1. WWW.OUTHREADMAG.COM | 219
evolvingthreads
By PERRI CAMELLA
Illustrations by JESSICA SHOKLER
F
rom the coalmines of Califor-
nia to the runways of Paris,
denim has come a long way
since the coining of its name as the
workingman’s uniform. Although first
worn in Europe by wealthy work-
ingmen during the 1700s, fashion
designers worldwide can thank Levi
Strauss for first introducing denim
jeans to the U.S. in 1890. When the
company created its first pair of
traditional Levi 501 Jeans, they had
no idea it would go on to influence
fashion for decades to come.
Gaining popularity after bad boy
James Dean was seen rocking a pair
of jeans in "Rebel Without A Cause,"
denim became synonymous with
youth and style. The ‘60s saw a skin-
nier cut that was popular among rock
bands and musicians like The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones. Intervening
on the journey to a skinny fit, the ‘70s
created a whole new meaning for
jeans—transforming the slim cut into
bellbottoms. They represented that
generation’s carefree persona with the
addition of colorful patchwork.
The ‘80s introduced acid washing
and the denim on denim look that has
recently regained popularity. Deco-
rated with brightly colored paintings
and sparkly rhinestones, the jean
jacket was nothing short of an indi-
vidual’s own work of art. Associated
with the introduction of techno and
house music, it is no wonder ‘80s style
jeans introduced the tightest fit yet.
The high-waisted style (skinny ankles
with rips and holes) was undoubt-
edly made to show every curve while
shaking to Madonna and Queen’s
greatest tunes. Jeans were worn to
make a statement and symbolized the
generation’s nonconformist attitude.
The '90s opted for a cleaner look,
doing away with bellbottoms and
embellished jeans, and moving
toward a baggier fit to correspond
with the newly introduced dance-pop
music. Although denim never went
out of style, the introduction of khaki
and branded sportswear became
prominent in the ‘90s and periodically
back of the closet

2. 220 | THREAD
THE EVOLUTION OF DENIM
1890
LEVI 501 JEANS
1960
SLIM CUT
1970
BELLBOTTOMS
outshined denim. After being fea-
tured in Chanel, Dior, and Versace’s
summer 1999 collections, denim
made a comeback.
Originally considered a cheaper
piece of apparel, fashion design-
ers have found a way to make jeans
and denim pieces a pricier option.
Versace introduced a daring look with
a waxed effect denim jacket seen in
their Fall/Winter 2014 Fashion Show.
The jacket, available in dark red or
green, paves the way for a trend un-
seen in the past: colored jean jackets.
Dolce & Gabbana featured a
selection of minimally distressed,
skinny blue jeans in their Fall/Winter
2014 collection. A floral pair, remi-
niscent of ‘90s chick Kelly Kapowski
from "Saved By The Bell," was also
included in the collection.
Burberry went for an equally
attention-grabbing look while choos-
ing an assortment of colorful skinny
jeans for their 2014 collection. Yellow,
green, and red—the collection has it
all. Careful to create a more modern
look compared to the ‘80s bright jean
style, Burberry paired both men and
women’s colored jeans with a neutral
colored top.
Whether it be diamond details,

3. WWW.OUTHREADMAG.COM | 221
1980
ACID WASH
1990
POLISHED
2014
SKINNY
custom alterations, or just a brand
name that increases the price of the
piece, one can’t help but wonder if
more costly options are better quality.
In an interview with ABC News, Elle
magazine’s fashion news director
Anne Slowey said the biggest benefit
of spending more on a denim piece is
its longevity. The bigger the number
on the price tag, the more durable
the fabric and color. Whether design-
ers have convinced everyone of this
theory is a different story.
Before the late 1900s, there wasn’t
an array of designers selling high
priced denim to consumers. Jeans
were simple but each generation
made them their own. Jump to 2014
and high-waisted pants are back.
Jean jackets are still in, overalls are
now casual street wear, and dis-
tressed jeans are more popular than
ever. It seems this generation has a
case of nostalgia, or maybe just a
vast acceptance and respect for each
generation’s individual flair. What’s
made denim consistently popular
in each decade is its versatility. First
introduced as a pant, denim has
transformed into hats, book bags,
shirts, and dresses. It has proven
worthy of evolution.