Style Series with Teo van den Broeke

The office might not seem like the obvious place for a denim shirt, but when paired with sharper pieces like a suit, it will add texture and depth to your outfit without sacrificing elegance. 

A foolproof way to elevate a denim shirt for work is by styling it with a classic charcoal wool suit - tailored in Italy for a sleek, close fit. You could opt for a traditional finish, buttoned up high and with a pair of loafers, but for a more contemporary take, leave the collar open and wear it over a silk-cashmere mock neck. 

The contrast of textures - denim, wool, and knitwear - is effortless. With shades of grey and blue as your foundation, brown accessories like a woven belt provide warmth, while a well-chosen scarf can introduce a pop of complimentary color.

For Dress-Down Friday, you’ll want to embrace the laid-back vibe of your denim shirt while still keeping things office-appropriate - full-on weekend mode can wait until point three.

This is the perfect time to experiment with colour and layering. Try wearing your denim shirt under a cashmere quarter-zip in a complementary shade like forest green or midnight blue. If you feel like channelling some Americana-infused preppiness into your look, make like a young Paul Newman and tuck a lightweight scarf beneath the collar before throwing on a chocolate brown suede bomber over the top. The mix of hues will work beautifully, while the interplay of textures provides depth. 

On your bottom half, opt for lightweight blue wool trousers - ideal for those in-between months of spring and summer. A cashmere cap in a coordinating shade will tie everything together.

The weekend is when your denim shirt truly comes into its own. Off-duty dressing is all about ease, and in my opinion, the best way to wear denim on down days is to embrace the full double - or even triple - denim look. The key to pulling it off without veering into Canadian Tuxedo territory is all about contrast. Opt for a darker wash on your jeans than your shirt to avoid looking too coordinated. 

Instead of a jacket or bomber, lean into the laid-back vibe with a shawl-collar cashmere cardigan in a shade just deeper than your jeans. For extra comfort, layer your shirt over a white silk-cotton T-shirt, because few combinations work as well as blue denim and crisp white. 

Whether you’re off to the gym or heading off on an (Italian, certo) minibreak - Luca Faloni’s chocolate brown weekender is the perfect finishing touch. Crafted in Tuscany from the finest leather, it’s designed to get better with age - just like your new denim shirt.