Denim Evolution

The New York Times ran a story today that reflects the heightened level of attention consumers are giving their jeans. Shoppers are not just scrutinizing their $150 garments more carefully. Trips to the tailor for new jeans are now common enough that both of my tailors are considering equipment upgrades to accommodate jeans alterations.

Not too long ago Earnest Sewn opened the doors to their NYC concept store where one can custom make a pair of jeans by expert hands. With a salivating selection of fabric, trims, style, fit/cut, your jeans can be as unique as a pair of bespoke suit slacks. But of course, we're a long way from Saville Row.

But gone may be the days when a girl can just "throw on any pair of jeans" when she doesn't want to spend half the day finding the right dress just to have dinner and hit the clubs afterwards. In our age of fancy trims and comfortable, durable fabric, the best jeans will carry professionals from a day of client meetings to the night with a hot date. So the right jeans is important. In many circles the jeans and jacket outfit has become the accepted work suit.

Is this a fad or will it join timeless fashion icons like the pin stripe suit? Many non-believers will probably scoff, but I think denim is going to be further hardwired into our fashion, like it or not.

I can also hear denim-heads from the underground/street fashion community alienating me for advocating a meticulous approach to jeans. In my defense I'll say: an easy and casual approach to wearing jeans works on weekends. I still subscribe to the streetwear attitude. But many lifestyles require us to remove the tee and don a white collar. Denim has saved my ass from the $200 JC Penny suit that doesn't breathe properly.

That's why I always emphasize on the fit. Your jeans are nice but do they fit you? When I put on a slim fitting blazer, it won't do if the hems of my bootcuts don't strike my boots just so. Not quite the same attention we give our tailored Armanis, but are we that far?

We've come a long way from the dusty time of miners in Levis.

New York Times Article (may require free registration; use bugmenot)

Check out what others are saying about the State of the Fashion Union. Via Almost Girl and Fashion Tribes.