On the Streets of NY, It Girls With Expensive Taste Know to Never Wear Skinny Jeans With This Outfit

There are certain things New Yorkers know to avoid: visiting Times Square (unless there's a really good show or you're getting a martini at The Lambs Club), taking a car anywhere near the Holland Tunnel at rush hour, and shopping in SoHo on a Saturday afternoon. They're also not wearing skinny jeans in a particular way when they could wear any other style and look 10 times chicer. It's just not done here, especially by people with expensive taste. Don't believe me? Just ask Dakota Johnson and Laura Harrier, who were both in Manhattan last week wearing roughly the same denim outfit without a pair of skinny jeans in sight.

Harrier was the first to be spotted in the city donning the timeless ensemble featuring a tobacco-colored suede jacket. In her case, it was a white tee and wide-leg, dark-wash puddle pants. She finished off the casual ensemble with a brown suede Miu Miu Matelassé bag, boat shoes, and tiny tortoiseshell sunglasses.

On Laura Harrier: Miu Miu Wander Matelassé Suede Bag ($3750)

Two days later, Johnson, who recently returned from a glamorous trip to Cannes for the French city's annual film festival, was seen in midtown wearing a similar suede-jacket outfit. Hers featured a brown suede blazer from Khaite's not-yet-released fall 2025 collection, a Commando bodysuit, and vintage 501s, which her stylist, Kate Young, styled with Khaite wedges, Gucci sunglasses, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Specifically, she wore Sophie Bille Brahe's Collier de Amis, which is worth $130,020 and features 12.29-carat Top Wesselton VVS diamonds, including a one-carat solitaire diamond, and a $10,430 emerald slider necklace by Ophelia Eve. (Casual.)

On Dakota Johnson: Khaite jacket and Colt Wedges ($990); Commando Classic Control Thong Bodysuit ($98); Levi's jeans; Gucci Oval Sunglasses ($595); Sophie Bille Brahe necklace; Ophelia Eve Emerald Victorian Slider Necklace ($10,430)

Making a suede jacket look cool is about the easiest thing anyone in New York or elsewhere can do when it comes to fashion. It's cool by definition, so an easy tee or tank and a good pair of jeans will suffice every time—as long as the jeans aren't stuck to your ankles and crafted out of 99% spandex. Stovepipe, straight-leg, wide-leg, and barrel jeans are great denim alternatives. Trust Johnson, Harrier, and me on this one.

Shop their looks ahead.

Shop the easy denim outfit Dakota Johnson and Laura Harrier just wore in New York: