For 6 months, Gordon and Renee from Denim Therapy are wearing raw denim jeans everyday, and documenting their experience on Tumblr. Every Friday you can follow their progress here on the DT blog (see last weeks article here). Happy week 8!
Renee (jeans above): My Jean Shop jeans are getting a little dirty. I’m torn–should I soak them? Or hold out for as long as I can? My jeans were sanforized (new term for me!), which means they were treated to prevent shrinkage. Some raw denim comesunsanforized, and will therefore shrink about 10% after their first wash or soak. I think I’ll try putting them in my tiny little freezer, like Gordon did last week. Wonder if that works? If you ever heard about the guy that wore his jeans for 15 months without washing them and then tested their bacteria levels (and found them to be surprisingly low), then know that he also froze his jeans. Here’s an in-depth article about why it works.
Gordon (jeans above): I’ve been battling over whether or not to starch my Nudies this week. My jeans are starting to get soft, especially in the knees, thighs and bum area. This is great for comfort, but I’d like for them to stay a bit stiffer to maintain the creases. I’m probably going to go without the starch. My only starch experience is starched button-ups from the cleaners, and I absolutely hate the way they feel.
Wanna see how we’ve been wearing our jeans? You can follow us everyday on our Tumblr. We’ll see you back here for week 9.
— Renee Sykes and Gordon Sims
Tags: dry jeans, Jean Shop, no washing, Nudie, raw denim
Fashion blog Studded Hearts posted a lookbook of summery styles by Australian fashion label One Teaspoon. We were instantly smitten by the frayed and destroyed denim shorts that look like they were created in a heat of passion (note the sideways shreds). Featured below are eight ways to rock your denim, plus more gallery images to browse for ideas. The entire collection is available now at ASOS, so acquiring One Teaspoon’s edgy denim cut offs and the tamer—but just as yummy—pink Boyfriend jeans and Rocker-Boho-inspired separates are just a mouse click away.
One Teaspoon Florence Halter Top With Lace Underlay ($170.34) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Vintage Wash Denim Shorts ($50.69) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Mickey Cropped Chambray shirt ($134.48) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Leather Trim Denim Playsuit ($170.34) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Leopard Print Denim Shorts ($134.48) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Vintage Wash Distressed Denim Skirt ($80.69) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Ripped Boyfriend Jeans (on sale for $57.38) – buy it at ASOS.
One Teaspoon Lace Print Denim Cut Off Skirt (on sale for $52) – buy it at ASOS.
To shop or view the rest of the One Teaspoon collection, go to ASOS.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: Australian brand, color denim, cut off jeans, denim shorts, floral jeans, One Teaspoon
It’s time for a history lesson! We’ve been hearing a lot about the origins of denim fabric lately, with the recent discovery of 17th century paintings of Italian peasants wearing denim. The denim jeans that we know and love today however, began with the invention of rivets by a German immigrant named Levi Strauss, and were first seen as mining garb in the late 1800s. In the early 1900s cowboys began wearing denim jeans, and the rest, friends, is history.
Below, we’ll take a look at the evolution of denim jeans through ads over the last century. Be sure to check out the amazing 3-piece denim tuxedo on the Ken-like model from the 70s!
The above ad is from the 1940s. Mainly seen as workers uniforms in previous years, suburban America began transitioning into jeans with the wild popularity of Western movies.
The best propaganda is always the type coming from the taller, more handsome guy in the letterman’s jacket! In the 1950s, those cowboy loving little boys grew into young adults, and jeans become an icon of cool. The jeans were stiff (raw denim’s equivalent today) and needed to be worn in (think cuffed jeans from The Little Rascals and Sandlot, and Marlon Brando’s Rebel Without a Cause).
In the 1960′s, stretch is introduced with the addition of 2% lycra, and the super tight jean is born. Women begin to have to lay on their beds and use pliers to zip up their jeans.
An already crazy time for fashion; new distressing processes, embellishments, fits, and styles were experimented with in the 70s. Check out this guy’s 3 piece denim flared suit!
In the 1980′s, denim goes high fashion. Big name designers begin coming out with their own styles, like in this Versace ad featuring Nadia Auermann and Claudia Schiffer. And acid wash was popularized. We mustn’t forget about acid wash.
We had fun looking up old ads this week. Stay tuned for some bizarre denim commercials in the future!
—Renee Sykes
Tags: Claudia Schiffer, denim history, denim suit, Lee, Levi's, Versace, Wrangler
Levi’s latest concept store has us feeling as though we’re shopping through high-end vintage boutique as opposed to a typical clothing store. The concept cleverly dubbed “Made Here” not only sells the Levi’s brand but also hosts a number of other U.S. based brands that focus on hand-made goods produced in the same fashion that Mr. Strauss himself did, keeping in line the Levi’s tradition.
