Jeans: the “new” faded blue

May 26th, 2008

The ‘70’s and ‘80’s fashion revival continues with white wash, acid wash and cornflower blue denim across all jean silhouettes. For most of us, it’s another blast from the past. We either wore this look ourselves, or had parents that wore the look. I’m all for retro revivals but I don’t think I can wear these blues again. I’d prefer to keep them a faded memory. How about you?

True Religion Brand Jeans 'Joey' Stretch Jeans (Zuma Light)Stanyan Lsfrn JeansVintage 70's Flare JeansCitizens of Humanity 'Ingrid' Stretch Jeans (Juniper Lake Wash)



33 Replies

Posted on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Tanya

I do not like this wash at all. I have a pair of Paige’s trouser in pretty light wash, but it doesn’t looked bleached like this. And I never wore these back in the 80’s either (too young then)!

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 5:19 am

Been there, done that, no need to do it again! I’ll stick to dark washes, thanks!

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Hannah

I agree. I had a pair or two in the 80s but I did not even liked them then. They make your legs bigger. They also look trashy.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Shannon

I like them. I especially like the second pair from the left. I actually had a pair just like them in the 70’s, but they were red. I’m up for anything new again.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 6:21 am

Ugh. Double ugh.
Never in my life !!!

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 7:07 am
pc

I physically cringed when I read this title! This is yet another “new” trend that I will have to pass on. Along with tapered/pleated pants and bubble skirts. Yuck. pc

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Brooke

I’m too young to have worn these the last time around, and they look fine to me. There’s nothing particularly ugly about them. I might try a pair out if I see them.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 7:44 am

I don’t like the faded wash. I won’t be wearing them. I don’t really think any one should but that’s just me. I just don’t find them flattering

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Julia

I might give them a try if I were in my 20’s. I don’t think ppl over 30 should wear them any more.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Renee

I agree with Wendy–Been there, done that. I wore that look when I was a teenager. ;) I also had holes in them.

Nowadays I prefer to look more sophisticated. Darker washes never go out of style. As far as super trendy things go, I may buy smaller things that are super trendy, but bigger things just cause more clutter as they go out.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Oda

I like them. I dont think there ugly at all. Its great for a more casual outing.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Sara

Ha ha! This is what my jeans look like after 1 too many wash … So when they get faded naturally, I’ll wear them, but I don’t care for the look all that much, I think it’s sort of trashy.
This is one trend I’ll pass, and stick to darker washes!

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am

Ha! I mentioned “acid washed” to someone who is in their mid 20’s a few weeks ago and she didn’t know what I was talking about.

I don’t think I’ll go in for this, but then again, it is nice to see something that doesn’t seem to have that dingy brown tinge underneath. . .

Personally, at the mid 30’s I think the dark washes are more slimming and more classy.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Renee

Oh and PLEASE I BEG OF YOU, POWERS OF BE OF FASHION, NO MORE ACID WASH! I think I might cry if I see those on the streets again. *sniffle*

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Not sure how the other commenters see acid washed up there as I don’t. I thought acid washed was when it was speckled with bleach.

Anyway, I don’t like these ‘washes’ myself, but am enjoying the 70s style dark jeans I bought from Gap recently. They’re a nice change.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Nicole

I was in my teens in the 80’s–graduated from HS in 1986. I don’t mind the faded denim, but I don’t like acid washed–and there is a big difference, IMO. If I was in the market for a pair of casual jeans, I might consider buying a pair of intentionally faded jeans.

Anyone else notice that ripped jeans became fashionable about 6 months after acid wash became mainstream? I have a theory that the process that “acid washed” denim, weakened the fabric, thus making it prone to ripping. If I go with my conspiracy theory…the fashion industry promoted ripped jean as a fashion statement to distract from the ripping problem, and to make the rest of the acid washed jeans marketable. If I go with a non-conspiratory theory… the kids who owned these jeans now had a stash of fairly new jeans with holes in them, so they wore them anyway.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Maya

I think these are great for people who are bigger on top or those who have a slim bottom half. Dark wash jeans are always a safe bet, but who wants to be safe all the time? I’m too hippy on the bottom otherwise I’d be happy to give them a try. I can see potential in them and I like the worn vintage feel. Nice for casual situations too.

