Reading the Text:
Why according to Davis, were jeans linked with disreputability until the mid 1960s?
Blue jeans were seen as a symbol of hard work and labor, until they were presented to the masses in a different light. Rather than be seen as clothing of labor they were seen as fashionable and practical.
- In Davis’s view, what enabled jeans to “crossover” from being disputable to fashionable?
Blue jeans· identity changed from a garment associated exclusively with work (and hard work, at that) to one invested with many of the symbolic attributes of leisure ease, comfort, casualness, sociability, and the outdoors. It underwent a process of cultural authentication bringing together the work and leisure disconnect.
Reading the Signs:
- This selection, originally published in 1992, takes its analysis through the 1980s. Using Davis’s categories of democracy and distinction, write down your own analysis of jeans that are popular today.
Jeans contests to numerous dialectics consisting of “status and anti-status, democracy and distinction”. Jeans have come along way in their ‘evolutionary process’ that has taken them from the hard working and intense labor oriented professions to the runways of Chanel, J Brand, and Marc Jacobs.
As Fred Davis explained the theory of “Fading and Fringing”, and how the notion that well worn jeans worth seen as a status symbol. That these alterations and embellishments had become a trend for it to “cost more to look poor”, have still carried on to modern day fashion. A trend that has taken the fashion world by storm is the ripped or distressed jeans. Ripped jeans were once seen as a sign of rebellion and non-social conformity has now become a status symbol and an imitation of its past statement.
Not only have jeans evolved from the traditional blue boot cut jean to distressed jeans, but have also taken to imitating other fabrics. No longer do the jeans embody the iconic indigo dye but rather a waxed texture to emulate the sheen and luxury of leather. These jeans served a different purpose, it allowed the masses to acquire a similar look that would distinctly wealthier people are able to attain.
Finally, a jean style that has become trend recently is the beloved flared jeans. Fashion works in cycle so that every so often a trend that had been popular in the past recirculates back into modern dad. Flared jeans have made that circulation and have reentered as a fashion trend. Flared jeans have become a distinctive status, one were the wearer is seen as a trendsetter or ahead of the game for wearing them.
Overall, jeans have come along way since they first starting entering the market. No longer are jeans frowned upon but instead worn and adapted to various fashion trends.
- Photographer Unknown. Fashion Blogger Jennifer Grace wearing ASOS ripped denim jeans during blogpost. January 20,2014. Digital photograph. Website: nativefox.com. Accessed February 7, 2016. http://www.nativefox.com/2014/01/monday.html
2. Photographer Unknown. Fashion blogger Aimee Song wearing H&M ‘leather’ jeans during blogpost. February 3, 2015. Website: songofstyle.com. Accessed February 7, 2016. http://www.songofstyle.com/2015/02/tuesdays-top-10-leather-pants-wear.html
3. Photographer Unknown. Fashion blogger Danielle Bernstein wearing Alice & Olivia jeans during blogpost. September 2, 2015. Website: weworewhat.com. Accessed February 7 2016. http://weworewhat.com/outfits/flared/