Images via Denim Blog.
—Sandoval Gomez
Tags: "Made Here", hand-made goods, Levi's, Levi's Concept Store, store openings, U.S. based brands
Katherine Heigl was spotted in Studio City wearing Black Orchid’s new “Black Beauty Bell Bottom” jean in Dust Devil making some very funny faces or shall we say scary ones (maybe not just the jeans are devilish- she may be having an outer body experience). We like that the jeans aren’t just slightly flared but a full wide leg. She paired her slightly distressed denim with a white knit sweater and an animal print bag which screams- ROAR!
—Jackie Racer
Tags: black beauty bell bottom jeans, black orchid denim, Katherine Heigl, studio city, wide leg jeans
We couldn’t help but to notice a rather peculiar trend while clicking and scrolling through our favorite sites for our daily fashion fix—a slew of garments covered in a stars and stripes in a variety of styles. From cool and hip worn tees and tanks to even denim, the American flag is on everything! We ain’t gonna lie—at first we weren’t sure what to make out of this bold statement, however we have to admit that we kind of dig it. Not sure on how to wear it? Don’t fret, we’ve gathered some of favorite street style looks for some food for thought. We’re especially loving the oversized sheer top by U.N.I.F styled with a pair of ultra distressed black denim short shorts. Feeling patriotic yet?
—Sandoval Gomez
Tags: American Flag Trend, Distressed denim short shorts, Oversized sheer top, spring summer fashion, Street Style, trend alert, U.N.I.F
With summer going official in just mere weeks, we welcome See by Chloe‘s Summer 2011 Lookbook of feminine and frilly separates. From patchwork denim Boyfriend silhouettes to cuffed denim shorts which remind us of flirty bloomers; it’s not a far cry to think this collection—with splashes of primary color blocking—is hugely inspired by little girl’s clothes. Make that little girl’s clothes with a grown-up’s sophistication. We suspect Alexa Chung, the poster It Girl for “little girl chic,” is already so on board with that. Equally girlie bib-front, puff-sleeved and bow-tied tops incorporating floral graphics add a joie de vivre sensibility to your summer wardrobe. Are you getting inspired yet?
View the gallery for the full lookbook:
Model: Dorothea Barth Jorgensen. Images via Fashion Gone Rogue.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: color denim, cropped jeans, denim shorts, Dorothea Barth Jorgensen, patched jeans, patchwork denim, See by Chloe
Cindy Crawford appeared on Good Day LA this week wearing Black Orchid‘s Black Beauty High Rise Flare jeans in Sunrise wash. Cindy may have given up the catwalk, but this beauty sure knows how to look like age isn’t happening on her side of the street. She rocks form fitting flare jeans like she were in her early ’20s, paired the slightly flared pair with a bell sleeved orange silk top, tucked into her jeans and accessorized with a grommet belt. Maybe this look should be strutted!
—Jackie Racer
Tags: black orchid denim, cindy crawford, flare jeans, fox studios, good day LA
There’s no doubt that wide leg jeans are generating a lot of attention right now, especially when you see celebrities styling their flared denim with trendy tops and arm candy. Guess Jeans is giving us ladies some ideas on how to style our flared jeans for Fall 2011, but really, we could rock those looks right now (sans the fur vests, of course). And, if you’re still on the fence about wearing loose-fit jeans, like the fab palazzo jeans (scroll to the bottom) featured in this lookbook, there are plenty of skinny jeans with cropped hems, perfect for showing off your latest shoe acquisition! Guess continues to embrace color denim, and we’re so okay with that.
To stay updated on when the Fall 2011 collection is available, go to Guess.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: bell bottom jeans, color denim, cropped jeans, flare jeans, Guess, palazzo jeans, skinny jeans, wide leg jeans
It seems as if there is nothing this girl can’t do- Besides being an incredibly gorgeous Academy Award winning Hollywood actress, she dances, sings, is married to a rock star, a mother of two, wrote a cookbook, and now rides a motor bike. Still have no idea who we are talking about? Take a look below and guess!
Gwyneth Paltrow took to the streets of London on her silver vespa. However, she wouldn’t feel safe without her R13 Shearling lined army green cargo vest and a pair of jeans (motorcycle black boot and gloves included). It’s all about cool, comfort and convertibility. Let the wind blow- Beep, Beep!
—Jackie Racer
Tags: academy award, Gwyneth Paltrow, hollywood actress, London, motorcycle boots, r13 denim, shearling vest, vespa
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