DenimHunt

The Boyfriend Jean

 

Every so often a trend is accurately predicted by designers, but released too early. Because of the poor timing it's doomed to obscurity with the hopes that it will be revived at the right time, fresh, new and ready to make a splash. With that said, remember the 'boyfriend' jean? That's what we thought. Unfortunately, it was introduced around the same time as the skinny jean and we know which one won out. However, now that the skinny jean has become so ubiquitous we think the boyfriend jean is a slick alternative. The models above show the flexibility of this look, although we think the tassled boots are a stretch. To the left are a pair of aged and faded Current/Elliot jeans and those to the right are designed by Yohji Yamamoto made with Japanese, selvedge denim. Victoria Beckham, ever the fashion plate, at least in her own mind, was seen back in June wearing a pair and we love it.

 

Bleached Out Denim

It seems several forward-thinking denim companies such as Siwy, WESC and others are looking past the reincarnation of 80's style, acid-washed jeans and are going completely bleached out.  This is a look that's hard to ignore and the finish is far from random. Some have a tie-dye look while others show a layering of bleach to add visual dimension. Also, take note of the reversed-bleach effect.  Here at DenimHunt we think it's nice to see a look that's not a comeback.

Jumper Flair

We saw this on Fashionista.com and had to post it. If you haven't already read, we have a thing about overalls. This is Anna, a Ksubi designer, showing us how it's done. Smile Anna!

Since we're on the subject of overalls we found another great look. We love the buttons going down the front. This combined with the slim silhouette seem to take inspiration from the super high-waisted, corset-like jeans that were popular last season. We like this better.

It's the Little Things That Count

When it comes to denim most of us are concerned primarily with fit. I mean, if it doesn't do wonders for our bum, not to mention the entire lower half, then what's the point. Sometimes, however, it all comes down to the details. These can be shocking or subtle, but either way they serve the same purpose. To give our jeans that little something extra.

Exposed button-fly closures that extend to the inseam draw attention to the crotch, while DIY or decorative stitching are understated and unique.

Brightly colored, sport stripes are a contradiction on high-waisted, mineral washed, denim shorts and create a look that is over-the-top. Saddle bag zipper details that cut through the back pocket create interest on clean washes and silhouettes

Trend to Watch: Denim Jumper

It's been over a decade since the denim jumper was a full scale trend. We've seen it around in splutters and spurts over the past few seasons, but it never seems to fully catch on among anyone but the hipster. There's a lot more variety in the silhouettes offered this time around. Styles range from bib dresses and jumpsuits to your classic working man's overalls. In keeping with the cycle of trends the denim jumper is long overdue for a comeback.

Glastonbury 2008 Denim Trends

Festival-goers at Worthy Farm were partying in a lot more than the ever-present wellies and mud this year. Denim shorts were popular among women. Cutoffs of sought after brands, hard-to-find vintage styles and tailored looks were favored. Cutoffs were frayed and either left alone or rolled just once in order to display the fringe as pictured above on the high-wasted Acne Jeans on Alexa Chung. The men took their cue from the ladies this year, eschewing comfort for fashion. Super-tight jeans left little to the imagination as men seem to be embracing a more androgynous look.

Precious Metals

NYLON Magazine's July 2008 music issue features a great spread on metallic denim. Just when you thought metallics have run their course they surprise us yet again. Styles range from the metallic brush strokes of Cheap Monday to the all over platinum of Converse by John Varvatos. Trends from the late 90's are rarely revisited and fortunately this is one that few seem to remember. This time around there are so many options available it won't be so easily forgotten.

Denim Trend Report

Last week, Women’s Wear Daily featured a spectacular Denim In Depth special section. Among the business studies of the market , they featured some insights into trend direction for the season. We’ve pulled our favorites of the few and here is what we think is the most directional for premium denim brands.
First, we have Acid Test, highlighting brands from Gsus and Kill City to Vanilla Star and Denim of Virtue. Mostly cotton and spandex, this trend hits on the craze of ice wash denim of the 1980s. Once thought to be ultra-tacky, the sophisticated silhouettes and color choices (turquoise and red from Vanilla Star!) have revived this eyesore to be one of the most exciting returns.

Next up, is The Electric Company. There is a never-ending rainbow of color choices in denim right now. The key to navigating through them to make the right choice for your own style is to be bold. The most vivid selections from Blue Blood, Habitual, 4 Strokes and Jae’s D, are the most fun – and fashion should always be fun, especially in the summer! If the bright colors intimidate you, play easy and pair them with a plain white tank and simple sandals. These new colors are great alternatives to the regular indigo and faded blues crowding our closets.