Posted on May 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Jeans never stay very dark, anyway! I like the lighter blues of denim for casual and warmer weather wear – But the dark jeans are always more wintery and dressy. Why choose? You can have both.

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

I really don’t mind this wash at all. I prefer the darker washes, but this is something I don’t really hesitate to wear.

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
C

Yikes, faded memory please!

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
lisa

i have one word: Yuck!

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Judy

I like the faded look for a very casual situation in warmer weather…kind of a beachy thing. The sad thing is this causal look gets translated to an every day look, and then it just looks slobby in the wrong circumstance. I was just at the airport this morning and gosh, America, you look bad! You’d think with all the help and affordable style people could pull it together just a bit…but on the plus side, there were a few fab looking folks…I know, it sounds kind of shallow of me to judge, don’t mean to…but could we not just make a little effort?…how did I start ranting? :) … But I’ll vote a big no on the acid wash, thanks!

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Oh, I remember when light blue jeans were *the* thing and darker washes were uncool. It took me a while to get into the indigo jeans when they came back around…but now I definitely favor them. I think they are all around classier. And that’s what I care about now.

Posted on May 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
joelle

I guess I was too young to think about fashion the first time these were in style, so I don’t remember them. While the light blue color is cute, I agree with Maya that these probably would not flatter someone with a pear shaped figure. They would look good on very casual occasions, but I think dark jeans are much more polished looking and therefore more versatile. So I think I’m sticking to my indigo jeans for now!

Posted on May 28th, 2008 at 9:49 am
San

It depends on what the eye is used to. When this was in style last time around the dark jeans looked odd.
I don’t have a problem with this color if they become mainstream again.
I never did like acid wash, blotchy. Yuk.

Posted on May 28th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Joey

Count me out. Was just thinking recently that I wanted to take my dark jeans that are slightly faded and dye them back to their original darkness! :)

Posted on May 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
cathy

Yuck, tremendously wrong on so many levels. I had a pair of faded long and lean Gap jeans a few years ago and let’s just say light jeans are wrong.

Posted on May 28th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Cedar

The second one from the left is pretty cute, although it looks so bad on the full body shot of the model
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st.....at11310761
She looks too top heavy.

All in all, I’m not a fan of the look. How many washes can these handle?

Posted on May 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Patti

I think for those cooler summer nights this jean would be a okay alternate. I would only wear the jean on the far right.

Posted on May 29th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Melissa

I wore light jeans (and had acid wash ones back in the ’80s) and just don’t like them as much as the dark ones. I have a pair of light jeans and they do make your legs look bigger. I have large leg muscles and the light ones make my legs look even bigger than my dark wash skinnies do. Plus, I wear jeans to work and the light ones look so casual. A woman I work with(who dresses way too young than her 40 years, but that’s another story) will wear light ones with holes in them to work. It just isn’t work appropriate to me, but we have no dress code so who would say anything. The jeans are ok, but I prefer dark wash now.

Posted on May 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Tanya

I like them as a nice, casual, warm-weather change. I have tons of dark washes in the closet, and have started to crave a more dressed-down look.
I did wear them in the 80s, but there are lots of variances of light blues — not all are as faded as those shown — and I think it’s OK, as long as we leave the ripped ones to the young.

Posted on May 29th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Sarah

I was too young in the 80’s to remember this trend (born in ‘85) and I like it in a casual setting. Since I’m in my 20’s I think I could get away with it. No wonder I’ve been having a hard time finding dark jeans. At my size light to medium wash seem to be just about all that’s out there at the moment.

Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am

[...] remain an American fashion trend. Most washes were dark blue, stonewashed or white and no signs of acid wash. All rise lengths were represented, from super low to just above under-bust-point. Denim was very [...]

Posted on June 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 am

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