How to Wear Dark Wash Jeans in Spring and Summer Over 50
When spring and summer roll around, we tend to think lighter is better; lighter fabrics, lighter colors, lighter everything. But I’m here to tell you, don’t put away those dark wash jeans just yet! I wear my dark wash denim year-round, and honestly, it’s one of the easiest ways to look a little more polished without even trying. If you’re wondering how to make them work when the temperatures start climbing, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with easy tips and outfit ideas that’ll have you reaching for those dark jeans all spring and summer long.
If you’re wondering what style or wash of jean you should wear, check out these recent posts: Best Straight Leg Pants and Jeans for Women Over 50, How to Wear Flare Jeans Over 50, and the Best Jean Washes for Women Over 50 (That Aren’t Just Blue!)
Why I Still Wear Dark Wash Jeans in Warmer Weather
First of all, dark jeans are flattering. They slim you down, they’re easy to dress up or down, and they hide little spills better than light jeans, which, if you’re anything like me, is a major plus when there’s sweet tea or barbecue sauce involved.
And let’s be honest…they just feel a little dressier sometimes. If you want to pull together a look quickly, dark denim does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
How to Keep Dark Jeans Looking Fresh for Spring and Summer
Wearing dark jeans in the warmer months isn’t hard at all—you just need to style them a little differently. Here’s what works for me:
1. Lighten Up the Top Half
I like to pair dark jeans with light, bright tops to balance things out. A white blouse, a pastel t-shirt, or a colorful tank can instantly make your outfit feel more like spring and summer.
When in doubt, grab something white—you can’t go wrong!
2. Switch Up Your Shoes
This is where you can really make a difference. Instead of boots or heavy shoes, I reach for lighter options like:
- White sneakers
- Espadrilles
- Flat sandals
- Wedge sandals
Still feel confused about what shoes to wear? Don’t worry! I have an entire guide for picking out what shoes to wear with your jeans that you can read here: The Best Shoes to Wear With Every Pant Style in 2025
3. Pick Breezy Fabrics
Even though jeans are heavier, you can still stay cool by pairing them with lightweight fabrics. Think cotton, linen, gauze, or anything that breathes.
The last thing you want is to feel weighed down when it’s already 85 degrees outside!
4. Roll ‘Em Up or Go Cropped
Rolling up your jeans or wearing a cropped pair instantly makes dark denim feel a lot more summery. Plus, it shows off your cute sandals or espadrilles!
Outfit Ideas: How to Wear Dark Wash Jeans Over 50 in Spring and Summer
If you need some inspiration, here are a few of my favorite ways to style dark wash jeans this time of year:
Best Dark Wash Jean Styles for Women Over 50
If you’re thinking about grabbing a new pair, here’s what I look for when shopping for dark jeans in spring and summer:
- Straight Leg Jeans: Classic and easy to dress up or down.
- Cropped Dark Wash Jeans: Great for showing off your cute sandals.
- Wide-Leg or Flare Jeans: Perfect if you want something breezy and on-trend.
- High-Rise Dark Wash Jeans: They help smooth everything out and feel secure (no tugging or adjusting all day).
Also, look for lightweight denim if you can find it. Some brands make jeans that aren’t as heavy, and it really does make a difference when it’s hot outside.
My Favorite Dark Wash Jeans for Women Over 50
If you love a little nautical vibe in your wardrobe, you’re going to adore these jeans. The button-front sailor style is so flattering, and the wide leg gives you plenty of breathing room for spring and summer. Plus, the all-day stretch makes them comfortable enough to wear from morning to night without feeling like you’re stuffed into your clothes.
These jeans are for those days when you want to look a little more polished without giving up your denim. I love that they have a clean, trouser-style fit with a darker wash that’s easy to dress up. Pair them with a pretty blouse and wedges, and you’ve got a look that works for everything from brunch to casual Fridays at the office.
Talk about an easy pair of jeans to throw on and go! These have a relaxed fit that feels laid-back but still looks put-together, and the dark wash makes them perfect for year-round wear. Wear these with a simple white tee and some fun sneakers when I’m running errands or meeting friends for coffee.
These jeans are such a fun option if you want something a little different! The kick flare gives them a modern twist, and the frayed hem adds just the right amount of casual flair. I especially love that they come in petite sizing, so you don’t have to worry about getting them hemmed if you’re on the shorter side like me.
