Its All in the Jeans Essay -- Fashion Clothing Retail Essays

It's All in the Jeans Bell-bottoms came and went, came back and then left again. Top hats had their era. Platform shoes had an intense, yet short, life. Polyester made a brief appearance. At one time, sailor suits could be seen everywhere; not anymore. Hot pants come and go. Yet jeans seem to have survived. They have achieved the impossible: remaining a major trend from the eighteenth century to the present day. Jeans -- trousers made of denim clothing -- have survived through the decades and the centuries. All trends tend to become old and eventually lose their place in society, some more quickly than others. Whether it is clothing, music, hairstyles or attitudes, all seem to have a time limit. Fashion, in any category, has often made it across borders, oceans, social classes and genders, but few have made it through time. Jeans have made it through all of the above, and more. They have made the ultimate transition from being a trend to being a classic. Eternal. Popularity usually comes with an expiratio n date, but apparently not for jeans. As described by the â€Å"History of Jeans† website, the history of jeans is complex and goes all the way back to the eighteenth century, when the word â€Å"jean† is believed to have originated in Italy. Genoan sailor outfits were made from a mixture of materials. Pants made of this denim cloth were called â€Å"jeans† after the Genoan sailors who wore them. â€Å"Denim† refers back to a clothing material used in France called â€Å"Serge de Nimes†. Translated, â€Å"serges† is a kind of material and â€Å"de Nimes† means â€Å"from Nimes†, a town in the south of France. Trading across the Atlantic, along with European immigration, brought denim cloth and jeans to the country that would make both famous. In the USA, jeans we... ... is the key to survival in general? Evolution. Think about it. It makes sense. In order to survive, something must adapt to its ever-changing environment. This principle applies to all things, alive and non-living. Without adaptation comes extinction. It is essential to evolve. Jeans have done exactly that. In the constantly changing world of fashion and popular culture, jeans have been adjusted every step of the way to suit their new environment. In this case, the environment involves trends, attitudes and looks. With every decade and every new generation, jeans have been adapted in order to ensure their continued popularity. Sources Cited â€Å"The Gentrification of Blue Jeans† website www.chass.utoronto.ca/history/material_culture/cynth; â€Å"Historic clothing† at histclo.hispeed.com; and â€Å"History of jeans† at www2.gol.com/users/bobkeim/Garment/jhistory.html.