(See what we did there? Like the love child of ‘Got milk’ and ‘You’ve been tangoed’)
Laura Reynolds looks at the hype surrounding the collaboration.
Just a week to go until the man in red arrives...
How did jeans, particularly the classic blue jeans, become the ultimate staple of the wardrobe? I can understand the white T-shirt, black shoes or even a leather jacket but blue trousers made from material designed for heavy industry? The story really goes back, like a lot of global trends, to America at the turn of the 20th century.
Jeans, or ‘working overalls’ as they were known, were used as durable uniforms for workers. They were also worn by cowboys in the Wild West and this is probably where we got their reputation as the clothing of choice for the rebel. It wasn’t until the 1950s that jeans entered the main stream fashion scene.
Fuelled by iconic images of James Dean, teenagers across America slapped on some Levis as a symbol of protest against tight-laced society. From then on in the jeans were unstoppable and now even the conformist can be seen enjoying the feeling of denim around their thighs.
The domination of jeans in the trousers department is so immense that any alternatives that might exist don’t get much of a look in. The common man will wear jeans for pretty much anything: trips to restaurants, walks in the park, dancing, sessions in front of the TV and sometimes work.
So when he is asked to produce another kind of trouser for certain events where jeans are considered too casual but a suit is considered too formal, he can often be found wanting. Can we enjoy the same blend of uncomplicated comfort and fashion with other pairs of trousers? Is there an alternative away from our denim prisons? Here's a selection of what's on offer:
Like jeans, cargo trousers have practical (in this case military) origins but are now considered fashionable. While they are good for travelling, outdoor and casual wear, the unsightly pockets make them unsuitable for any kind of formal wear. And why would you put anything in those pockets anyway?
Translated roughly as earth or dust-coloured, khaki trousers are a good alternative to jeans and probably your best bet when it comes to that sometimes awkward ‘smart casual’ outfit. Finding a good pair can be a challenge however. I'd say GAP would be your best bet but shop around. On the down side, khaki trousers are not as comfortable as cargo trousers or jeans and their colour makes them a bit of a stain magnet.
The close cousin of khakis, chinos offer the same trouser-experience as khakis but come in a variety of colours.
The obvious military connection make combat trousers pretty unfashionable and, like cargos, completely unsuitable as formal wear. They can also give you unwanted attention if you are travelling in certain countries. But you get excited by hiding in undergrowth by all means get yourself a pair. Luminous combats are a different matter. They were never, are not, and never will be acceptable in any shape or form and should be burnt on sight.
For the most part, corduroy makes a damn fine trouser. The textile is durable, comfortable and colourful and also originates in England. The only potential problem is that they never seem to rank highly on the cool or sexy scales as they can be seen as part of the uniform for old people. Having said that I thought that about cardigans until a couple of years ago so who knows what will happen. Going for black or dark brown can be an easy way to avoid the elderly look.
Either as part of a suit or on their own, suit trousers are brilliant for formal events and come in a variety of cuts, shades and patterns. Unfortunately, formal wear is all they're good for and they aren’t comfortable enough to be worn on a daily basis.
Often dismissed wrongly and dangerously, as a skirt, the kilt is in fact the ultimate form of legwear. On a practical basis it is second to none because if worn correctly (ie. without any underwear) if provides minimum fuss and eliminates any kind of fumbling when on the toilet or embarking on sexual intercourse.
Kilts were designed for cold weather and are as a result surprisingly warm. One of the greatest things about a kilt, however, is that it is a complete babe magnet. Mark my words. All this means that kilts are good for casual wear but even better for formal wear. Unfortunately, people’s perceptions of the kilt will ensure that it may never become an accepted form of legwear for the masses. This I guess may be a good thing as a lot of its appeal for both the wearer and admirers is its rarity.
After this quick run down of every trouser you will come across, it would seem that the combined comfort, practicality, simplicity, acceptability and fashionability that jeans provide cannot be beaten. Long may the reign of the jean continue.
stretching the cargo/khakis/combats differences to their very limits here...
all three of which are errors.
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