As with many ubiquitous elements of our wardrobes, denim’s origins lie in the utilitarian. The hardwearing twill was originally worn by sailors, navvies and miners because it was one of the few materials sturdy enough to withstand the rough and tumble of manual labour. Now, of course, it’s in everyone’s wardrobe and modern designers have got creative with this most egalitarian of fabrics, fashioning it into all manner of creations beyond standard straight-leg jeans. If you want to stand out in a sea of selvedge, these five MR PORTER-approved looks will show you how to become a denim virtuoso.

For the dedicated denim head, it might be tempting to wear jeans on a 365 basis, but when the mercury’s on the up, your faithful blues can be a bit hot. Denim shorts, however, such as these from Acne Studios, mean you can stay in your selvedge without breaking a sweat. The Elder Statesman’s psychedelic cashmere sweater and Bottega Veneta’s chartreuse bucket hat add a zesty note to the mix, while Sacai’s pocket-laden Paisley jacket and LOEWE’s capacious cross-body bag will keep your effects close at hand whether you’re living it up at Wilderness Festival or just running errands in town. Bottega Veneta’s chunky loafers will provide a firm footing from field to asphalt and Jam Homemade and Hatton Labs’ folksy bijouterie will further that street-cum-festival vibe.

The life of the tortured artist might not be universally appealing, but there are stylistic gains to be had from dressing like one. Fluffy, tactile knitwear is back in a bold new guise this spring and Marni’s mohair-blend number hits a pitch-perfect note. Emotionally Unavailable’s T-shirt, designed with artist Mr Stefan Meier, lends a tongue-in-cheek irony to the ensemble while AMIRI’s jeans and Rhude’s artfully distressed sneakers will add to that louche grunge-rock appeal. No hat tip to the 1990s would be complete without some tie-dye and KAPITAL’s cap and the Acne Studios tote will bolster your Pantone points. For that final rocker flourish, add Pearls Before Swine’s hard-hitting silver chain.

“Black is more pleasing in clothing than any colour,” wrote the Italian diplomat, author and clotheshorse Mr Baldassare Castiglione in 1528. Proof, if it were needed, that the sartorially inclined have always been drawn to the dark side of the spectrum. It’s certainly an idea many subcultural movers and shakers have stuck to. The monochrome neo-Goth ensemble we have here is case in point. The oversized Balenciaga denim jacket, Our Legacy shirt and jeans from fashion’s dark lord, Mr Rick Owens, lay a suitably shady foundation for the Mastermind World hoodie, visvim skate sneakers and Balenciaga tote. The finishing touch for this modern homage to subversion, the Marine Serre cap, is made from recycled denim. Because choosing darkness over light doesn’t mean you can’t be green, too.

The rugged charisma of the rancher has never fallen from favour and doubling down with your denim, a look synonymous with heroic herdsmen, will lasso you some extra style kudos. There’s no better partner for such a co-ord than some slick leather and SAINT LAURENT’s buttery-soft jacket is worth wrangling over. You can always rely on Brunello Cucinelli to give wardrobe classics a quiet, yet luxurious spin and this Italian-made denim western shirt is a prime example. In the same stable for uncompromising refinement are TOM FORD’s jeans, cut from a skilfully washed selvedge with a well-seasoned finish. You’ll want to make the look more city-worthy than straight-off-the-prairie, so swap the boots and saddlebag for SAINT LAURENT’s clean-cut loafers and Valextra’s pebble-grain tote.

With many of us keen to engage in alfresco pursuits after life in perpetual lockdown, dressing like an urban botanist couldn’t feel more timelier. Dungarees are having another spell in the limelight in the wake of the 1990s revival and this paint-spattered denim pair from Gallery Dept. has artistic whimsy in spades, as does the painterly tie-dye T-shirt. Folksy, homespun touches are also bidding for attention this season and KAPITAL’s botanical-embroidered gilet will help your style credentials blossom. No green-fingered look would be complete without the ultimate garden shoe, the clog, and Birkenstock’s are perfect for loafing around in peak comfort. KAPITAL’s distressed-denim bucket hat bolsters that new 1990s vibe, while Friends With Animals’ Bambi tote will show that your wardrobe is in tune with nature.