Another way to create something fresh with the more traditional black and blues of denim is finishes. Many advanced coatings are being added to darker denims to create contrast through mixing the texture of the fabric with slick finishes. With this technique, you can gain something new without going out to the deep end of trends.
The Proportion of Blu offers a lightly coated faded blue, while Goldsign and Anlo apply this idea to dark grey and black denim. Goldspun has a heavier finish with added hardware on the backside for a unique design and Pepe takes it a step further mixing a black print under the clear resin finish.

Happy Mother's Day!

In honor of all the mama's out there, we decided to feature Mom's Jeans today.  Yep, you know, those high-waisted, full-cut, tapered jeans that suburban moms everywhere call their uniform. Well, the thought may make you cringe, but think again. We've seen some interesting takes on this style from Acne Jeans and the latest collaboration from Warhol Factory X Levi's Damien Hirst. As an actual fashion-forward trend, we're not sure how far this will travel, but the styling seen in Nylon Magazine and by Cheap Monday's Spring 2008 line, is quite convincing.

PHOTOS

Denim on the Street: Los Angeles

This weekend we headed to a local flea market in search of some wares and found some great LA fashion too! Check out these trendy fashionistas!

Fit to be Tie-Dyed

We've been turned on to tie-dye denim since we spotted it emerging last year. So, of course, we are happy to report we've seen it on the streets in sunny Los Angeles. Fergie, seen here strutting her stuff on Rodeo Drive, is wearing our favorite spring look.  Dressing-up this twisted jean is the freshest new alternative to plain dark indigo denim. We love this sophisticated take on the t-shirt finish!

PHOTO

Spring into the 70's

Now, don’t go and throw away all those skinny jeans just yet, but 70’s inspired fashion is invading this spring. We’re not talking straight-up bell-bottoms, disco glamour or polyester suits, but instead, the ease and comfort inspired by the original hippy generation. We’ve heard about the resurgence of wide-leg trousers and seen plenty of Bianca Jagger-esque floppy hats on the runways, but there is plenty of ways to navigate this trend and add key pieces to your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid, we’re thinking more Charlie’s Angels and less Saturday Night Fever.

We want to be sure to point out why we are so excited to see this silhouette back in action. With high-waists ruling this style, our mid-section will surely be minimized, while our legs are lengthened. Be sure to wear these pants with nothing flatter than a wedge heel or platform shoe to not lose any of the long and lean look. As we mentioned the influx of wide-leg denim from many designer’s, some of our favorite’s are Found Denim’s Agatha Hip Hugger, Stephenson Denim Finery’s Mercer Fisherman Jean and LA-based Pur Premium Denim’s Grace pin tuck trouser.

Trend Report: Unisex jeans

Given last night's late night festivities at the opening of Supper Club's New York chapter, we needed something to take the edge off our early morning. Poking around at some of our favorite denim retailers, we noticed the prevalence of a trend we participate in more frequently than we should admit: unisex jeans. With girls stealing boys' jeans and boys stealing girls' jeans, labels like April 77 (above,) Cheap Monday, Tripp, and Levi's have finally gotten it right--all for one, one for all!

Yes, these jeans are usually very slim fitting, but are cut in the perfect middle-ground proportions to keep both sexes happy campers. Our everyday jeans are from Tripp. We've stocked up on their Jimmy Jean in just about every color and pattern thanks to legendary Jimmy Webb of Trash & Vaudeville for whom the jeans are named.

We're also big fans of Levi's recently launched unisex collection, especially the bondage-influenced styles we saw at the Damien Hirst show in September.

If you're looking for something a little more European, check out April 77 and Cheap Monday. Of course, all the great style icons, such as Charlotte Gainsbourg, have been rockin' Dior Homme's jeans for quite some time. Though technically not unisex, there's no arguing that almost as many women wear the collection as men.

To buy:

April 77

Seven New York

Cheap Monday

Urban Outfitters

Tripp

KarmaLoop

Levi's

Levi's

Premiere Vision to launch Denim by Premiere Vision

Our friends over at WGSN reported on Friday that fabric trade show giant, Premiere Vision is planning a denim-devoted show December 4-5 in Paris, France.

While there will still be denim areas at Premiere Vision during the February and September shows, Denim by Premiere Vision will bring together 50 international exhibitors including weavers, finishing companies, and accessory manufacturers linked to the denim industry.

December's launch event is a test to see if the show will take place twice a year. There is potential for shows in December for spring/summer collections and June for fall/winter collections.

For more information visit Premiere Vision