Vintage Denim Features Many Forgettable Fashions
With the recent comeback of vintage jeans in the fashion world it can be east to overlook some of the more embarrassing styles that were once a part of our social culture. Of course we all can all laugh at the bell bottom stylings of the past, but ever since they made their way back onto the scene they don’t seem as bad. Not to worry though, there are plenty of other styles to take their place as the most forgettable denim fashions of years gone by.
Acid Wash
Reaching their pinnacle in the late eighties, acid wash jeans were the most commonly found style of their time. This bleached-out look fit well with the poofy hair and neon colors of the era. The two most prominent types were the spot-bleached designs and the stone-washed textures. It is hard to say where this style got started, but it probably began with an accidental bleach spill in a college campus somewhere.
The Big Baggy Look
It has taken quite a few years for form fitting denim to come back into rotation for men, and plenty of guys still prefer a slight sag to their jeans. However, you would be hard pressed to find any sensible socialite sporting the extreme oversized jeans that were an underground sensation in the late nineties. Most popular with the hip-hop and punk rock cultures, these pants featured leg widths that were up to tens times wider than the average pair. A unique look for sure, but most people try to appear slimmer in their clothes instead enormous.
The Jean Skirt
Even though women get most of the credit for establishing fashion trends there are plenty of regrettable styles to be found in their long history. Denim skirts may one day make comeback, but we would all be surprised if the ruffled skirts of the eighties ever see the light of day again. Serving as a cross between a dress and jeans, these hybrids-gone-wrong had Madonna followers everywhere running to the mall with their credit cards in hand. Thankfully this fashion only lasted a few years.
Graffiti Jeans
How many things were wrong with hip-hop fashions of late eighties? Quite a few to be sure, but nothing tops the airbrushed masterpieces worn by many performers of this era. Whether it was your street name or a subtle political message, there was always something you could convey on your pants with airbrush art. Luckily this fad fell out of favor once people discovered they could never wash their favorite jeans without ruining their creative designs.
These are just a few examples of vintage denim fashions that have ended up in the vast graveyard of social has-beens. Of course we like to think we have learned from our past mistakes, but there will always be a telltale fashion for every generation that we would like to forget.
How to Make Your Own Vintage Jeans
With the outrageous prices of modern vintage knockoffs and the scarcity of quality used denim pieces, it is no wonder why many people are looking for an easier alternative to owning a pair of vintage jeans. One inexpensive method is to simply make your own from an old pair of jeans you no longer wear.
Hear is a quick list of techniques you can use to make those worn-once jeans look like they just came out of a time capsule.
Cut Them Up
If you are looking for the swiss cheese effect, then the best place to start is with razor or utility knife. Both of these tools are sharp enough to cut, but they are also easy to control so you won’t accidentally go overboard. The cutting process is simple enough, but you’ll need to fray the cuts so they look more authentic. Do this by gently rubbing them with a coarse piece of sandpaper. You can also use this strategy to create more natural looking holes without actually cutting the denim.
Wear Them Down
In order to achieve the natural aged look you’ll need to speed up time by using sandpaper or a cheese grater. Start with the knees and work your way up to the thighs. It is important to work on each leg a little bit at a time to avoid an unbalanced look. Once you start seeing the white of the threads you should be gentle since unintended tears can occur.
Bleach Bomb
This is where most people ruin there hard work. Unless you are looking for an acid washed effect then you have to be careful with how much bleach you use. Always start conservative by adding just a capful to your wash after the water has filled up. Each pair of jeans will react differently and you won’t know what to expect until after a couple of wash cycles. If you want to spot treat them, apply a mild solution of bleach and water with a spray bottle before putting them in the machine. Use the “mist spray” setting for an even application.
Fray the Edges
In order to get the most authentic look, you will have to work on fraying the edges of your jeans. This includes the waistband, pocket area, and leg cuffs. Once again sandpaper is your best friend. Sometimes it is easier to attach a large piece of sandpaper to a board or wall and run these edges over the surface. This lets you cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.
Add Some Mileage
While you can spend hours trying to vintage your jeans, one of the most effective things you can do is simply wear and wash them repeatedly. Obviously you want them to look good before you take them out on the town, but there are plenty of opportunities to add some miles to them without making public appearances. You can wear them while doing household chores, light construction, and even when you are walking the dog. Just make sure you don’t do any activities like painting that may stain them forever.
Making your own vintage jeans will take some effort, but it is a great alternative to high priced retail outlets or trying to hunt for the perfect pair at a thrift store. Once you have made a couple of pairs you will have a system that will make future attempts that much smoother. Who knows – if you get good at it then you can charge your friends for your vintage services.
Identifying Marks for Vintage Levis
Ever wonder what exactly makes a pair of Vintage Levi’s Jeans authentic? Here is a quick video that shows you some of the identifying marks on a pair of 1955 jeans.
Always be sure you do your research before investing in vintage clothes. There are a number of fakes out there that people use to prey on the uniformed. Of course it is not that important if you are buying them as a fashion statement, but collectors should take a more cautious approach.
Men’s Vintage Bell Bottom Jeans
As the vintage clothing craze continues to sweep the younger generation, men are becoming more immersed in some of these fashions. This includes bell bottom jeans, which have only recently spread over into the male genre.
The primary difference in men’s bell bottom jeans can be found in the contrast of the foot opening. Whereas women’s styles typically feature a much more defined bell bottom, the male version is not as forthcoming. This is due to a combination of factors. Women’s jeans in general are tighter fitting to the leg which defines the bell bottom more. Men’s pants are also wider and thicker, limiting the amount of coverage this novelty style can add to the design.
There are several ways that men are incorporating bell bottoms into their modern look. The first is with a full vintage ensemble that accurately matches appeal from the era. The second is through wearing tight fitting bell bottoms and matching them with a thin top. This “skinny look” is a popular trend for men who contrast the bulky athletic figure stereotyped in many fashion promotions.
The evolution of bell bottom jeans into male fashion has been much slower compared to female fashions. While many modern trends balance their permeation through both markets, bell bottoms are simply not for everyone. But for men who like to define the latest and most creative fashion motifs, there are very few options as noteworthy as vintage bell bottoms.
