Andy Warhol famously said that he wants to die with his blue jeans on. Dramatic as that sounds, it may be true for many. The blue jean that has stayed so faithful all our lives is celebrating its birthday. On May 20, 1873, Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss and a Reno tailor Jacob Davis patented the world’s first blue jean and since then the day is known as Blue Jean Birthday.
Blue jean has come a long, long way from being just “waist overalls” that workers and mechanics in America wore simply because they were rugged and durable. James Dean with Rebel without a Cause made being a rebel and wearing jeans so fashionable. The flower children, hippies couldn’t do without their blue jean. Through the decades, blue jean has been omnipresent not just as clothing but a personal statement. The humble jean is also an integral part of high fashion. But, first and foremost, it’s the comfort. As designer Archana Kochchar says, “People believe in comfort as well as fashion and jeans fulfil both completely.”
Shahid Kapoor
It’s also the versatility that adds to its mass appeal. Designer A.D. Singh says, “The many turfs and textures that jeans have gone through over the years have kept jeans in vogue. Every year there’s a new trend. There are droopy trousers, bell bottoms, fitted jeans, skinny pants, low wait, high waist, and whatnot.” So while all other cloths and styles may come and go, one that has stood the test of times is the blue jean. “Jean has changed and also not changed. The original jeans still look very trendy. The new trend of distressed jeans is not too different from what it originally was – what workers used to wear it,” observes designer Anupama Dayal.
Jeans boasts of an intrinsic resilience and power. You cannot think of anything as hardwearing as jean. If you’re also looking for a style to choose from, you have a gazillion options. “Ripped, jeans with patches, ankle length, distressed jeans, boyfriend jeans, acid wash jeans and layering of jeans with different hues, the trends are endless,” says Archana who recommends wearing them as dungarees, jumpsuits, skirts, jackets and shirtdresses. “Styling them with quirky badges and patches can turn up as a part of one’s personal style,” she says. Intense and hyper florals are the big thing right now, too. As Anupama recommends, “Rainbow stripes on jeans are also quite trendy.”
Independent music producer and songwriter Darshan Lodaya cannot live without his blue jeans. “It’s mostly my faithful blue jeans for me. Even if it’s a formal occasion, I have them on. I just wear a jacket with it,” Darshan says. Like Anupama concurs – blue jeans is extremely democratic. “It was worker class, rough and tough, and yet superstars wear them, too. You can fit in as well as stand apart in your blue jeans,” she says. While the designers unanimously think that Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi made it fashionable in India in the bygone era, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor are the clear winners today. “Among guys, I think Shah Rukh Khan looks very cool in jeans,” says Anupama.
