To destroy something in a way that looks haphazard and rebellious can actually require a level of meticulous care. Such is the irony of ripped denim. But the careless factor is still its main appeal, no matter if you take scissors and sandpaper to a pair of jeans in your garage or pay for pre-shredded designer denim. And it’s the pursuit of effortlessness that earmarks ripped denim as sticking around for fall 2012 – just maybe not in the way you’d expected.

Ripped denim: not just for jeans

To see how ripped denim is being interpreted in 2012, you need only look to the streets. The key thing is it’s no longer just about one particular look; nor is it limited to jeans.

Other ways to inject a bit of ripped denim into your fall wardrobe:

• Raw edges at the hems of otherwise tidy jeans
• Raw edges on dresses or overalls
• Ripped denim jackets
• Layerings of different types of ripped denim

Above: street style photos from the fall 2012 fashion week season

Ripped denim: a new mood

The biggest change in how ripped denim is worn comes from a change in mood. The love of contrasts will see it move away from fully themed outfits and into an effortless mix of styles.

A perfect example: DSquared2, for their fall 2012 campaign, paired lightly ripped skinny jeans with 1950s retro glamour. It’s a subtle contrast that works wonders. Ripped denim no longer has to be about rock or grunge; marry it with any fall 2012 fashion trends, and the more surprising the better.

Cut off denim shorts

Now this is a style that truly hasn’t gone away, especially during summer. And it’s also one that’s easy enough to carry through to fall. Denim cut-offs with stockings or tights are an easy winter staple, and all you really need is a pair of scissors.

An off-duty model look of denim shorts and a biker jacket is a fail-safe, but for fall 2012 expect to also see them contrasted by sophisticated pairings up top. A crisp shirt, statement jewellery and a tailored blazer will give new life to cut-off denim shorts in a way that’s elegant and now.

Recent evolution

Like many of the fall 2012 / 2013 trends emerging, this one is coming back around from 2008-2009. Back then it was all about neo-rock and grunge, with Kate Moss leading the way, but in time it’s moved to a more refined look. As such, we don’t expect to be seeing too many examples of bum-baring shredded shorts again – just yet.