Clodagh McKenna nails double denim with ultra high-waisted jeans that are now at the top of my wish-list

So many denim trends for 2026 are easy to get on board with and this includes double denim which is set to have a resurgence (did it ever go away?) over the coming months. The so-called Canadian Tuxedo is something you can also get away with wearing in winter and Clodagh McKenna has done just that.

The Irish chef recently shared her recipe for 'Sunshine Soup' from her new book, Happy Cooking, and in her post she had on a button-down denim shirt and ultra high-waisted jeans. You can adjust double denim outfits so easily to suit your style, both with the silhouettes and tones.

Many people prefer having more of a colour contrast between the jeans and the top, but Clodagh went for similar washes. Her shirt, which had a neat collar and long sleeves, was only slightly paler than her jeans.

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Going for mid-blue shades like she did is a clever move as I think they are the most versatile. Dark indigo denim can look a bit too formal or stark for certain occasions and likewise, very pale blues lend themselves to casual outings.

The chef's outfit struck a good balance between these two aesthetics and she left several shirt buttons undone, balancing out how high-rise her jeans were. Finding the best jeans for your body type is such a personal thing and high-rise designs are incredibly popular as they accentuate the waist and create a leg-elongating effect.

The waistband of Clodagh's jeans was wide and featured two statement silver buttons and handy belt loops. She tucked in her shirt so each item flowed smoothly into the other and high-waisted denim lends itself to this styling.

In the post she shared on social media with her soup recipe, we only got a glimpse of the ITV star from the thighs up so we can't be sure what the rest of the jeans looked like. Given how relaxed the top of them is, it would make sense if they were a looser style like straight, wide or barrel-leg.

Wide-leg jeans are my personal favourite as they are comfy and drape effortlessly over any type of footwear. With a more fitted denim shirt like Clodagh's, this shape would work well, though if you are a die-hard skinny jean fan then reach for them.

Some people find double denim daunting because it can be quite a bold look and I would advise sticking to denim shapes and colours you already wear a lot as it'll make you more confident pairing jackets or shirts and jeans together.

The good news is that once you've got your main denim outfit pieces together, the rest of the look is a breeze. Denim goes with any other colours so your bag, shoe and coat options are endless. Clodagh didn't need any outerwear whilst she was cooking at home and she's been reaching for a lot of knee-high boots and ankle boots recently.

She most likely chose a pair of them to go with her ensemble, as she did when she wore a double-denim-esque outfit on This Morning back in November. Whether or not her Nobody's Child blouse actually was denim, it had that look about it and she styled it with similar-toned belted jeans.