Anita Rani has reminded us why jeans and a striped shirt will always be a staple outfit base as she put together a breezy casual look on holiday.
What do we always end up coming back to if we don’t know what to wear? Jeans and a nice top or, in the case of winter, jeans and our best cashmere jumpers. The combination of denim with an easy-to-wear shirt or knit is timeless and has a relaxed but chic feel to it and can be dressed up or down. Once you’ve found the best jeans for your body type you can re-wear them again and again with confidence and Anita Rani has just made a case for wide leg jeans.
The broadcaster has been enjoying a trip to India this month and on 15th January she posted a brilliant video clip on Instagram as she documented her hunt for a new suitcase to fit all her exciting holiday purchases in. On this casual sunny outing Anita wore a pair of blue wide leg jeans with an oversized striped shirt and sandals.
Shop Wide Leg Jeans
Affordable and comfy, these wide-leg jeans come in a range of different washes and this light indigo is perfect if you want a similar denim look to Anita Rani's. They are high waisted and have added stretch in the denim, with two back pockets and contrast stitching.
The Princess of Wales is a fan of & Other Stories jeans and this particular style is so easy to wear. The lighter blue wash and wide-leg shape give these jeans a relaxed feel that works for off-duty days, but they can also be dressed up with heeled boots.
These jeans have a slightly darker tone to them and have a fitted wide that flares out into the wide-leg shape. They are retro-inspired and we would style them with a cosy knit in the winter and a shirt or T-shirt as the weather gets warmer.
Complete The Look
Featuring delicate blue and stripes, this washed Oxford cotton shirt has a classic button-up design and a yoke with a hanger at the back. The shoulders are slightly dropped for a relaxed feel and the shirt is a little longer at the back.
Anita Rani looked to be wearing Birkenstocks during her trip to India and the Arizona sandals are very comfortable and easy to slip on and off. There are so many colours to choose from and this neutral beige is great for pairing with different outfits.
This pure cotton striped shirt is a versatile addition to anyone's smart-casual wardrobe. It's got an oversized fit with a chest pocket, neat cuffs and a collared neckline. Tuck into jeans or leave loose like Anita Rani did depending on how smart or casual you want to be.
It might sound like a simple outfit - and it is - but this is what makes it so elegant and also very easy to recreate. Many of us will already have a striped shirt or wide leg jeans in your winter capsule wardrobe and if you don’t, there are so many options available right now that will give you a similar look. Anita’s jeans were a light blue wash which always has a bit more of a casual feel compared to dark indigo and black jeans.
This complemented the relaxed silhouette and opting for a paler shade of blue with your jeans is a lovely way to add a bit more contrast into an outfit if you style them with a darker jumper or top. The broadcasting star took a different approach and threw on an oversized blue and white striped shirt with her jeans, which she left untucked over the waistband.
She rolled the sleeves up to her elbows too and although this was probably more of a practical decision to help keep her cool in the hot weather it also accentuated the effortlessness of her outfit. The stripes were delicate and the blue was similar to the tone of her jeans. This tied the two pieces together even more and a striped shirt and jeans is a failsafe look for the daytime whilst on holiday when you’re not by a pool or at the beach.
It also works for spring and summer in the UK, but just because Anita Rani wore her wide leg jeans and shirt in warm weather doesn’t mean it can’t be worn in the winter. If you want to style these staples right now then all you need is to embrace layering with your best winter accessories and knitwear. Add a knitted vest, jumper or cardigan over the top of a classic cotton shirt or wear a thermal top underneath for extra cosiness.
Instead of ballet flats or sandals, we’d recommend going for a pair of simple ankle boots that will fit seamlessly under your wide leg jeans. In India Anita wore footbed sandals that looked like they could potentially have been the iconic Arizona style by Birkenstock. They had two straps, buckles and were a soft beige colour that looked great with the light colour palette of her clothes.
She also owns a similar sandals in a green colour that she wore elsewhere on her trip with a pink and white striped shirt dress. It just shows how stripes and shirts are a key part of her holiday wardrobe.
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