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Jazzing up life with jeans

Besides the comfort factor, a pair of jeans can actually bring out the happy-go-lucky being in you, says Harjeet Kaur Allagh

WALK WITH éLAN A pair of jeans can be teamed with anything Photos: K. Ananthan

Even if the wardrobe is bursting with piles of clothes, it is still incomplete without a pair of jeans. Summer or winter, rain or snow, a chic pair of jeans teamed with a stylish top makes a fashion statement in all seasons. Going by the huge all-time demand for the dependable, comfortable and the trendy wear, it is easy to conclude that jeans are here to stay.

Trousers made from denim cloth, jeans first came from `NARMES' in France and hence the name `de Nimes' for the fabric. It was first used for working clothes for miners, farmers and cowboys due to their rugged look in America as far back as in 1872. But they became popular with teenagers around 1950. Levi Strauss launched the brand name Levi's in San Francisco and the company continues to be one of the leading brands till date.

Suhail, an impish 12th class student says: "If I don't wear jeans, girls will not give me a second look. I even sleep with my jeans on as I find them very comfortable." The trousers come in different styles and colours, the most popular being the blue jeans. Of late, there has been a shift in the jean trend as freaks, who like to follow style fundas scrupulously opt for stone washed, acid washed or faded jeans. The more faded the jeans is, the richer it looks.

Popular styles

Some of the popular styles and cuts include the boot cut, comfort, carpenter, slim fit, carpenter, cargo, ankle and flared. Says Manpreet Singh of Tipsy Topsy, a swanky garment showroom on Bandar Road: "My customers usually pick popular brands and have fixed ideas about what they want. The latest jeans styles are selling like hot cakes and the teens are going gaga over trendy varieties like boot cut, comfort fit and low rise."

Vijayakrishna, Surendranath, Vamsee and Sandeep are engineering students who offer different reasons for relying on the clothing. For Vijaykrishna, a pair of jeans means more than just any other clothing. "The multi-purpose jeans gives me a lot of flexibility and lends a macho look to my persona." Surendranath lists out the famous brands -- Lee, Levi's, Wrangler, Pepe and Numero Uno. He offers a piece of advice too: "Don't wear jeans for interviews as nobody will take you seriously."

Sandeep echoes similar opinion and Venkat loves to be clad in jeans for the simple reason that it is affordable, long-lasting and yet looks great.

Low-rise or low-waist jeans are popular among girls, as they settle well on their narrow waists. Ambika, pursuing medicine, likes to wear jeans and a casual t-shirt for college. "But if I have to go for a party the same night, I have the choice of teaming it with a snazzy top or a kurti, for a more formal look."

Patterns galore

Trousers apart, shorts, skirts, cut-offs, capris, bags, jackets and hats made of denim are also available. "In this hot summer season, I like to wear shorts and stay cool," says young Ankita, a fresher in a local college.

Slim and willowy Pooja likes to drape herself with skirts for a feminine look. Aastha loves to wear jeans embellished with sequins, beads and embroidery, as they look more ethnic and go well as party wear.

Guys are unanimously in favour of jeans. Kiran, Phani and Waseem find jeans very comfortable and smart. The boys are very possessive about their jeans and don't like them to be washed frequently. They usually pick up their favourite jeans from the Models or Mr. and Miss. stores.

Their mothers, however, are indignant as they find it difficult to wash the heavy jeans when they become dirty. Many of them complain that the boys don't let the pair go even after it is torn, a la Aamir Khan in rang de basanti.

Down but in no way out are oldies who swear by the comfort of jeans.

Silpa, a mother of teenage boys, says that she finds it very easy to move around in jeans rather than envelop herself in a six-yard sari in the blistering heat of Vijayawada.

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