Is it over for denim?

by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts), Posted Jan 6th 2007 at 9:08AM

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Filed under: Fashion, Best of the Season, Denim

For the past three decades, the denim star has continued to rise. But has the denim revolution reached its peak?

According to fashion writer Hadley Freeman, denim is done. Of course, jeans will always be a wardrobe staple, but Freeman believes that they "won't generate anywhere near the excitement that they have for the past half decade." In her explanation of the denim demise, Freeman points to consumer fatigue, overexposure, and a lack of ingenuity on the design end as the principle reasons that jeans have had their day in the sun.

In place of jeans, Freeman also predicts that tights and leggings will continue to grow as an alternative to denim.

Filed under: Fashion, Best of the Season, Denim
Tags: denim, jeans, style in the media, StyleInTheMedia

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)

christal 1-31-2010 @ 4:16PM

yeah thats what they need to do lol let fat people like me loose in tights and leggings, we will get arrested for public indecency.

kay 1-06-2007 @ 3:25PM

tights and leggings? ewwwww

nikkicoli 1-09-2007 @ 6:22AM

Leggings and tights.?#!@% Welcome to 1985. Where are my red sneakers, big hair and madonna tapes?

Sam 1-09-2007 @ 6:29AM

Tights and leggings? Didn't we make that mistake in the '80s and early '90s? Sheesh. Dante was right; those that forget history are condemned to relive it. Only this time it's fashion history we're talking about. What's next? Parachute pants?

Abby Creek 1-09-2007 @ 6:30AM

I just turned 60, and I've been wearing jeans my whole life! I am NOT tired of wearing them at all and can't ever see myself stopping. :)

Susan 1-09-2007 @ 6:57AM

Personally, leggings or tights will NEVER replace my jeans. Who are these people that attempt to generate trends that are laughed about a decade from now? The skinny, nameless pack of "fashion" wolves looking for their big break in the biz? No thanks, fashion world. Keep your trends and I'll keep my jeans.

yo 1-09-2007 @ 6:59AM

Personally, I don't know who this person is, but I think she better rethink this one. Do you remember what normal people revealed about themselves when they wore those god awful things? Things that make you go "NO!!!!"

Nat 1-09-2007 @ 7:05AM

Denim is so not over for me. Leggings? Ugh. Tights? Forget it. For day-in, day-out, I'm in jeans.

yo 1-09-2007 @ 7:05AM

I am not aware of this person qualifications to dictate to the public what the future of style will be. If I recall correctly, women that wore leggings revealed things about themselves no one wanted to know. I am sticking with denim!!!

cheryl 1-09-2007 @ 7:08AM

I am 62 and have been wearing jeans all of my life and will continue to do so. Leggings? Tights? They also had them in the 6o's. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now!! I'm not over the hill, just 62!

Magdalena 1-09-2007 @ 7:13AM

Oh YEAH....leggings and tights on a sausage body...with the big sweater on top to hide the huge rear end...loved that Look!
Especially with the little white sneakers.

Beckie Coles 1-09-2007 @ 7:24AM

Bull! Denim will never go out!

Debby 1-09-2007 @ 7:20AM

Leggings and tights??????? I wore that in high school 25 YEARS ago! Hey while we're at it lets add in Leg Warmers, and the Bi-Level haircut! LOL NO way am I going back to this fashion, I lived through it once, not willing to push my luck! :)

Peter 1-09-2007 @ 7:23AM

Denim is over? What a bunch of crap! These "fashion expert" better not show up in Texas because they might get kindda dissapointed but that's all right, down here we just don't care!

Jacquelyn Powell 1-09-2007 @ 7:34AM

I love to dress, I love wonderful clothes, I love glamour and glitz and I know that denim will always have it's place in the scheme of fashion. It has been done and it will continue to be done whether it is dressed up or dressed down. I do not take away your right to have your opinion but we must realize leggings and tights are not suitable for many occasions nor do they compliment everyone who tries to wear them. While some items may have been denim no,no's I consider denim/jeans etc to be a classic fashion statement. "Long Live Denim"

Patricia 1-09-2007 @ 7:36AM

PUUUULLLEEEEASE!!!!!! No more denim? I say NO WAY!! Denim is an American staple. You might as well say no more "Mom's Apple Pie". Yeah right....can't wait to hop in the Jeep and hike in the mountains in my leggings ....NOT!!! Fashion has been repeating itself for hundreds of years. A "decade" of denim is just the beginning.

Donna 1-09-2007 @ 7:39AM

Why are new ways to wear jeans so important? What is the need to for "new trends"? Jeans are jeans - low rise or regular, boot cut or flare. That's all we need. Leggings and tights - yuck! Didn't like them then, won't buy them now.

Kitt 1-09-2007 @ 7:40AM

They must have forgotten about us southern folks. Jeans is all we wear! Work, Church, restraunts...I mean, come on...you think you'll ever see Garth in tights?

Jessie 1-09-2007 @ 7:48AM

How can Freeman make a comment like, "Denim is done"? Jeans are an American institution. They've been here for more than 200 years, thanks to Levi Straus, and aren't going to be replaced by crappy spandex and lycra. Give me a break! The 80's is over. Next shoulder pads will make a come back and Tammy Faye make up.

Brandon 1-09-2007 @ 7:48AM

Blue Denim will out live the author of this story. Denim is comfortable, durable, warm, and low maintence. Tights and leggings will never replace denim. Whoever wrote this definitely needs a reality check.

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