Rip them, sew on patches or cut off the waistband.

Pair them with Manolos to be an urban princess or with cowboy boots to be a windshield rancher.

Jeans transcend age, economic and style barriers. Washes, embellishments, leg openings and labels fluctuate with fashion whims, but jeans themselves have reached iconic status.

Although they are the quintessential American item, denim probably originated from a fabric from Nimmes, France (serge de Nimmes means "of Nimmes" -- which became denim).

In time American cowboys, railroad workers and farmers adopted them for their rugged wearability.

After WWII, jeans evolved into rebel wear for teens and then for the hippies. The '70s saw an explosion of styles and fabric treatments; the '80s brought designer denim.

Today, jeans are the stuff of high-end designer wear.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jill Stuart, D & G (Dolce & Gabbana): these designers and many more don't think this sturdy fabric is too humble for the catwalk.


What's hot
Low-rise
Zippers
Slim cut
Dark denim
Vintage washes

Glossary

Right hand twill - Using uniform yarns, this weave is considered more rugged.
Left hand twill - The weave runs diagonally, resulting in a softer, loftier feel.
Ring Spun Denim - The original denim fabric, which is known for its characteristic slubs.
Open-End Denim - The most popular type of denim that results in a consistent yarn thickness.
Dirty denim - Filler yarns are brown (instead of natural which is woven with the indigo) which gives the denim a "dirty" appearance
Stonewashed - Most jeans today are stonewashed, but not in pumice stones like the original method. Now enzymes, sand, ceramic balls and other methods give jeans their worn look.
Flares - Slim through the legs, flaring right above the ankle -- to about an 21+ inch opening.
Bellbottoms - Start to flare at the knee, resulting in a 22+ inch leg opening.
Peg legs - Extremely narrow leg opening (very '80s)
Bootcut - Slim through the legs, with a slight flare at the ankle to accommodate a boot (about a 16-18 inch opening)

Cool jean facts

Denim is unique because it is woven with two yarn colors: the indigo yarn and the "filler" yarn, which is undyed (turn your jeans inside out and see the white inside for yourself!)
Jeans were called "waist overalls" or just "overalls" until 1960 when Levi Strauss changed it to its popular name of "jeans."

Hot premium labels

Paper, Denim & Cloth
D & G
Chip & Pepper
True Religion
Blue Cult
Hudson
Earnest Sewn
Joe's Jeans
Jordache Vintage
Paige Denim
Citizens of Humanity
Frankie B
Earl Jeans
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Salt Works
Seven for All Mankind