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Denim Forever

Most of us have at least a pair of denim jeans that we are sure look fantastic on us. They feel right, they fit right, and they look right. Denim has never left our wardrobes; a girl can’t do without a pair of trusty old jeans! Over the past few decades we have been truly embracing denim in all forms: day dresses, waistcoats, shorts, crops, and trousers are all getting a denim makeover and it is so fab! Denim is still at the peak of the trend cycle and will forever be a fashion staple. Ever wondered when the idea of using denim for all kinds of clothes was born and how long it took denim finally to be considered a fashion statement, not any more being simple fabric for workers’ clothes?

Here’s a bit of history: In May of 1873, Levi Strauss received a U.S. patent for his denim jeans and especially for the rivets he had incorporated to ensure their strength and durability. The denim jeans were officially born. Since then, they have become a multi-billion dollar industry around the globe.

In the 1950’s film stars evangelized jeans for a new generation, and in recent decades high fashion and consumer culture have combined to make them universal: worn by rappers, fashionistas, discount shoppers, and politicians; embodying fashion and cultural ideas of immensely different segments of society. It is so amazing how denims have evolved from lower to upper economic classes (trickle up theory) and how the masses have adopted this trend.

Since denim jeans are so ubiquitous I didn’t have a hard time spotting them; however, I had difficulty finding the best Fasyon wearing denim jeans. It was after lunch and extremely hot when we tried to spot trends in Greenbelt. So I believe every fashionable mall rat was out of sight. But after two hours of waiting, I was finally able to see a girl wearing denim shorts, a printed tank top, blue ballet flats and a white belt; She looked so laid-back but still nice in them. I especially liked the way the chained bag glammed up her casual outfit.

--Rhea Correche

These Clogs are Made for Strutting!

People-watching is one of the things that I love doing whenever I go around places- like when I travel outside the country, when I hang-out in a mall, when I read a fave book in a cafe, or even when I just wander around the streets of Manille. I like how it instantly gives you energy, as well as a sense of creativity and wonder. Needless to say, the Trend spotting activity that we were assigned to do for the FASHION TRENDS class was something that made me feel giddy and glad.

So one Sunday eve, while I was sauntering around High Street, in a sea of belted denim shorts, gladiator sandals, and floral mini dresses, this girl who is sporting an easy-breezy white V-neck shirt, a pair of belted and ripped boyfriend jeans stood out from the crowd. My eyes could not help but be glued on her fabulous red pair of clogs, that definitely added a total spunk to her semi-androgynous ensemble of boyfriend jeans and shirt. She, along with the 3 adorable girls gamely posed for a few shots. 

This chunky pair of shoes, no matter how uncomfortable they looked, has definitely made a comeback this Spring Summer 2010. Let credit be due to Karl Lagerfield for Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu, as seen on their runway collections.

As I look back, I remembered that my sister and I used to wear jelly clogs as it were all the rage back in the 90’s.

And now, with its resurgence, many styles have been incorporated – from patent to printed, from embellished to studded, from buckled to slingback to ribbed.

It evolved from being a rigid wooden soled, initially used by farmers, miners, workers and other types of peasants as protective footwear, providing warmth and safety. Clogs, are most associated with Scandinavia but were also very popular in the Netherlands, in the 1800. The Dutch found the shoe to be comfortable on their feet, and the shoes, eventually made their way to UK, France, Italy and Spain, with each country creating their own style of clogs for aesthetic and functional reasons.

  Basing on this information and how different designers reinvented the clogs throughout the time, the fashion leadership that would best apply to it is the Trickle-Up theory.

Some fashionistas believe that it is the hottest comeback this SS 2010, some, however, are not so thrilled about its revival. In the fashion capitals of the world, I think it has reached the height of the trend popularity as seen on these celebrities (such as Alexa Chung, Mary Kate Olsen and Rachel Bilson), and with international brands, adapting the trend with a variety of price points.

In our country, however, I believe that the clog trend is on its way to Early Adopter Stage. (Increase in Population). The last time I checked, these bulky shoes are now on the window displays and shoe shelves of the popular high end contemporary labels like Zara and Massimo Dutti and even junior brand like Topshop. I suppose we can now expect to encounter a lot of Manila’s fashion enthusiasts to be wearing pairs of clogs here and there.

 As for me, I would still contemplate whether I would grab a pair of this shoes, but I suppose that the type of women who would normally wear these are those in the contemporary market, those who follow trends religiously and undeniably, those who believe that sometimes, in fashion, you have to twist an ankle to channel that fierce look. =P 

 ---By: Khrisy Alegado