This is one of those great everyday jeans you’ll reach for again and again. The straight-leg crop is perfect for showing off your favorite sandals. You can dress these up or down so easily, which makes them a must-have for spring and summer.
If you’re looking for a pair of jeans that feels more like your favorite lounge pants, this is it! These lightweight ankle jeans have a relaxed fit and a comfy drawstring waist that’s perfect for casual days. I love wearing them with a simple tank and sandals when it’s hot out — they give you that laid-back, beachy vibe without looking sloppy.
How to Keep Dark Wash Jeans Looking Great in Spring and Summer
One thing to remember about dark wash jeans is that they can fade if you wash them too often. To keep yours looking rich and deep:
- Wash them inside out in cold water
- Use a gentle, color-protecting detergent
- Hang them to dry instead of tossing them in the dryer
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I’m convinced it’s time to try the wider leg jeans. Hope I can pull it off!! Found it!😊
Love the Chicos print georgette blouse!
🙂 my favorite on you is the Draper James high rise wide leg jeans. The whole outfit is beautiful:)
🙂 Dark jeans and a white shirt, always a great choice! Actually wearing it today! lol
🙂. I couldn’t get pictures to download yesterday, so I’m a day late but found it today!
😊 I found it. Love the dress that was a pink color. Just afraid it will be so long on me. Classy outfits you put together. Keep them coming and have a blessed day.
🙂 I love dark jeans with a white button up.
Tania, I do prefer dark jeans over all but like to lightened things up in the summer time. Great post!! 🙂
Blessing,
👍
😊 I love dark wash jeans all year too!
🙂 I like those sailor pants from J Jill. I’ve never bought from them before – hope they run TTS. We don’t have most of the stores you shop around here, except for Talbots.
🙂 Great suggestions! Love the outfit with the leopard top.
🙂 The majority of my jeans are dark wash. I love the sold out 🙁 leopard print top.
😊
Love the dark wash jeans. Will need to do a try on haul soon.
I love the way your hair changes style with different outfits. Very versatile cut and🙂
It is probably a matter of how dirty it is. Lol!
🙂 Agree that dark jeans are dressier, especially flared. If you wash jeans and then hang to dry, are they stiff?
They can be, but I’ll throw them in the dryer for a few minutes if they are.
Stephanie
🙂Love the Loft mid rise jeans in the dark wash! I will have to buy those jeans!
Karen
😊 I love dark wash jeans; they are easy to “dress up!”
😊cute clothing
😊. Jeans are cute
Dark wash jeans dress up so well! Found it 🙂
🙂
found it
I usually reach for dark wash when I want a little more dressier look.
🙂 🙂 found two
Love dark wash jeans and the way you style them. You mentioned hot at 85 – here in south Texas that would be a cool day. haha
You are a lucky neenee to be able to choose daily to go watch your grandchildren. Mine are so far away.
Love your ideas!!! I like lightening up my top with the darker denim in summer, for sure. And your other post, about shoes with shorts, because I’m petite, I like to wear open shoes as much as possible with shorts to give me some illusion of height. And believe you me, when I see myself in photos with family and friends, it becomes very apparent that it is just an illusion. LOL!!!
😊 I do usually prefer the darker wash and it looks great with summer colors. I don’t wear jeans once the weather warms though. lol
My boy also chooses number 12! He’s worn that pretty much every football (flag & tackle) seasons since kindergarten. He’s going into middle school next school year.
It’s a very good number!
Enjoyed the post on dark wash jeans. I wear them year around and follow the light airy top suggestion in warmer weather.
😊Dark wash jeans are my favorite – thanks for all the options!
I prefer darker wash jeans. However, I do have some light denim as well. And if counselors of white denim for summer! 😎
☺ I love to wear jeans in the summer too, and you provided so many ways to adapt them for warmer days. As always you look great in everything you model!
😊good info
😀. I wear my dark wash jeans all year long. They’re so slimming!
Love the JCrew jeans!😊
🙂 WeLOVE our jeans. I’m kinda partial to the dark wash.
🙂 I tend to wear ankle or cropped length denim in warm weather. I like both dark and light wash.
😊I love dark jeans! Thanks for all the great options!
😊 I enjoyed this post too! I love jeans – both dark and light wash!
Thank you for the variety…you look great in everything!
I love jeans so comfortable .. both dark and light .. ☺ found it
🙂 Really like the dark wash jeans
🙂 Dark wash is my go to all year long. Just ordered a lighter weight/color top for summer. Hope it goes well with both white and dark wash jeans.
