Your Guide to the Latest Trends in Jeans
Jeans are the staple of any wardrobe. You can dress them up or
dress them down. You can buy them with embellishments, or stick
with the traditional five-pocket indigo variety. This season,
waistlines are inching up a bit, but finishes and embellishments
are very much in vogue.
Lightweight denim is emerging on the scene, often with skinny
legs that scrunch up. Bell legs pair with aqua washes and
slubbing to give jeans that lived-in look. Jeans that have
multi-directional weaves give off an air of sophistication,
while detailed back pockets on any pair of jeans brings
attention to the wearer.
Vintage is also hot this season, and pairing vintage jeans with
vintage boots is a showstopper.
Brands to watch this season: Antik Denim, Citizens of Humanity,
True Religion, and Rock and Republic.
There are so many different finishes available in today's market
that it's easy to tell your whiskers from your hipsters. Here's
a guide to the latest denim finishes:
Acid wash - A light finish achieved by manufacturers' use of
chlorine-soaked pumice stones to bring white highlights to denim.
Clean - Indigo denim jeans that retain their "like new"
appearance even after many washings.
Creased - A finish that produces a white line down the front of
the jeans, giving the appearance that they have been repeatedly
ironed.
Dirty Wash - A jeans finish created by a dyeing process that
produces the effect of staining or spilling.
Frayed - A finish that is developed from sanding the waistband
and the hems of the jeans.
Indigo - The deep blue color of traditional jeans.
Overdyed - A second dying process performed after the jeans have
been sewn, making the sewing thread the same color as the jeans.
Pre-Ripped - Jeans that have rips or tears but that are not
repaired prior to sale.
Sandwash - A finish often used in conjunction with stonewash to
produce area-specific wear, usually on the fronts of the thighs
or the seat of the jeans.
Stonewash - A medium finish mimicking wear that is achieved by
manufacturers' use of pumice stones, enzymes, and sand.
Tint - Jeans that have undergone a second dye process, often
using a yellow khaki color, to give them a vintage appearance.
Whiskers - A jeans finish that produces white lines that look
like wrinkles near the crotch and sometimes behind the knees.
Tear and Repair - A jeans finish that involves using a tool to
create holes in jeans and then sewing the holes closed.