Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video,
we'll be taking a look at the fanciest piece of clothing of the 21st century: denim jeans?
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As much as we were going for a little bit of fun with that opening, it's very true nowadays that
if someone is going to dress up, they might be reaching for a pair of jeans as a point of
foundation in that outfit, as the apparent next step up in formality from the otherwise everyday
sweatpants, or atheisure clothing. Granted, there are absolutely times where denim is the
right choice where you're going out in attire. After all, no one's asking you to wear White Tie
to the ball park. But there's no denying that a pair of jeans has become the universal choice
when it comes to a multitude of events. Think of occasions that traditionally have a higher level
of formality, and I guarantee you'll find someone donning denim. You've certainly seen it with our
own eyes, whether it's sitting down to enjoy a theater show, joining other diners at an upmarket
restaurant, or even attending a wedding. You just can't escape that jeans are very present in these
traditionally formal attire only situations. So, as we ponder the sartorial conundrum, let's take
a look at a time before denim took over. We have been to the history of jeans with a review of
the American classic Levi's 501. So, if you'd like to hear our reviews on these iconic jeans
or learn more about the history of denim, then you'll really enjoy that video as a companion
to today's video. In a nutshell, denim has been used to craft jeans since the mid-1800s. They were
actually closer to overalls than the standard jeans model that we're used to seeing today,
even being referred to as overalls in their marketing. As you can see, the use of these
early jeans was strictly practical, as the choice of sturdy denim and copper rivets to reinforce the
seams were hardly comparable to the wool suits of the city, in terms of elegance. But, that's
the beauty of both of these fabrics. Each performs a different function for a different setting. So,
for a decent portion of denim's history, jeans were strictly worn for manual labor,
and wouldn't have ever been seen outside of these settings. It's important to remember that society,
at this time, was very rigid and its etiquette and codes. There was a visible class difference,
where people were expected to look and behave in a particular way, depending on what class
they were. And most people, regardless of their class, would own a set of best clothes to be as
respectable as possible, whenever they needed. So, what we see in the early days of jeans, that they
exist to protect the manual laborer. And that's pretty much it. Clearly, at this time, jeans were
not considered fancy at all, but perhaps, the streamlining of the design around the 1930s was
the first step towards the wider acceptance of jeans? Fast forward to around the 1960s and 70s,
and well, all of this stuff happens. Woah, our video editors are brave folks for looking through
all those images! As much as these decades hold a few painful fashion memories, it's worth noting
that not everyone dressed like they were an extra on the set of an Austin Powers movie.
[Scene from Austin Powers] Yeah! Yeah, baby! Yeah!
As Preston has previously explored in our guide to
What Men Really Wore in the 1960s, there was a great deal of stylish menswear,
all with a classic flair, which meant it was easier for men to look their best at a wider
range of occasions. The technicolor explosion of trends in these decades was a way to combat
with a counterculture movement saw as stuffy or boring clothes, as well as a way to rebel against
authority. This particular theme had started a decade prior in the 1950s with cinematic bad
boys such as Marlon Brando and James Dean using casual clothing rooted in workwear,
as a way to promote an air of cool confidence. And even perhaps, recklessness? Ultimately,
this type of character appealed to an audience who wanted to be different than the generation above
them. We all know that celebrities will influence how styles change as the counterculture movement
of the 60s and 70s said, "to heck" with the tasteful suits. You can see how jeans were first
used as a way to stick it to the man, but then became fashionable items themselves in the fashion
trends of the mid-20th century. These decades of experimentation did still draw the line between
casual and more formal attire, like Black Tie, but even this dress code wasn't safe from some
questionable choices. [Buzzing sound] That thing won't leave us alone!
Overall, at this time in history, things were very split. They were either in casual or
formal clothes. And even throughout counterculture movement, events with a higher degree of formality
were respected and the jeans stayed at home, but that was the set to change in the next decade. Ah!
The 1980s the decade of "Why?" Okay, perhaps that was a bit harsh. For many, the 1980s was all about
excess, exaggeration, and being incredibly bold - whether it was the shoulder pads, the hair,
or what brand of an item you owned. These elements have been well discussed in both
"American Psycho" and "Wall Street," where you can see style mixing with the desire to work hard,
as well as play hard. While people eschewed the flamboyant style into the previous decades
for a return to more classically-inspired clothing for business, it's the element of what you did
when you weren't at work that really boomed in this decade. We all love to lay back and relax,
but leisure time was a big deal in the 1980s - and it wasn't in the "Netflix and chill" style that we
know today. Personal fitness saw a huge increase in popularity with a focus on looking your best
both outside and inside the gym. The popularity of movies and TV shows set in exotic locations
meant a huge uptake in bright and casual resort wear. Because you need
to roll up your linen jacket sleeves to show off those fresh-from-the-gym
arms, right? So, for trips to and from the gym, where Lycra was king,
you didn't want to wear something that was too delicate like a suit. Instead,
it was much easier to throw a pair of jeans and a sport shirt into your gym bag because,
after all, they were designed to withstand this sort of treatment, where an expensive designer
suit just wouldn't perform. But, what if you weren't into the fitness craze of the 80s? Well,
leisure time was still as important, and the 80s would respond with the best role model for this.
[scene from "The Simpsons"]
Homer: "Ah, I love these lazy Saturdays."
Yes, shows that premiered in the 80s like "The Simpsons" and "Seinfeld"
were a new breath of life for the average person on the streets, and this type of
entertainment was written with an everyday audience in mind. The main characters would
often be seen wearing jeans. Okay, I know Homer's iconic pants are simply referred
to as "blue pants," but they look like jeans, right? I mean he takes jeans pretty seriously.
[scene from "The Simpsons"] Homer: "A counterfeit jeans
ring operating out of my car hole!"