😊 huge fan of dark jeans.
🙂found it. I like lighter weight denim and lighter color in the summer.
🙂 I like darker jeans pretty much year round. They don’t have to be dark-dark, but I’m not crazy about a really light wash.
🙂 Found it! Thank you for giving us so many options to consider for jeans!! You have done all of the work for us!! Much appreciated!!
🙂 I love dark wash jeans.
🙂Dark wash jeans are my favorite. So versatile!
🙂 I love dark wash and typically don’t go lighter than medium wash.
😊 found l! I don’t like anything I see in stores now days. I went shopping yesterday and got two tee shirts and that was it. Everything is too long if I look for a dress. Jeans are too long. I try and find petite. Not many stores carry petite anymore. Have a great day.
Big big fan of dark wash jeans!!!😁
😊I like to wear dark jeans with white in the summer.
😊 Dark wash jeans are definitely more slimming but I don’t shy away from white jeans. White is very fresh and can be worn with basically everything.
🙂I like dark wash for dressier occasions and light wash for casual times.
🙂 I prefer dark jeans, love the Chico’s frayed hem.
🙂 lots of good ideas here
🙂 dark wash jeans are my go-to
FOUND IT🙂! I only have one pair of light wash jeans that I wear spring and summer. Most of my jeans are dark or medium wash. I like the Chicos light weight drawstring jeans as they look easy to wear.
🙂 I like the dark for a dresser look.
🙂Love the Draper James blue pieces!
😎 Found it! Just realized I ONLY have dark wash jeans so this is soooo helpful!
😊I prefer dark wash jeans. However, I do wear the lighter wash in the spring and summer months.
~Lisa~
🙂 I like a dark wash jean with sandals and a light top in the summer.
🙂 I love dark wash jeans.
Found it!
Love the “lighter tops”…. Really tired of winter clothes!
🙂 love the dark wash crop pants.
🙂 Dark wash jeans look great!
I found it 🙂
My favorite jeans are dark washed straight leg jeans. They are so versatile.
🙂 found it. I think the best style of jeans to dress up are the flare leg jeans.
🙂 This post was great for me because most of my jeans are dark washed.
🙂
I love the side slit detail of that first pair. Very nice!
🙂 I prefer the dark wash jeans !
🙂 Love the Chico’s kick flare. We wear jeans year round out here.
😀 I like dark wash jeans. Really like the Draper Jane pair..
Karen
🙂yes dark jeans
😊 Dark wash are my favorites but summer’s a good time for variety (I was gifted with yellow jeans & am having fun with them!)
I prefer dark wash jeans. They have a dressier look.
😊 looking into some drawstring jeans
Hardly ever wore denim growing up and it seems now I practically live in it! 🙂
🙂
I love the finished look of dark wash jeans. Any time of year!
😀 I have a pair of Kut bootcut in dark wash and love them for times I want to look a bit dresser but not to the dress slacks level. The dark wash is a great level up.
😊 I prefer dark jeans, but in summer i do like lighter ones. I like the Chico drawstring jeans…they look so comfy😊
I love lighter colors in summer also.
I love jeans now that I am retired, both dark and light. Found it 🙂
😀!! I love this post and love dark jeans and capris! I have larger hips and thighs and find them very slimming. The outfits you show are a home run. I live in the North and these are great picks for us! The white pants just add a lot of visual weight on gurls with my body type
I love the dark wash jeans year round. They have a classy look about them with a nice top and a little dressy shoe!
Prefer dark but it does depend on the situation.
Found it!
😀I find that I like a light wash jean in the summer. The dark wash do create a slimming appearance.
🙂 I love my dark washed jeans!
Found it.
I need to check out the Chicos drawstring jeans! So cute!!! Happy Wednesday❤❤❤
🙂 Hang my jeans to dry.. .and almost everything else! l like both washes.
😊 I love both light & dark wash jeans. Very cute options!
Dark wash jeans gets my vote! Oh and look at those Chico draw string! 😀 yes I found it!
Dark wash gets my vote! Oh and look at those Chico draw string! 😀 yes I found it!
😊 great jean selection. I love going to my grandson’s baseball games. ⚾️
You know how happy you made your grandson 😀
Found both of them!😀😀
I have both light and dark jeans, but usually gravitate to light or white since I live in Florida. 🌴🌞🌴
😀
I love light wash jeans but feel dressier in dark wash. The Draper James wide leg are super cute for summer.
