Sartorial Science: Denim Revisited

By: The Buyologist

Denim Revisited

Denim is easily one of the most non-trendiest trends to ever come about. Denim is an iconic staple. Denim is always present and always relevant. What is it about the denim of the current spring season that makes it trend-worthy? There are many aspects of the denim trend that lends to its ubiquity but two points can easily explain its staying power.

Denim can easily be used to in era-inspired fashion.

The seventies popularized the high waist and the flared leg jean amongst other looks easily associated with that decade. There are, of course, definitive denim looks from the eighties; colored denim, pegged denim, and paper bag waist looks. Denim…in the nineties. Oh, the nineties. Denim in the early nineties was, for lack of a better term, “chopped and screwed”, embellished and deconstructed. The hottest jeans in the latter part of the nineties were super baggy designer jeans.

Denim cycles in and out of popularity but never can be considered “out of style.”

The early “naughties’s” (or, 2000’s) offered high priced and highly coveted designer denim adorned with logo heavy designs. This was the decade of Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, Blue Cult, and others. From the late 2000’s on we found ourselves coming full circle. Denim looks during this period seemed to hearken back to the earlier decades; and was inspired from them all; colored denim, acid-washed, and destroyed denim. And yet, it appears that designers have pared down their denim looks; this season seems to focus on design elements and cleaner silhouettes, drawn from all of the major looks over the decades but softened up a little and simplified.

The paper bag waist jeans of the 80’s and relaxed jeans of the 90’s are now the slouchy, irreverent silhouette that populates the trendy stores. The “boyfriend jean” is currently a major hit and has been for the past few seasons.

Wink Joey pants $232.00 www.shopbop.com

Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 www.style.com

Chloé Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

Daryl K spring 2010 www.style.com

The acid washed, ripped jeans of the mid eighties and early nineties are the artfully deconstructed jeans of today.

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

Tao Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

D&G Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

The seventies, flower child bell bottoms are currently interpreted as the super flares seen on many celebrities and offered by many designers.

Katie Holmes www.stylejunkie.com

Ya Ya Helena Denim Jean $245 now $19.00 www.singer22.com

Gap Long and Lean faded wash $69.50 www.gap.com

Denim, albeit never really absent…is in some ways, back with a capital B. Chambray and denim based looks are being featured as spring looks circulate to the storefronts. Designers from the Bryant park tents to the department stores are pronouncing spring 2010 as the return of “blues”. Simplicity is prevalent and that is the key to denim’s reinvention. Denim pieces are gaining traction without a huge designer logo across the back pocket or excessive design elements incorporated into the look. Denim, once again is its own featured attraction. For example, the western shirt; easily discerned by its mother of pearl snap buttons and its distinctively shaped pockets is again, au courant. Denim has again become a muse for designers who are happy to oblige with innovative looks that toe the line between classic and avant-garde. No bells, no whistles; well – not many bells or whistles… just mostly pure, unadulterated design. This trend may actually be one of the easiest to follow – reach into the furthest corner of your closet or take a trip to the nearest thrift store to incorporate the “new” denim trend. The simpler and cleaner the silhouette, the better. Here are a few looks for inspiration:

Daryl K Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

Blank Denim bandage mini jean skirt $79.00 www.saks.com

Chanel Spring 2010 RTW www.style.com

Gap shrunken vest $49.50 www.gap.com

The Gap Always Straight Patch Jeans www.gap.com

Paul & Joe Sister denim mini dress $150.00 www.net-a-porter.com

Kookai denim vest $37.61 www.asos.com

Gap denim western shirt $54.50 www.gap.com

Re collection chambray ruffle skirt $146.00 www.shopbop.com

Blank Denim mini dress $79.00 www.revolveclothing.com

The Buyologist Sarah Davis is a fashion designer living in NYC