These examples show a major step forward in the overall acceptance of jeans as a
everyday garment instead of a workhorse item of clothing
or a symbol of rebellion. The immense casualization of what took place in
the 80s really changed our perception of what we find acceptable in clothing
as people started to dress for themselves and for what they felt comfortable in
instead of dressing for others and the requirements of the occasion.
And this trend would only continue. What does it look like now? Since the 90s, we've seen a
resurgence of chasing trends - similar to how it was in the 70s - with one particular trend
being hard to ignore: designer denim and the subsequent trickle-down of designer styles into
mainstream fashion stores. Throughout the 90s and 2000s and up to today, what jeans look like
has fluctuated greatly and frequently. There have been bootcut jeans, tapered jeans, skinny jeans,
spray-on jeans, carrot fit jeans, ripped jeans - oh,
yeah, and then there were "apple bottom jeans."
♪ "Low" by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain ♪
Wait! Nope. Nope. Not showing them the rest of that for many reasons.
What's safe to say is that jeans
have soared in popularity since the new millennium;
with pretty much any style of denim pants being a-okay for any situation. And it's
easy to see the reason why if jeans have become a luxury item in their own right
as the majority of designer jeans coming in at eye-wateringly expensive prices.
A pair of distressed-looking Ralph Lauren RRL jeans at $499, this dark wash denim from
Gucci cost $620, and these jeans from Tom Ford will set you back $770. With
these steep prices, it's no wonder that people are saving
their denim purchases for special occasions.
I mean, for the price of one of those pairs and using our secret technique, you can get an entire
classic ensemble. Want further proof? Raphael scored his entire outfit here for $255.32 -
almost half the price of the cheapest designer jeans we've seen. Most fascinating aspect of
designer denim is the somewhat paradoxical name. After all, denim has been a hard
labor fabric for centuries and jeans were a signature garment for the everyday person,
so it feels a little strange you see something that started off as workwear
to now be considered luxury, right? Not only that, but the reality of designer
denim is that, unless the brand's logo is literally emblazoned all over the jeans,
no one's really going to be able to tell the difference between it and any other pair. So,
it gives the average person credence to where they're $50 jeans to a fancy
restaurant because other people are doing it in $700 denim, and no one can tell the
difference. Overly-expensive jeans aren't the only reason they're considered fancy nowadays
though. There's another 80s trend that's contributed to the dressing down of the 21st
century: athleisure. Although athletic clothing has been around for decades,
it's had very strict areas where it's been appropriate. Now, athleisure has surpassed
jeans in terms of what people wear when relaxing. Leggings, jeggings, meggings, and
sweatpants - they've all become commonplace clothing. And even we at the Gentleman's
Gazette enjoy the occasional piece of athleisure clothing. As the comfort-first mindset continues,
many people have stated that they find jeans to be uncomfortable when compared to the soft
and stretchy leisure wear that they get to wear for the majority of their day.
It was easy to see why jeans become a choice when dressing up as there's always been this
weird universal thought that fancy clothes should be uncomfortable. But, as you know,
the reality is clothes are only uncomfortable if they don't fit you well. Is there hope for
the future? As we look to the future, what do things look like? Well, there are two things
that give us hope that sartorial standards can be maintained moving forward. First,
there's choosing quality denim. As suits and ties are being more or less nowadays,
you may be interested in the developing passion for denim that is designed with tailoring in
mind - perfectly complementing the craftsmanship and formality in your wardrobe. Brands such as
Blackhorse Lane in England are putting a huge emphasis on creating a pair of jeans that look
timeless and can be paired with classic pieces of clothing, and the construction is at a similar
level to bespoke clothing, but costs much less than any designer denim we've seen. People are
also starting to care more about buying less but better in a move that gets them away from fast
fashion shopping. After all, quality of denim can and should be prepared and rejuvenated over time,
and are gonna look all the better for being enjoyed.
Our second hope for the future really shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Classic is comfortable! Comfort isn't just based on how soft or luxurious something feels.
You can own a pair of pants from the softest cashmere. But, if they're five sizes too small,
I guarantee you'll be uncomfortable. But, comfort is also an internal feeling as I'm
sure you've experienced embarrassment in some part of your life. We certainly have
and it really doesn't feel comfortable. Wearing clothing that's appropriate for
the occasion is guaranteed to make you feel comfortable internally, and fancy clothing
is rarely uncomfortable. People just think that it is because of negative stereotypes
and bad experiences. Well-fitted clothes and quality materials will feel just as comfortable
as jeans or even athleisure. But, you'll look far better in a soft suit than in a tracksuit,
and be more comfortable in yourself too. So, are jeans fancy or formal now? So, we return to the
main question of today's video: to determine if jeans are the new fancy pants. And, honestly,
the answer here has got to be: no. Dress codes do still exist and they do still matter,
but the appropriateness of jeans has increased with the dawn of athleisure. Good-quality denim
will always be better than sweatpants, and choosing a pair of simple, dark-washed jeans in
a flattering cut will do wonders for you. You will enjoy a greater variety in your wardrobe
and in the outfits you can create. But, don't be afraid to stretch a little further up in the
formality scale, too. We're certainly not saying you need to wear a suit everywhere because that
can be considered just as inappropriate as sweatpants in some settings. But,
a nice pair of smart pants and a classic shirt - like an OCBD - is
a great foundation to some of these 21st century outfits. I'm curious. Where do you
stand on the denim debate? Be sure to join in the conversation in the comments below.
So, today, I'm wearing a blue and white checked button-down shirt, a pair of dark wash jeans,
and a pair of brown suede chukka boots with a pair of Fort Belvedere socks that are brown with
a light blue stripe in the middle. Check out the Fort Belvedere shop here for socks like these.
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