Ask Angie: What is the deal with distressed jeans?

knitloon

Hi, Angie. I work in retail fashion, and follow many fashion blogs. I feel I am a very stylish middle-aged woman. Can you explain the trend of distressed jeans? I honestly don't get the attraction.

8 years ago

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Carole

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Me either

8 years ago

tulle

Veteran

My only fashion rule with my daughters was over this issue: I didn't mind their wearing distressed jeans; I simply refused to pay premium prices for holes. They could either buy the shredded jeans themselves or find them at a thrift store. I can see the RATE appeal, sort of, but for someone my age this is a tough one. I remember patching the holes in my college jeans--and embroidering the patches!

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'll rewrite what I wrote on another thread recently:

Deconstruction, Rebellion and Destruction are themes in fashion - and have been for a while. I'll let the poetic and eloquent English majors elaborate on the parallels between destroyed jeans and modern life because it's not my thing.

From a fashion point of view - it's about juxtaposition. Remixing all sorts of casual with all sorts of dressy is VERY trendy. Destroyed jeans are as casual as it gets - which makes the juxtaposition all the more dramatic. And fashion DOES enjoy drama.

Personally, I think that the market is flooded with destroyed jeans. Overkill.

8 years ago

Summer

Veteran

I don't get it either, but maybe that's because I already lead a very casual life most of the time. My everyday jeans take quite a battering, and I'm prepared to wear well-worn ones, but I draw the line at holes and slashes, even in the garden! When I'm out of the house I prefer pristine jeans.

To each her own, though.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Well, I'll chime in to give another perspective I'm in my early 50's and have a few pair. I really like them - and still wear them happily. I won't necessarily be seeking out new ones, because as Angie said above, they are everywhere now . But, I like the way I look with a dressier top and jacket, heels, and then a distressed pair of jeans. It appeals to the RATE/rocker side of me, plus I like the jarring contrast between feminine and rough. I don't dress like that for work, but it's definitely a look I wear to meet friends for drinks, dinner etc. It's purely a personal thing.

8 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I love distressed jeans, but prefer ones for myself that are slightly to moderately distressed, not full-on destroyed. I like the causal/dressy/trendy/rock 'n roll vibe.

8 years ago

Jules

Veteran

In a previous thread I think several of us enjoyed the texture of them. I think some of them fit with current looks I would describe as "bleached out" - faded, textural interest rather than brightly coloured or patterned, or conversely, the bleach tie dye trend, etc. That said a lot of renditions don't do much for me. The plain old denim washes with big slashes in the knees look especially bad to me. There has to be some subtlety....

8 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

Fascinating thread. I'm with you on this. I don't need to spend money to buy holes in my jeans!

8 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I have one pair and I love them and think I look good in them. They have just about every trend you can think of. Distressed, holes, faded, on the front blue distress on the back black so much going on. I will keep everything else I wear simple and let the jeans be the star. I found them of course at the Thrift store and was immediately drawn to them. If you asked me if I liked this sort of thing in the past I would have said no. But as the old saying goes never say never. Something might just strike the right chord.

8 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

As an older member of the forum, I totally share your opinion, Knitloon.

I understand Angie's point about juxtaposition and rebellion being part of fashion. I'm also fascinated by deconstruction in fashion and actually own a couple of garments with unfinished, inside-out seaming that I love to wear. As a meticulious seamstress who carefully bound and finished EVERY seam (even in lined items!), I find my deconstructed pieces amusing and fun. Given all that, I have a hard time explaining my aversion to shredded jeans, since I'm not sure I'd have the same issues with shredded pants made from other fabrics.

I've actually thought about my reaction because I know many forum members love the texture and look of their shredded jeans. The only explanation I've come up with is that jeans come from humble origins--in essence they are a working-class garment that has been appropriated by fashion. Paying a designer $$$ to trash and shred a labourer's garment in the name of fashion just doesn't amuse me in the same way as if said designer was deconstructing a high fashion item. The irony of wearing such an item is simply lost on me--but, as Summer says, to each her own.

8 years ago

Marlene

Veteran

I'm a fan of distressed jeans. I have 2 pairs. I like them because of the texture and the "roughness" it provides. I enjoy wearing them with both my casual items and my dressier items. I like the contrast.

