Out of the blue

Understandably, you may well have thought they had never gone away, on account of the fact that most of us wear jeans at least some of the time, but really, there's so much more to denim than jeans for spring/summer '10.

For a start there are denim dresses, lots of them, in styles ranging from fitted shifts to strapless body-con styles and then drop-waist shirt dresses. All are perfect transitional key pieces to team with brown leather accessories, or perhaps black, plus the odd flash of bold colour (necklaces, bangles, earrings). Also try denim dresses teamed with leggings, especially silky ones in blue or grey.

Denim jackets continue as a trend for this spring, as do denim shorts, which have never looked better, although do keep your opaques on, at least until May. Slightly longer 1980s-style militaristic versions that belt at the waist are looking especially chic worn with near-match blue skinny jeans and if you look on e-bay or at vintage fairs, you should be able to find an original '80s (from experience, I know that these last decades and decades).

Actually, there is an awful lot of denim on denim going on – that is, a denim shirt teamed with denim jeans or even skirt. It's a look that has been ridiculed for years as offering up the worst-ever '80s and early '90s imitation cowgirl look, but hey, now it's really cool, in a chic and natural kind of way. Go for either mid-dark denim jeans and pale denim shirt, or medium to pale denim jeans with pale denim top.

Have your hair loose and natural and your feet bare wherever possible. Personally, I wouldn't team with cowboy boots (see above) and instead I'd go for platform strappy sandals with both wide leg and skinnys, though probably not for boyfriend jeans, which are again making a major comeback – you know, those loose-fitting, straight-leg, slouchy with turn-ups jeans that look great on just about everybody, but especially pear shapes, curvaceous types and slim petites.

These look retro-chic with long and short-sleeve T-shirts (especially striped ones right now). Look out too for harem-style shorter jeans and also long ones with elasticated or nipped-in cuffs at the ankle, for a quirky new take on the jean.

Finally, denim accessories are everywhere, from denim shoes (shoe-boots and sneaker styles) to full-on strappy sandals. Look out too for denim bags (the ultimate slouch bag for beaches and shopping) and denim cuffs, headbands and hats.

Although not all at once, please.