Denim is comfortable, hard wearing. It can be sophisticated or sexy, clean or rough. There’s more than one reason why it’s such a permanent fixture on the fashion map, and more than one reason why it deserves dedicated attention when it comes to looking at fall 2012′s fashion trends. Count its long and culturally significant history, its versatility, and its ability to find new ways into our wardrobes amoung them.

Want to know how trends in denim are taking shape for the fall / winter 2012 season and beyond? Read on.

Cropped jeans

It’s been a while since we’ve been attached to jean styles that bare our ankles. It’s a small change but a significant once, considering key styles for the past few years have gravitated towards full-length skinny or flared styles.

On the fall 2012 runways cropped jeans were at their best when cut just above the ankle (as opposed to mid-calf or below the knee) and when kept slim cut or with a light kick out at the bottom. To lengthen the legs and make this silhouette really work for you, heels are the best option.

Cropped jeans at Diesel Black Gold and DSquared2, F/W ’12

Western inspired denim

Isabel Marant’s fall 2012 runway channeled the Wild West with embroidery, fringing and contrast detail. Just because it’s Western inspired doesn’t mean it needs to be dirty; neat, structured denim in cropped cuts makes for a vintage cowgirl look in 2012.

Western style jeans at Isabel Marant, F/W ’12

Denim jackets

Denim jackets may call to mind all things ’90s, but this fall it’s all about getting creative with styling. Denim jackets made it into a number of runway collections as well as the look books of various denim brands signalling a return of this daywear classic. The trick is to keep it interesting: at Diesel Black Gold clean, dark denim jackets were styled over crisp long-sleeved shirts, while DSquared2 shattered all preconceptions completely by pairing their over glamorous rockabilly evening looks or layered under women’s tuxedo jackets. A plain denim jacket can be dull, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.

Denim jackets at Diesel Black Gold and DSQuared2, F/W ’12

Double denim

Oh no, you say? But before you have flashbacks of bad ’80s double-denim faux pas, let it be known that double denim has been reinvented in clean, fresh and modern ways. It doesn’t have to be jeans and a matching jacket, either – chambray shirts, cut-off shorts, layerings of different denim shades and plays on silhouettes. Double denim for fall is a risk but one that can pay off.

Kasia Struss wearing double denim in Vogue Mexico, August 2012

Other denim trends