Interesting stuff.

I still don't like jeans, and now (only since reading this thread) that I am aware there are status-symbols inherent in jeans (I can't say I'm surprised) I don't even want to jump in. Just another label game I don't want to play and I've never liked how they look on me.  How they look on certain girls is another story entirely.

Interesting jean, 45rpm, but $750 a pair.  What would my miner friends say?...

http://rby45rpm.com/

Last edited by Cruz Diez (2007-08-10 23:31:21)

Denim Delirium in Japan...
http://www.japanjournal.jp/tjje/show_art.php?INDyear=07&INDmon=01&artid=271c5364714508c0a65e3e7d110c3494

Denim and I have a rather tortured history.

First memories, the old Simpson's/Eaton's house-brands my frugal mother (who called them "dungarees") would buy for us in the late 60s/early 70s, invariably with a matching jacket and in some weird colour like brown or a bright blue never seen in name-brand denims. The fabric was stiff and scratchy, wearing rapidly at the knees such that the inevitable iron-on patches (and the risible attempts at pattern matching -- sometimes she would actually turn the pants inside out and iron the patches on the inside) would soon be required. These made the legs stiffer still, until the strange, glue-backed nylon compound would crack a little with wear. Eventually they would get beyond patching, at which point her shears would come out, resulting in the abomination of cut-off shorts. I recall swimming in them while camping. It seemed a funny thing to me years later that these would actually be sold in stores, though the fringe at the bottom of the commercial product gave them away as mere imitations.

When I was old enough to begin working week-ends (mid-70s), I finally bought my first real denim jeans, Lee if I recall correctly. They must have been straight-leg or boot-cut, because I recall that they certainly were not flares or bell-bottoms. Their colour was that dark indigo -- getting them to fade just right was a matter of time and pride (it was before the pre-faded and distressed era) I wore them to work (at a meat-packing plant) and to places like the mall, but denim was not allowed at my parochial uniform school, even on "civvies days", nor was I allowed to wear them to church. I bought white "painter pants" at much the same time, but I do not know if they count as denim or not -- kind of a weird little fad, that one, which also saw the painter hats proliferate, usually with a beer company logo of some sort.

University came with pretty much the same standard sort of jeans -- original colour, original cut, either Levis or Lee. I wore them everywhere and for every occasion. Not for me or my friends the "designer jeans" thing (Calvin Klein; Sergio Valente etc.). That was for girls, Italians, or "faggots".

But before the 80s were out there were the peg-legged black jeans, still Levis, but better suited to Doc Martens and the sullen post-punk look. And then the worst of all -- "acid-wash". I am guilty, for I did purchase a black pair, the shelf-life of which was mercifully short.

The penultimate chapter was a couple of pair of Lee overalls which featured prominently in my short-lived, cover-band phase. It was sort of a reverse-cool thing.

Now I am back to the simple, straight-legged Levis or GAP variety for the most part. Jeans are for riding my motorcyle, or taking my kids skating, or Ribfest (http://www.canadaslargestribfest.com/). While I sort of understand the denim cult and its attractions (especially to the young and hip) it is outside of my experience, sort of like the cocaine set that came and went on the periphery of my social circle in the late 80s/early 90s.

Last edited by Get Smart (2007-08-13 13:38:00)

Last edited by Marc Grayson (2007-08-13 17:22:54)