S) (budget option) // PAIGE Laurel Canyon Bootcut Jeans (29) (budget option) // similar boots

Frame a Chic Column of Black With a Classic Camel Coat

This fool-proof outfit formula is one of my favorites for creating an effortlessly chic and polished look. I styled the same PAIGE Laurel Canyon High Rise Bootcut Jeans and luxe black cashmere sweater with black suede block heel booties to create a column of black. To frame the look, I topped it all off with my favorite camel topcoat from J.Crew.

The J.Crew Daphne topcoat in Italian boiled wool is 50% off right now, and that’s an amazing value! This coat is made of a super-cozy boiled wool that’s tightly woven for major warmth and less bulk. I wore it on repeat all last winter, and I can’t wait to break it out again this season. The camel color is more of a cool tone, which works best with my coloring, and I love the contrasting black buttons.

J.Crew Daphne Topcoat – 53% off (6) // Vince Weekend Cashmere V-Neck (S) (budget option) // PAIGE Laurel Canyon Bootcut Jeans (29) (budget option) // Sam Edelman booties – 47% off! (8) // FRAME belt

Top Off Your Black Denim with a Sequin Top for Festive Flair

You can even dress up your black denim with a sequin top for a festive holiday look. This Vince Camuto sequin top is an easy pullover that really packs a punch, with the sparkly sequins and flattering cap sleeves and v-neckline that adds just the right amount of glam.

To take the glam factor up a notch, layer on a faux fur jacket! This cropped style with the cozy shawl collar is the ultimate topper for any holiday ensemble. I finished the look with red patent slingback flats for a playful pop of color that adds dimension and keeps the eye moving from head to toe.

BlankNYC faux fur jacket (M) // Vince Camuto sequin top (S) // AG Mari (29) // Sam Edelman flats in Cabernet Red (8) // mesh bracelets // box chain necklace // pavé circle pendant // pavé cubic zirconia hoops

Add Shine With a Metallic Top and Slingback Flats

For a look that’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve party or a casual holiday gathering, I styled these jeans with a shimmery metallic top and sleek black slingback flats. The subtle shimmer of the metallic top adds just the right amount of festive flair, while the black slingbacks bring a unique twist with their snake-print texture. I love how the black hardware on the shoes ties into the metallic tones of the top, creating a cohesive, polished finish.