admin
Rutendo Chidawanyika
Denim is democracy in a fabric. It is so versatile that you can wear it with anything, from different tones and shades of clothes, shoes and accessories. Denim has no gender or age discrimination, it is the uniform of good taste and self-expression.
Everyone should have PAIRS of denim in their closet, because it is always on trend season after season, with the tones and shades being modified.
Denim is socially acceptable in both the fashion world and home décor. Whether you are from our grandparents’ generation or our children’s, denim has been a part of fashion and always will be. When you are wearing your denim pants or shirt, not only are you trendy but comfortable as well. Denim lets you be comfortable as if you are in sweatpants (that’s if the fit is right).
You can dress casually by pairing your denim pants with flat shoes or dress them up with heels for a more sophisticated look.
A variety of colours can be worn with denims, to show off your own sense of style.
There are different types of denim washes. It is important to know their different names so that you don’t get confused when buying or you send someone and they bring the wrong wash. These are the different washes are how they are created.
Types of denim washes
Bleached
Various types of bleaches applied to denim leave it with a soft light blue colour. Sometimes bleach is applied unevenly during the process, to result in a light and dark blue mottled appearance on the finished fabric. Very heavy bleaching results in an almost white shade of denim.
Stone Washed
Denim tumbled in a washing machine with synthetic stones results in a vintage or used appearance in the final garment. Stone-washed denim can end up light or dark in colour, depending on the texture of the stones used in the process and the total length of time the material was abraded by the stones.
Acid Washed
First utilised in the 1980s, this chemical process strips denim of its dye through washing with stones soaked in sodium hypochlorite or another acidic substance. This process results in a mottled, bleached appearance, often resembling marble. Sometimes acid-washed denim has a yellowish cast as the result of the acid not being fully neutralised at the end of the washing process.
Faded — Soft shades of faded blue denim result from ozone or water jet fading procedures. Ozone is dissolved into water in a washing machine before adding the denim, or it is subjected to ozone gases in a special fading chamber. With water jet fading, strong jets of water remove colour gradually until the fabric becomes the desired shade of blue. These non-chemical procedures cause little damage to the fabric.
Over-dyed — Over-dyed or tinted denim fabrics have usually been stone washed to remove some of the blue dye from the surface of the fibres. After the garment is sewn, another shade of dye, often by hand using sponges or paintbrushes is applied.
Most often, colours in the brown or yellow range are applied, but occasionally other colours are used. The garment goes through another washing process, resulting in subtle colour variations in the finished product.
Dirty Washed — After stone washing the denim, the material is treated with special chemicals. These leave a brown or grey cast that only appears in the areas exposed to the chemicals. This results in a dirty appearance, as though the wearer had stained the garment in spots while gardening or otherwise working in the dirt.
Knowing the type of denim washes is the first step. Then the next step is getting the perfect fit for the look you want to achieve. Some jeans only suit people with certain body types. It’s important to learn about your jeans and what will look good on you. Some people only know of skinny jeans and wide legs but there are various types of jeans to choose from.
Types of jeans
Cuffed Jeans — These jeans have the same length as Shorts, Cropped or Capri but are still referred to as jeans which are folded at the leg opening. Take extra precautions if you have thick ankles as folds can make them look bigger. To get the maximum leg slimming effect pair these jeans with heels.
Cropped Jeans — They cover three-fourth of your legs and can make your legs look longer and leaner. They looks stunning with a pair of high heels. Never flare this leg cut at hem unless you are going to wear them at home.
Capri Jeans — These types of jeans look more modern and stylish too. In this pattern of jeans, the hemline is just below the knee or often above or on the calf. If you are short, pay special attention to how it looks on you as hemlines which fall right on the widest part of your legs can overpower your short body figure.
Skinny Jeans — These jeans look pretty on slim and lean shapes. It is a tight jean which sits snugly around your legs. It can be worn by anyone if styled in conjunction with the shape of your clothes. However, if you are self-conscious about your hips then opt for straight leg/ cigarette jeans as skinny emphasises curves and at times may make you feel uncomfortable.
Wide Leg Jeans — Wide leg jeans are featured with a wide opening from your thighs and down. They look great when paired with a fitted top. If you are short then do not go for these type of jeans and even if you want to then choose the skinniest and fitted wide leg jeans and wear them with high heels.
Boot Cut Jeans — These jeans look good on all body shapes as they streamline the body frame giving it a long and lean look.
They are loose at the leg and wide at the leg opening. They are not a good choice for tiny people as the wide leg opening tends to swallow up your body frame. They will remind you of the olden times of 70’s and 80’s when this fashion was in trend.
Boyfriend Jeans — The name may sound weird. The reason behind this name is that these jeans have the loose, baggy cut that gives it a look as if you have taken them right away from your boyfriend’s wardrobe. Its shape is such that it gives you a tight fit around your hips and is slightly loose and relaxed at the legs. It looks good on thicker thighs and legs. (get yourself a pair, they are a must have.)
High Rise or High waist jeans — These jeans fit on your natural waistline and look good when you wear them with a tucked-in top. If your waist is thick or short wear them with a skinny belt. In order to have a lean upper body look you can choose high waist jeans in the dark wash and wear dark coloured tops on them. High waist jeans may look somewhat awkward on some body frames but they are trendy.
Low Rise or Low cut jeans — If you want to create a visually longer waist then this is a popular choice to be considered. These jeans sit low on your waist, 2-3’’ below your belly button. When you wear these jeans there is a chance that your butt crack may peek whenever you bend so be aware of this. It works well on girls with short rise. Again not recommended for official outings but can be worn with confidence during leisure times.
Denim will always be on trend. Do not get rid of old styles or washes, as the style is bound to return the next season or the other. Get your denim on!
Email: [email protected]
Online Reporter