I’m Done with Denim
Look, I get it. Jeans are comfortable. They’re versatile. They’re, like, the official uniform of America or whatever. But honestly? I’m over them. I’ve been in this industry for 22 years, and I’ve seen trends come and go. Denim? It’s going.
It started last Tuesday. I was at this little café in Portland—you know the one, with the weird art on the walls?—and I saw this girl, let’s call her Marcus, wearing these ripped skinny jeans. And I thought, “Marcus, what are you doing? It’s 2023, not 2013.” I mean, come on. The rips, the distressing, the whole “I paid $87 to look like I fell down” thing? It’s just… yeah.
When Did Jeans Become So Complicated?
I remember when jeans were simple. You had your Levi’s, your Wranglers, maybe a pair of Jordache if you were feeling fancy. But now? It’s a whole thing. Mom jeans, dad jeans, skinny jeans, bootcut, straight leg, wide leg, cropped, high-waisted, low-rise… it’s exhausting. I talked to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “It’s like they’re trying to outdo each other with how many ways they can cut and sew the same damn fabric.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
And don’t even get me started on the whole “vintage” thing. I went to a conference in Austin last year, and there was this panel on sustainable fashion. Some designer was going on about how “vintage denim is the future.” I raised my hand and said, “Ma’am, vintage denim is just old jeans. You’re not reinventing the wheel here.” She didn’t appreciate that. But whatever.
The Rise of the Alternative
So what’s a fashion-forward person to do? I’ll tell you what I’m doing. I’m embracing alternatives. Linen pants, cotton jumpsuits, even some of those new synthetic blends. They’re lighter, they’re breezier, and they don’t make me look like I’m trying to relive my college years.
I was over coffee at the place on 5th with my friend Sarah the other day. She’s a stylist, been in the game for about 15 years. I told her about my denim strike. She laughed and said, “About time. I’ve been telling you for years that denim is so last decade.” She showed me some of her new designs—flowy, light, and honestly, they looked amazing. I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda jealous.
And look, I get it. Change is hard. But fashion is about evolution. It’s about moving forward. It’s about not being afraid to say, “You know what? I’m done with this.” And for me, that’s denim.
Now, I’m not saying you should burn all your jeans. (Although, if you do, I wanna watch.) What I’m saying is, maybe it’s time to give them a break. Try something new. Experiment. Live a little.
And if you’re gonna stick with denim, at least make it interesting. Throw in some color. Try a different cut. Do something. Please. For the love of all that’s holy, don’t wear ripped skinny jeans. We’ve all been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Literally. It was 1998, and we don’t need a repeat.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some inspiration on how to market your new fashion choices on social media, check out these sosyal medya pazarlama ipuçları. Trust me, they’re a game-changer. (Okay, fine, I said I wouldn’t use that word. But it’s true.)
Anyway, that’s my rant. My committment to denim is officially over. I’m moving on. You should too.
Oh, and if you see Marcus, tell her to call me. We need to talk.
About the Author: Jane Doe is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. She’s worked with major publications and has a no-nonsense approach to style. When she’s not ranting about denim, she’s probably ranting about something else. Probably something equally trivial. But hey, it’s her passion.
