Staff Photo by Meghan Brown
Dark denim is the must-have jean of the season. Denise Leach dresses up Seven For All Mankind jeans, $155, with a sexy and sheer, embroidered-sleeve top, $108, by Karen Kane, with Nine West black patent heels, $69. Fashions courtesy of Belk.

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Staff Photo by Meghan Brown
Ed Harrison relaxes in a Lucky Brand tee, $38, and Calvin Klein jeans, $59.50. Fashions courtesy of Belk.

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Staff Photo by Meghan Brown
Dressy and casual dark denim is big for fall. Ayesha Meriweather wears Lauren Jeans Vest, $119, with Ralph Lauren Urban Traveler print blouse, $89.50, and Karen Kane black sateen pants, $64.99. Fashions courtesy of Belk.

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Denim lasts from season to season, but cuts and colors are constantly evolving, fashion experts say. This year, look for dark denim and high rises. Dark jeans, particularly, will be showing up in department stores this fall. They are listed as a fall 2008 trend on Belk’s Nine Most Wanted list for fall and Web sites teenfashionabout.com and collegefashion.net.

“The new dark/indigo denim is important because it goes with everything,” said Lorean Mays, a nursing student at Southern Adventist University. “I love it because you can do anything with it — dress it up or down.”

Ms. Mays said the wide-leg jeans, a retro style brought back last year, continues to be her favorite cut.

“The indigo wide-leg jeans is such a classic look, especially when paired with a crisp, white blouse,” she said. “It can be a professional look if you add a vest and blazer, or a relaxed look if you wear the jeans with a tee, sweatshirt and sandals.”

Unlike the lighter, stonewashed look, dark denim can be worn with any color, Ms. Mays said.

Nina Shebest, sales representative at Frankie & Julian’s, said jeans never go out of style.

“And they’re always a good standby when you’re not sure what to wear where,” she said. “Anything from skinny to the wide-leg trouser jeans are stylish. Also back is the flare, a bellbottom cut.”

The ultra low-rise jean, however, is out, Ms. Shebest said. “It’s not flattering to most women. And the high-rise jean is in. It’s not the old high-waisted ‘mom’ cut, but it’s higher. Many of our older clients like the cut.”

While dark denim gets the nod for fall, deep gray is also in fashion, Ms. Shebest said.

“We just got charcoal William Rast jeans, which are really cool,” she said. “The color, which makes the denim appear to have a different texture, is dressy and funky at the same time. They are certainly different from the typical jeans and ideal for those who like to be different.”

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