🙂 Perfect post today. I have several of your denim picks and always wonder what to do with them! Love that sleeveless animal print top on you!
🙂 I agree that dark is always more dressy than a lighter wash. When it gets really hot my go to is just white. I have been wearing my dark wash more this spring with light colored tops and white sneakers.
Found it 🙂 I like the Loft and Talbot’s jeans. They are always reliable brands, too.
Found it! My preference is a dark wash. Thanks for the tips on washing and drying jeans.
I really like the look of lighter wash jeans, but, typically wear a medium to dark wash because of the reasons you shared. 🙂 🙂
🙂great post!
😀 I love that ruana!
I like dark denim best! 😊
The Chicos drawstring look perfect for those days when you need to wear long pants in the summer. They are really cute!😊
😊Found it. Love the dark jeans
☺️
Dark wash is probably my favorite color jeans to wear. Thanks for lots of styling ideas to keep it interesting.
: ) Love the dark wash.
😊 thank you for this post. I am always looking for different tops to wear with my jeans
:). Found it!
I’m ready to throw out all my jeans and start over. How many pairs of jeans are too many for a gurl to have?
I don’t know. I’ve not reached that limit yet. 🤣
🙂 Found it. I really liked the white/ivory sleeveless button down sweater you had on in the first picture, where is it from?
Here is the link to that sweater: https://amzlink.to/az05vCSpHXtPP
Thanks so much for the link to the sweater. Shoot! they are out of my size
Found it. I really like the Draper James ankle jeans. Thanks for the post!
🙂 Found smiley! I love dark wash jeans, they look leveled up. Based on your suggestions I have updated my jeans wardrobe to include wide leg, straight leg and a couple pair of flares/bootcut. Thanks for all your suggestions, and outfit ideas. Have a blessed day!
will you do a post about cute tennis shoes and ballet flats? my worked changed our dress code and we can no longer wear sandals and I feel like only skinny jeans look good with flats and nothing works with my dresses… so I have alot of clothes that aren’t being worn
I’ll try!
😊So many ideas, thanks!
🙂 Love the jeans and shoe ideas for Spring!
🙂 dark wash all the way!
Found it 🙂 I just love dark washed jeans.
🙂 Found it
😊I normally wear my dark jeans when I need to dress up a little and for a more casual look, I wear my lighter jeans.
I do like the Chico jeans that are shown.
☺️ it’s already too warm for me to want to wear some of the layered looks you showed in your examples. Cropped styles work well with lightweight loose blouses in SE Texas. But I do like dark wash denim. Thanks for this post!
🙂 I grab a pair of light wash (that I got a very reduced price) to work around the house and in the garden or when I volunteer at the food pantry. I don’t care how dirty they get; they go right into the hamper to be washed.
😊
I have dark and light washed jeans. I especially like the ones from J. Crew.
Found it!😊 I prefer dark wash jeans and love the way you styled them for spring/summer.
😊 I like either dark or light wash for summer. It depends on what tops you wear. I like all the outfits you showed in this post.
It’s nice you can go to your grandkids’ games. It makes them feel good when their family shows up for them.
😊. Loved how you styled outfits with dark wash jeans.
Found it! ☺️. Loved the post about the dark wash jeans!!
☺️love that leoapard print shell that’s sold out!
I do prefer the dark wash jeans because I have these short little leggies, ha! I have light wash too though. Great jean options you showed us. Thank you 😊
Found it. Little cutie by your hand.
Most of the time I prefer dark wash.
😉😊 Two today, fun
I prefer a darker wash or black.
Great info & suggestions
found it!
I prefer dark wash jeans, but black and light are good, too – any jeans for me!
🙂 I like that there are so many different styles of jeans that are considered “current”.
😊I am into wearing crop jeans and ankle jeans. Your jeans fit so nice on you.
😊 love the leopard top and dark denim jeans.
😊I wear dark wash year round as well. Good advice to hang jeans to dry as I normally put them in the dryer. I like the Talbots jean trousers and plan to give them a try.
😊
Great tips!
🙂 love the Draper James jeans but darn out of stock!!!
😊this is a great blog
😀dark or medium wash jeggings for me!
😊 I love the bright blue v neck cardi, what a pretty color and goes so well with the big flower pattern top!
Found it !
Great blog today. Since I retired I find I wear jeans ALL the time. Thanks for the styling ideas.
Found the 😀today and I like the outfit too😀
I love dar wash jeans too. Always seem a little dressier 🙂