The Ultimate Guide to Distressed Denim

Kate Hudson's acid wash jeans had been distressed, but there was no sign of rips or shredding. A style like this played up her signature boho look without going overboard.

Reese Witherspoon is pretty much famous for her preppy, sweet-girl style — at least as far as we're concerned. And when Reese does boho, she always lends her look a polished touch. That's why we weren't surprised to find her in jeans with just one single rip. These skinnies show you're not afraid to be casual, but you're also not too grungy.

Kate Moss opted for denim with subtle details. Her areas of distress appeared to be shaved, not ripped. But a light wash will make your jeans look lived-in, too.

Since Olivia Palermo has made us jealous of her outfits countless times this year, we're not surprised that she nailed the dressed-up denim look. Jeans with this much distress — a few minor pulls and a slash — are perfect for those events that don't call for a fancy dress. A blazer and heels make the perfect accoutrements.

Emma Stone's denim looked crisp and clean, save for a few expanding holes. The more she wears them, the more rugged they'll get. But for now, her Valentino studded flats and a chic coat polished up her distressed jeans just fine.

Cara Delevingne showed us how to work printed jeans that've been distressed. Since camouflage pants already give off a grungy effect, hints of the model's knees made her appear even more casual. Of course, in typical sporty-chic fashion, Cara worked her denim with high-tops and a bomber jacket.

Kim Kardashian's dark denim didn't appear too destroyed at first glance, but aside from the slashes at her knees, she also had frayed hems at her ankles. And the wash wasn't jet black; we think this pair was street style cool. Of course, that doesn't mean Kim can't dress them up with all her luxe essentials.

Jessica Alba's cropped jeans weren't only slashed at the knees; they’d also been pulled at all over her leg. In fact, it almost looked as if her denim had been scarred. We're obsessed with the casual-cool vibes the star gave off as she caught a flight at the airport.

Candice Swanepoel's high-waisted jeans would work just as well with high-tops as they would with pointed-toe booties. But with loose threads at the knees and distress at the hips, Candice's denim was definitely on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to wear and tear.

Kendall Jenner's boyfriend jeans made a total statement. With a light wash and sizable holes, these were less shredded and more destroyed, almost as if she ran them through the wash one too many times and didn't plan on missing pieces.

Sienna Miller's skinnies definitely worked best with low-top sneakers and a plain white tee, so as to let the contrast patchwork details (and sizable shreds!) take center stage.

We like to call Gigi Hadid's denim "the war zone." They'd been bleached, shredded, cut, and slashed, but the model totally pulled them off, opting for all-black accessories. Neutral accoutrements are key when you're rocking distressed jeans like these.

Chrissy Teigen's denim made the ultimate statement. In fact, there was so much tearing and shredding going on that we can't decide if the model was putting her jeans on display or her legs. Of course, it helps to have gorgeous gams (and a longline coat to cover up) when you're taking a risk like this one.