We tend to think of jeans as the basic building blocks of a wardrobe, but some jeans are the life of the party—bold, extravagant, unexpected, and undeniably high-fashion. Houses like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton—and more recently, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and Valentino—have all given us big designer denim looks on the runway. And in recent years, celebrities have set the internet ablaze by dipping into their archives, as Rihanna did with a pair of $15k Gucci by Tom Ford jeans, from the house’s Spring 1999 collection, on a random Wednesday in L.A. back in 2021.
Below, we broke down 13 of our favorite designer-jean runway moments.
CHANEL
Autumn-Winter 1991-1992
For the 1991 Fall collection, Karl Lagerfeld went all-out Material Girl, with Madonna’s music playing in the background while models walked down the runway—which sounds like the perfect scene for these incredible over-the-top jeans. Adorned with gold Chanel buttons that added just the right amount of campy flair, these jeans brought a shot of youthfulness and vibrance to the tweed skirt suits Chanel lovers were used to seeing. — Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, senior fashion & accessories editor
GUCCI
by Tom Ford Spring 1999
These Gucci by Tom Ford jeans from his spring 1999 collection are so memorable—they are a collector’s item. Rihanna wore these beaded-waistband-and-feather-hemmed stunners out and about in L.A. in 2021. — Nicole Fritton, executive fashion director
CHLOÉ
Fall 2003
What a time this was for the house of Chloé! The brand was celebrating its 45th anniversary with none other than Phoebe Philo at the helm. This denim look is at the top of my list of all-time favorites. Bohemian vintage-style jeans in a sexy cut, with floral patchwork, topped off with over-the-knee red boots? Perfection.—JAC
LOUIS VUITTON
by Marc Jacobs Spring 2014
For Marc Jacobs’s final show at Louis Vuitton in Spring of 2014, he showed a glamorously Victorian take on dressed-up denim: feather epaulettes on an embroidered jet beaded tulle dress over classic, blue straight-leg jeans. — NF
DOLCE & GABBANA
Spring 2015
It was replete with tap shorts, corsets, baroque prints, and flamenco polka-dot dresses, but the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2015 collection took a sublime turn when these exquisitely fitted straight-leg jeans adorned with pearls, gems, and metallic crescent hearts came down the runway. It’s just what we needed to break up the sexy evening looks, paired perfectly with a sheer lace babydoll camisole. I love that these were worn with embellished ballet flats and a gold bag that looked like a cigarette case, for the perfect cool-girl finish. —JAC
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Spring 2016
Sarah Burton’s Spring 2016 collection for Alexander McQueen featured an opulent take on denim on denim. These court-like jacket, embroidered with a country-inspired garden of flowers in sequins and a worn-in feel, offered the perfect reflection of Burton’s not-0verly-precious approach. — NF
BALMAIN
Spring/Summer 2019
Olivier Rousteing always brings an element of French influence to his sculptural silhouettes, and it was no different for his Spring 2019 collection, where he showed these distressed and puzzled jeans with a tailored and structured tweed jacket. The mixed elements of DIY distress and cuffed layers, along with shirt arms tied around the waist, made everyone take a second look. —JAC
BOTTEGA VENETA
Fall 2022
The first look out on the runway of Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection at Bottega Veneta for Fall 2022 was a classic-blue jeans and the perfect white tank. Lean in a little closer and notice that the jeans are leather. Brilliant! —NF
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
by Julien Dossena Fall 2023 Couture
For Fall 2023 Couture Week, Julien Dossena took the helm at Jean Paul Gaultier as a guest designer. One of the most stunning moments in the show was when these trompe l’oeil beaded jeans walked the runway with a sweeping lace gown for extra drama. —JAC
VALENTINO
Couture Fall 2023
The simplicity of a white shirt and jeans was perfectly elevated by Pierpaolo Piccoli for his Fall 2023 Valentino Couture collection. The opening look, worn by Kaia Gerber, was a tribute to this classic style—except the jeans were hand-embroidered with hundreds of glass beads. For another look, Piccoli had a pair of vintage Levi’s 501s embroidered with gold sequins. — NF
UNDERCOVER
Fall 2024
The everyday feel of jeans is what draws people in. But when you add 3D appliqué of a gold raffia tuxedo stripe down the side, you get something a bit more playful—which is just what designer Jun Takahashi did with this collection. —JAC
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Fall/Winter 2024
Stella McCartney will always be a leader in eco-conscious design. Her Fall 2024 collection came with urgent messaging around the need to preserve Mother Earth, but the clothes were still relaxed and overall fun. Her take on denim with chap detailing were perfect, especially with the metallic overlay for a bit of extra shine. Someone page Beyoncé!—JAC
GUCCI
Resort 2025
At Gucci’s Resort 2025 collection, these jeans with blue-and-white threaded bead fringe details offered a quintessential touch of glamour, ornamenting daywear so it feels special. — NF
