The uniform of the world
“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, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes.” Yves Saint Laurent
The hard-wearing, versatile fabric we know and love today began its life in the French city of Nimes during the 18th century where they developed a twill fabric that became know as “de Nimes”. Exported throughout Europe, the fabric made its way to America by the 1870s.
In 1872, an aspiring tailored name Jacob Davis wrote to a young German immigrant, by the name of Levi Strauss, asking him to collaborate with him to patent sell clothing reinforced with copper rivets to reinforce the garments on points of stress. History fact fans will be keen to know that the U.S. patent number was 139,121 and was entitled "Improvement in Fastening Pocket-Openings".
And so, the legend was born. Initially LS&Co’s jeans existed outside of style as the sturdy, practical trousers lived solely in the realm of factory workers. But this began to change during and after World War II with American soldiers taking their favourite trousers with them when posted overseas.
It was during the 1950s that the popularity of jeans began to explode, particularly amongst the “young people”. James Dean established them as iconically rebellious in the film, Rebel Without a Cause so they were sometimes banned in cinemas, restaurants and schools - presumably by some old timers with way too much time on their hands.
These days, denim is a fundamental staple, almost a uniform for the whole world, and with more and more casual workplaces, they’re increasingly worn throughout the week. Forever youthful, jeans are continuously evolving in style with new shapes, fits and colours emerging every season. Perennially playing catch up with women’s, men’s jeans are now popularly available in a variety of fits, from the classic bootcut to the edgy tapered, and colours.
Denim style icons
Robert Redford
With Californian roots, Redford pretty much inherited his love of denim and I’m sure it was cemented during the making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Here he is, resplendent in a denim jacket in the film Little Fauss and Big Halsy. RR is a great example of how denim remains relevant, no matter what your age.
Tinie Tempah
Ah, this man can do no wrong in the style stakes. He’s even created his own clothing range called Disturbing London (not sure he’s as good at branding as he is at dressing), from which this printed denim shirt comes. Tinie is demonstrating here, not only the versatility of a denim shirt but also the emerging necessity for every man to own one. Wear with chinos for an easy life or dabble with the double denim look.
Justin Timberlake
This is more a word of warning rather than endorsing JT as a denim style icon. Double denim may be cool at the minute but do not get carried away as the falsetto-voiced Timberlake did whilst dating Britney. Try to remember that as a rule of thumb, a denim cowboy hat is never a good idea, unless you’re trying to fit in at a Texan square dance in the 1980s.
Recommendations
So, in conclusion to this post, I would recommend you venture out there and try new denim styles and colours. Realistically, they’ll remain on trend for years or if they do drop out of favour, they’re bound to make a return 10 or so years on (see the denim shirt of the 1990s).
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