In Spades

Style... in abundance

The History of Fashion: Denim

Oooo, I am excited for this post!  If you’ve been here before, you know I’m denim obsessed.  Jeans represent my truest form of sartorial expression.  Over the course of my life, I’ve owned and sold hundreds of pairs.

At their core, jeans are profoundly American.  From their inception during the California Gold Rush, to the advent of designer jeans, denim DNA is trailblazing.

Denim Origin

So how did this all begin?

Denim as a fabric was first created in Nîmes, France.  Its original name was “serge de Nîmes” which became known as “denim.”

It was, of course, Levi Strauss who took this to a whole other level by creating blue jeans in the mid-1800’s.  The durable fabric was meant to be worn by gold miners – the pockets were made large to fit pieces of gold – and were adapted by cowboys in the 1920s thanks to Strauss’s genius mass production and marketing.

Fun fact: Outlaw Peart Hart was arrested for wearing jeans in the early 1900s.  Not considered appropriate dress for women at the time, they forced her to put on a dress for her mug shot.

That’s my kind of gal.

Denim Trends

When it comes to jeans, my preference is very cyclical.  I’ve been on (and off) just about every denim bandwagon, but after decades of research, I’ve finally found my holy grail.

100% cotton, straight leg, cropped jeans

I love a wide leg or a flare every now and then, but my M.O. from here on out is 100% cotton or bust.  I recently cleaned out my closet and as I was going through what to toss and what to keep, I couldn’t believe how strange my stretchy jeans felt.  They all got donated.

The best thing you can do for 100% cotton jeans is never wash them. Yep, I mean it.  As a mother of a toddler, I occasionally have to break this rule, but I try VERY hard not to.

Levi's 1950 501s
Denim Resources

If you’re denim obsessed like me, check these out.

This Instagram account is fabulous for vintage Levi’s, exclusive drops and true denim nerds.

Jeff Goldblum did a documentary on jeans that covers enthusiasts who go searching through mines and those that pay thousands for vintage threads.

Download the Levi’s app for exclusive deals on vintage denim.  I just scored an authenticated vintage pair of 501 cutoffs.

Check out Levi’s most well-known and respected collector Brit Eaton.  He has a private Instagram account where he sells vintage Levi’s he finds throughout the world.

My Favorite Everyday Jeans
My Favorite Designer Jeans
Barrel leg jeans

NYFW FW20 Day 1 OOTD

NYFW FW20 Street Style NYFW FW20 Street StyleRoksanda coat // Sandro top // Vintage Levi’s // Gucci sunglasses
Haider Ackerman boots // Bottega Veneta pouch

Okay, okay.  I know I didn’t actually get to attend NYFW this season, but I still wanted to share my looks.  Since my suitcase was packed and ready to go prior to having to cancel, it was only fair to let these beauties shine.

My goal for this season of NYFW was sustainability.  I wanted to reuse what was already in my closet.  So most of what I’m sharing is something you’ve seen before, but styled in a new way.

I did acquire a few new pieces as Christmas gifts or end-of-season sale scores, but 80% of what you see pays homage to sustainability.

First up is this amazing technicolor dream coat.  I’ve worn it to NYFW before, and it never disappoints.  Warm, great for layering, and such a statement, it was made for the street of NY.  When I first saw it debut in Roksanda’s collection 4 years ago I almost fainted.  The patchwork design and color choice made me so happy.  It’s a coat that makes my heart flutter.

I wanted to keep the rest of my outfit monochrome, so I paired this embellished denim top with my vintage Levi’s and black boots.  My new favorite handbag had to make an appearance too.

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Band tee + Vintage Levi’s

Band tee & Vintage Levi's Band tee & Vintage Levi'sBand tee & Vintage Levi's Band tee & Vintage Levi'sMadeworn band tee // Vintage Levi’s (similar here) // Understated Leather jacket  (under $100 version here)
Gucci sunglasses ($55 version here) // Haider Ackermann boots (under $100 version here)

What a weekend.

If you saw my Fashion Friday, you know we sadly had to cancel our trip to NYFW.  While I’m super happy with our decision to stay home (sick baby that needs love!), I’m anxiously watching the runway coverage from my couch.

It definitely stings not being able to see the magic in person, but I am super grateful to actually have the time to watch and catch up on all the coverage (something I’m never able to do in the moment).

Anytime I’m feeling bummed out, I like to put on an outfit that makes me feel strong.  There’s nothing like a leather jacket, killer boots and great denim to make you feel like a badass.  Not only is this look comfortable, but it’s a great outfit formula to come back to again and again.

 Here are some tips for selecting the perfect band tee and vintage denim
  1. Vintage denim sizing will be totally different than the size you wear today.  Don’t look at the number on the tag.  Instead, know your measurements.  Need a quick guess if something will fit?  The length of your elbow to your wrist should fit inside the waistline of a pair of jeans.  It’s a rough estimate, but if this is way off, they likely won’t fit.
  2. Shop the men’s section.  This applies to both band tees and vintage denim.  Both have better fits and more options!
  3. For vintage Levi’s, always look at the tag on the back pocket.  Orange tabs signify more fashion-forward and experimental styles of the past.  You always want an orange tab!  And if you can find Levi’s with a capital “E” on the tab, they are pre-1971.  Get them!
  4. This brand is my favorite for band tees.  They are small-batch, reworked vintage garments, so there is a lot of history and love in them.  While more expensive, the construction and uniqueness of their pieces make them totally worth it.
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