Dressing Up Denim

Q: Can I wear denim for work or evening and not feel underdressed?

A: O's creative director Adam Glassman says, "Suzanne Raffaelli (above) might be a mom, but tacking a jacket onto dowdy mom jeans—too saggy, too high waisted, and way too light—is not my idea of dressed-up denim.

"I take the minority view that jeans shouldn't go everywhere. Denim—not necessarily blue, because I'm fond of charcoal and black—is another story, particularly now that it's available in a range of fresh, fashionable incarnations. Incorporating these new pieces guarantees that you'll look youthful, dressier than you would in jeans, and never overdone, even if you pair a jacket with a sequined dress."

Pencil in a new office uniform that includes a slim denim skirt, white shirt and trendy ankle boots.

A well-cut blazer at a pared-down price gives a professional edge to casual off-white.

Subtract the flash from a shimmery dress and jeweled shoes with a casual denim trench.

Power trousers—yes, they're denim—are far sleeker than jeans and pair nicely with a knit jacket.

Looking for more new fall clothes? Adam talks you through 8 other fashion blocks so you can get the most out of the latest trends .