That being said, recently I was spending the weekend with my mum and had only 1 pair of jeans with me and it happened to be my distresed pair. Well my mum spent the entire weekend complaining about my jeans. She just could not get her head around it. Even though I am 51 years old, I did enjoy my little rebellious moment

8 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

OK..I don't own distressed jeans but and its a big BUT...I so wish I did...They speak to a part of my rebellious side that is in conflict with Miss Perfectly Put Together...I know that designer jeans cost a bunch and to add that to the concept of premium denim with holes...still, I want a pair...Maybe I should look for another way to rebel ...smile...

8 years ago

kkards

Veteran

marlene, i'm 52 and when I pack to go see my mother, I've very careful not to pack my distressed jeans!
knitloon--I like my distressed jeans because they are so different from what I usually wear. sometimes its just nice to mix it up.

8 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I have a slightly distressed pair that I like well enough. I don't go for the all out slashes at the knees kind of distressed. But overally, I actually prefer a faded jean these days because I hate the likely toxic dark blue dye being transferred to my skin and everywhere else! I still own a couple of pair of darker jeans and I don't wear them much any more because of the problem.

8 years ago

knitloon

Member

Very interesting discussion. I've been enjoying Angie's blog for a while, but just joined the group and posted for the first time. Those of you who mention your age are in my same bracket, and I'm hearing both Yays and Nays, so it's not an age thing. It just strikes me as humorous that the same woman purchasing distressed jeans from me in the store would probably want a price adjustment for a seam that has come open on another garment, LOL. I actually don't hate the look when put together properly, just wouldn't choose it for myself.

8 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Love them. I have two pairs. One pair is about 5 years old and the other is about a year old. They are both premium denim.

I love faded denim over dark denim. Dark denim looks too boring and blah to me. I wore them to work. Time to move on.

8 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am a bit of a denim nut who appreciates the artistry that goes into a good rip and repair jean. There is something very personal about distressing, and I always think of the craftsperson who is doing this. You are paying a lot for the best distressing. I have tried distressing myself and it never looks as good as the best houses do it. The best distressing concepts have come from True Religion and Rag & Bone, in my opinion. Then there are Italian brands like D Squared and R13 where distressing is even more complex and expensive and innovative.

I have stepped away from heavy distressing but still love a complex, craft-inspired jean. Right now I'm into patchwork. I'm 57 BTW and I do get lots of "comments" about my jeans. I don't wear them as much as I used to, like in 2012-13, because the trend has really peaked I believe.

To simplify this discussion, I feel on YLF it comes down to -- do you like "dressy and polished" or RATE (Rough Around the Edges, as we say here). Those who like the rougher, rocker styles tend to enjoy distressing more.

8 years ago

Active Member

I'm 39 and the style was in when I was a teen, along with the acid washing and the slim fit jeans that were so tight that a zipper was required at the ankle. I distressed my tight acid-wash jeans myself as a teen and loved wearing them either with something structured, like a fitted turtleneck or a very flowy oversizes soft shirt, that usually fell to one side if not off my shoulder entirely. The attraction started and ended when I was a teen, and the only distressed jeans I've had since have been normal ones that I loved so much they finally disintegrated on my body and I still couldn't bear to let them go for several more rounds, and one pair of heavy grey thrift store jeans with faded patches already on them that I speckled with burn holes from welding and plasma cutting steel. I wore them with a tight fitting pull-over black hoodie with a partially ripped hood and welding burn holes of it's own that had "I enjoy a good spanking" printed across the chest, and a pair of beaten up black suede ugh-type boots. Along with some leather gloves, an old suede jacket, a pink print bandana tied over my hair, a ventilation mask, and welding goggles, it was my metalworking uniform. I would never actually buy a distressed pair new because they would make me feel like a fake rather than a badass tool-wielding artist. I personally feel you either have to have the attitude or the lifestyle to pull them off properly, and I currently don't have either (or that hoodie - man I loved that hoodie.)

8 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Angie said it well. It's all about the DRAMA and the UNEXPECTED JUXTAPOSITION(with dressier elements) which I personally love, but don't do, as faded/light blue denim doesn't suit me!:-((.

8 years ago

Archer

Veteran

What about the little bit of skin effect. The seduction factor is not subtle in the case of the jeans. Anyone remember the scene in the movie 'The Piano' where the minister puts his finger on the hole in her thick stockings?

8 years ago

Carole

Veteran

I actually like the look on others, but not for me...I guess I wore too many pairs of ripped and distructed jeans in my youth to find them appropriate at this stage of my life!

8 years ago

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