My Denim Journey

My Denim Journey

By now, you know I like to observe national holidays, primarily for women’s health awareness. However, today, on October 7th, I want to call attention to Lee National Denim Day and talk about my journey to finding the perfect pair of denim.

But first, what is Lee National Denim Day? It is a fundraiser created in 1999 by Lee Jeans, first produced in 1889 in Salina, Kansas.

For as long as I can remember, the pharmaceutical company I work for has allowed sales reps in the field to wear appropriate denim on National Denim Day.

I have a love-hate relationship with denim. It’s hard to embrace not wearing what can be a chic piece of clothing. My pear-shaped body silhouette is probably why I didn’t jump on the jean bandwagon at a young age. I didn’t understand how to dress my body shape.

As a teen during the 70s, denim evolved from being called dungarees to jeans. I saw denim advance into significant trends and fashion statements during that time.

In 1980, Gloria Vanderbilt, an American artist, author, actress, heiress, socialite, and fashion designer, launched perhaps the first pair of designer jeans—designed for a feminine silhouette that fit me better than Wranglers.

Anyone old enough to remember can’t forget the 1980 Calvin Klein Jeans ads with Brooke Shields, who famously said, “What gets between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” Calvin Klein launched his denim line 1978, becoming the first high-fashion designer. In 1979, the company sold $70 million worth of women’s jeans.

At The Age of Grace, I look to learn and explore how fashion trends have adapted to our lifestyles. Since the 1800s, with Levi Strauss, blue jeans have been a staple in the American fashion story. Here’s a short overview of the evolution of denim jeans:

In 1930, Vogue magazine ran an advertisement depicting society women in tight-fitting jeans, a look that they called “Western chic.” By the mid-1930s, department stores were stocking Levi jeans and western boots in the women’s section.

In the 1940s, materials like denim were considered utilitarian fabrics. Claire McCardell was an American fashion designer known for the “Popover” dress. The Popover created an all-purpose housework garment for those who joined the war effort, whether in jobs or stay-at-home Moms, according to 100 Years of Fashion by Cally Blackman.

The 1950s represented symbols of youth rebellion with James Dean in the flick Rebel Without a Cause.

In the 1960s, it was all about new fabrications for denim. For many years, the denim used in the manufacturing of blue jeans was relatively coarse and susceptible to shrinking, making the garment unappealing as casual wear until textile manufacturers invented new processes of denim, resulted in the availability of:
◊  Preshrunk or pre-washed jeans.
♦  Permanent Pressed jeans that do not wrinkle.
◊  Stretch denim for a form-fitting fit.
♦  Distressed or worn-looking jeans.

One thousand nine hundred sixty-nine bell-bottom jeans were introduced and became popular with men and women.

In the 1970s, “Anything Goes Fashion” and Individual Expression. According to the Vintage Clothing website, The People History, beginning in the late 1960s and continuing into the 1970s, wearing clothes was more about an individual expression than fitting into society.

Many people during the 1970s dressed to please themselves rather than others. Prominent trends included flared or ‘bell-bottom’ pants, tunics, pants sets, leisure suits, and overalls.

I remember reading the book Dress for Success by John T. Malloy in the 1980s. It was during that time of excess, big hair, shoulder pads, boxy silhouettes, and acid-washed denim. Fashion was rapidly changing and more diverse than ever before. Due to increased globalization and pop culture trends in fashion, it spread faster and was more widespread.

Changes in technology and the expansion of cable television and networks like MTV, Movie, and Music celebrities’ fashions were more accessible to fans and viewers, and an increased obsession with celebrities brought trends to the forefront of pop culture.

Fast forward to now, the latest denim jean trends include wide-leg styles, have undone seams or raw hem, are cropped, have slit hems, embroidery, and high-low hemlines. So this is my denim jean journey, what is yours? Please do share.

Have a fabulous and stylish week.