The jean is a basic, timeless and classic piece in every woman’s wardrobe. The jean can really be worn from day to night, with too many mix & matches, depending on the occasion. But it didn’t always exist in fashion, nor in the form we know it today. In the beginning it even wasn’t a woman’s garb. The origin of the word «jeans» is French and was first used for sailors who traveled to Italy. They wore trousers from durable cotton or wool that was called «Jene Fusentyan». The first jeans were seen as work forms and later, during the 17th century the term «denim» appeared to describe the wool blue jeans.
The first jean
During the 18th century we had jeans, made from more durable fabrics, like sails from Dungari town in India. These jean, because of their low price, were especially preferred by workers, farmers and miners. Then the term “dungarees” was created to describe both these trousers and the uniforms of the American Navy in the World War I, until the 20th century, where the word «jean»was used once again.
In 1950, blue jeans became popular to teenagers, who loved it, through Hollywood movies. Then the Levi, Lee Cooper and Wrangler brands emerged. It was then that women began to wear men’s trousers, which of course they adjusted them in order to fit them.
Women matched them with skirts as it was inappropriate for women to wear them alone. Women’s pants culture was influenced by the appearances of famous actresses, like Audrey Hepburn. Furthermore in the World War II, women wore trousers for fieldwork or in the factories.
The last decades of 20th century
The great revolution in fashion for women came with the revolution of the hipies in the name of love. The blue bell-shaped jeans became the new must have. In those jeans, you could see various embroidery, patterns with light colors, rhinestones and patches. In the 1960s and 1970s the female jean in America was a symbol of youthful sexuality. Gloria Vanderbilt was a designer who stood out for her jeans, which besides the classic blue, they were in various colors. Also her jeans were thinner and with the logo on the back pocket. Finally, renowned designer Calvin Klein was the first to wear on his models at a fashion show, jean trousers.
After the 1980s and before the 21st century, some of the top designers in women’s fashion design, such as Ralph Lauren, who have greatly contributed on changing trends in jeans for women. Now jeans are a part of our everyday lives. The new designs include jean embroidered, or torn jeans and low-cut designs.
Today’s jean
After 2000, women wear jeans all day long and not necessarily just in casual appearances or street style looks. With the right accessories, shoes and make up the jean is perfect even if you go out for a drink. Οf course there is now a great variety of colors and designs. They are either torn, especially on the two knees we so often see in recent years, either cuffed. Also embroidered jeans or with pearls are the trend of the season and have been decorating shop windows constantly in the past few years. The trend that seems to be prevalent in jeans fashion this year is the so-called denim color blocking.
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