Denim Muses

Well, it’s no secret that we all love denim here. We love to wear it, shop for it, dig through our closets for it–you get the picture. It’s also no secret that we love to look at it, especially in the many denim adverts we come across while thumbing through a magazine or browsing our favorite fashion sites and blogs. Oh, and we can’t forget those astronomically large and attention-grabbing billboards that showcase them on a major level. From high-end designer denim to the more moderately priced, there is so much time, effort, and money that goes into these campaigns that ultimately serve to entice us. But what is it about them that intrigues us, really?

I think most would agree that more often than not it’s the overall statement that does the trick. The lifestyle. The story that’s persuading us to fall in love–and sometimes in lust–with the picture, and ultimately the product, which in this case would be our guilty pleasure, denim. But beyond the punchy images, the dash of humor, irony, art, and not to mention sensuality, what is it ultimately that reaches out to us that makes the whole thing so memorable? Think about it, what would your reaction be if all you saw up on a huge billboard was a pair of jeans on a hanger?

Ultimately what completes it all and breathes life into these campaigns are the muses! The models, actors, and celebs that add that final splash of a allure.

Let’s face it, what would that iconic 1981 Calvin Klein Jeans campaign have been without Brooke Shields? “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” Imagine, what impact would it have had if anyone else had said it? Of course we’ll never know, but it was the teenage Shields who brought in that je ne sais quoi.

Photo by Richard Avedon

Needless to say this campaign created a recurring theme for the brand, which went on to be one of the most commercially successful designer labels for thirty years, and I think it’s safe to say that it was in huge part thanks to Shields.

A decade later Klein set out to do it again. The muse this time: then 18-year-old Kate Moss. Moss appeared topless wearing CK underwear hitched over the waistband of her jeans. Also adding to this iconic campaign was the unequivocal star of ads, Mark Wahlberg who was better knows as Marky Mark at the time.

Photo by Bruce Weber

Moss has continued to be the muse for Calvin Klein to present day. The iconic 90s adverts and Moss changed the course of fashion single-handedly bringing in the age of grunge and what she’s come to be infamously known for, the era of “heroin chic” a look characterized by pale skin and jutting bones and an androgynous appeal. A look which to today is still sought after by many designers, and which is still used as a source of inspiration.

It’s safe to say that no one has been able to match the success that Moss has had, but one girl who had definitely given her a run for her title is none other than Erin Wasson. Not only does this native Texan have “the look” but she has the style and the attitude to have successfully earned her place as one of the hottest models in the world.

The original Model Off Duty, whose peculiar yet effortless style of sportswear meets grunge and haphazard taloring, has taken a hiatus from full-time modeling. Not to say she hasn’t been the muse for many a campaign. The Maybelline New York spokesmodel has worked with every major international photographer and fashion designer and has graced the cover of Allure, French Vogue, and The Facejust to name a few. She was most recently in a multimedia campaign for denim brand William Rast in which she starred alongside co-owner of the brand Justin Timberlake. It must have been her Southern belle politeness and refinement yet devil-may-care attitude that landed her the part of Timberlakes love interest.

erin_wasson_x_rvca_1

What’s so great about Wasson is that she refuses to just be another face. She may not be a full-timemodel anymore but that’s because she’s got a heavy hand in the creative side of the fashion world as a designer for RVCA designing her own line of low-key, chic grunge looks (including a denim range) rightfully called Erin Wasson x RVCA proving that a muse goes beyond only selling you that one pair of jeans on a billboard. What really gets us and intrigues us about them is their passion and infatuation for creating this world and culture we all love called fashion. The jeans are just an added perk!

Do you have any denim muses? Share with us, we’d love to know!

–Sandoval Gomez

Tags: Brooke Shields, Calvin Klein Jeans, Erin Wasson, Erin Wasson X RVCA, Kate Moss, Mark Wahlberg

Posted Oct 06 2010 in Uncategorized

Erin Wasson Goes Rogue In J Brand

(New York, NY - November 19, 2009) Model and designer Erin Wasson attends the launch of the new Tom's Shoe collection, exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman. Photo via Wetherly Fashion Group.

Caught in the act! As many of you know, Erin Wasson has been a style muse, not just in the general sense, but within the denim world, to be precise. First, we saw her in the William Rast videos, then we saw her pitching for her collab line, Erin Wasson x RVCA. At this recent gig for an exclusive new Tom’s Shoe line at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, she sneaks in sporting J Brand “Seven-Eighths” cropped jeans in Jett. What! Does this mean she has a non-exclusivity clause? Is Erin Wasson x RVCA broken up? Has she gone fashionably rogue? Oh my!

SHOP THESE JEANS!

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Tags: Erin Wasson X RVCA, J Brand, William Rast

Posted Nov 23 2009 in Uncategorized

A True Blue Fourth of July!

Declare your independence by standing out of the crowd in some great denim pieces. Whether it’s a laid back bbq, an outdoor concert, or a chic cocktail party, you are sure to create some sparks of your own when you make your grand entrance!

BBQ Beauties:

Chillax and put together an effortless look with a little playful edge.