Distressed Jeans
Jeans are a very popular form of casual dress around the world and have been so for decades. They have a long and interesting history which can be covered in a separate article. Jeans, like all fashion clothing, have undergone many changes. There is and always will be a certain cut that will be the hot favorite for each season. However, there seems to be one cut which has stood the test of time, i.e., the worn, washed hundreds of times and torn-through-years-of-roughing-it-out look, in short completely ruined or distressed jeans. Lucky, Guess and Chip & Pepper are some of the online stores who have capitalized on this golden opportunity.
Dry or raw denim is a fabric that is not washed after being dyed during its production, which will generally fade to give the desirable look over time. Denim is washed mostly after being crafted into an article of clothing so that it becomes softer and there is no chance of it shrinking when the owner washes it. Non-dry denim is artificially “distressed” to accomplish a worn-in look after being washed. The appeal of dry denim lies in the fact that with time the fabric will fade in a manner similar to factory distressed jeans. Such fading is also affected by the body of the person who wears the jeans and the activities of his or her daily life which creates a more natural and unique look than pre-distressed jeans.
An alternative to buying a pair is to distress jeans yourself to achieve the same cool look. This is a fairly simple task; however, achieving the desired look may require experience. If you choose to distress your jeans, be careful, as it may weaken the fabric and affect its overall lifespan. Distressed jeans are permanent which means that if you don’t like the outcome there is nothing much that can be done about it, especially if holes have been “created” in your jeans. It is therefore advisable to use a used pair!
There are a number of sites which sell these online. Some of the products available on these sites are women’s distressed jeans, distressed blue jeans, black distressed jeans, skinny distressed jeans, distressed stretch jeans, diesel distressed jeans, distressed flare jeans, denim distressed jeans, distressed skinny jeans, mens distressed jeans, distressed jeans plus, distressed jean, distressing jeans, distressed boot cut jeans, plus size distressed jeans, low rise distressed jeans, etc.
Also, there are a number of sites that provide a step-by-step approach on how to make distressed jeans. Many recommend using bleach to distress your own jeans; there are others who recommend the use of the milder dishwashing liquid. But beware; a DIY distressed jean may not give you the desired effect compared to those manufactured by various companies as this may be your first or second attempt at distressing jeans. Nevertheless, you can take pride that it is your own creation!
To sum up, I would like to quote Yves Saint-Laurent who says “I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, and simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.” And Cameron Diaz says, “I’m like every other woman: a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear: So I wear jeans.”
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