Jeans Through The Ages
Where would we be without denim jeans? Apart from when most of us are at work, what is the one item we couldn't live without? The answer would be jeans. You can dress them up with heels, or wear them boyfriend style with trainers and a vest. Whatever your style, there are jeans to suit you, your shape and the occasion.
We have come a long way since the 1950s when they were worn mainly by factory workers and the US Navy. They became 'cool' in the 1960s largely thanks to their association with films such as Rebel Without a Cause, staring the legendary James Dean. Now they can be cool, sophisticated or statement making all at the same time.
Back in the 50s and early 60s, the style was straight and loose purely for functional reasons. The 1970s saw jeans change shape for the first time. This was the decade of the bell-bottom, i.e. flares. The waists were high and the fit was tight around the thigh and very wide and loose around the ankles.
The 80s saw a complete shape change: in come the drainpipe fit. Very tight, tapering down the leg and worn above the ankle.
The jeans of the 1990s had a looser fit on one hand as they encompassed grunge, and on the other hand, women were wearing boot-cut jeans for the first time. Like flares but not as wide at the bottom, these were marketed as the most flattering jeans style for nine out of ten women.
Of course there have also been other shapes and styles thrown into the mix. From capris to dungarees, shorts and shirts, denim has had a pretty successful past and it looks set to be an even more successful future. The 21st century has seen a revival of pretty much every fit of jeans as well as some new ones, such as the 'boyfriend fit' and a modern take on jodhpurs.
Jeans are perfect on their own and a good fitting pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt is simple understated perfection. However, you can brighten a pair of faded denims up with a bright pashmina worn either as a scarf or around the hips as a belt.
If you are in need of some new denims then check out the jeans section of New Look’s website. From skinnies to boyfriend fit, New Look has it all and you won't have to fork out a hefty sum for the privilege.
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