Denim Muse Monthly - Alexa Chung

This month while we hang on the "edge of cool"  who better than the eternally cool Alexa Chung to feature as our first denim muse. A bonafide style icon of her generation, Alexa Chung has been influencing a generation with her distinctive and classic style choices.  

Alexa is a denim lover like us here at The Denim Eye, and joins us in our belief that denim is the cornerstone of any wardrobe - from wardrobe staple skinnys to vintage cut offs and effortsley cool pinafores we've seen her in it all. Her flare and influence for style, saw her move into design with SS15 hailing the launch of her first denim collection in collaboration with L.A. based denim brand, AG Jeans. Chung created a collection of cool collection of 21 pieces, creating in her words her "dream denim wardrobe". 

Salutations to this British denim style icon. 

DENIM DIGEST: Levi's Music Project comes to North London

As one of the biggest denim brands in the world, Levi’s® have a huge platform available to them to raise awareness and give back to the community, and with The Levi’s® Music Project they are doing just that. Created in conjunction with globally successful musician Alicia Keys, the project aims to encourage and inspire youth by setting up local programs throughout the world dedicated to music education, which has declined in many education systems through lack of funding. 

"Music can unlock creativity and foster self-expression for all—especially the next generation. And we’re not about to see that fall by the wayside." - Levi’s® 

September 2016 saw the launch of the project in the UK. Levi's® and this year's Mercury music prize winner Skepta have partnered to establish a community youth music facility in the heart of Skepta's hometown of Tottenham, North London. The project sets out to educate the youths in all areas of building a music career in today's digital era. 

The project also coincides with Levi's® partnership with the V&A Museum for their latest exhibition, 'You Say You Want A Revolution? Records And Rebels 1966-70'. At the culmination of the project Skepta and the participants will perform at the V&A as part of "The Revolutions Weekender" on 5th November, with a performance inspired by the themes of the V&A exhibition. 

To support the Levi’s® Music Project, you can buy a limited edition Levi’s® Support Music pin and a portion of the proceeds will help provide access to music education programs.

Take a look at the trailer video below and check out the Levi's® website to find out more. 

Trend Alert: Edge of Architecture, Edge of Cool

Geometry and clean lines are essential for contemporary denims. Shapes not normally associated with jeans-wear lend a higher fashion attitude. Architectural influenced structure. Unusual and clever cutting. Simple clean dark denims, coatings make a difference. Ecru and white play key roles alongside dark indigos. Gathering and layering increase the role of lighter weights. Simple neat chic and tidy. Minimal style detail just clean cuts. Urban denim pieces work across all fashion. Combine denim and leather in unusual combos. Coating lends an edge to sharp tailoring. 

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Coated denims live alongside laundry- coated denim, each have their own reason to be. Coatings on fabrics can change the colour, lock in the colour, and add body and volume.   Coated jeans can be more soft and supple with discrete or high shine in any colour. Coated jeans allow inventory flexibility. Coatings achieve impermeability with breathability for functional denim. Shine is less obvious and leathers more real. Lustre and glow rather than high shine. Coated jeans with front crease for urbanites. Sleek and slick denims gain a city edge with coated finishes.

Linear, clean, structured urban masculine patterns in dark indigo-laser achieved. Straight and simple,no  wear and tear-keep it clean and simple. Light coating for clean shapes. Permanent front crease washes white in the laundry.

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Fine warp lines, slubs not streaks. Cords and piques, suiting dobbies. Light stretch for slim, not tight shapes. Light coateds with discrete shine. Blues are dark to bright. Tweed denims with discrete slubs. Neps and nubs plus light stretch. Mini patterns and new dobbies. Marled and mélange warps and wefts.

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Trend Direction: SOFT FOCUS

Close Up - Sueding and Brushing

Wet suede onto denim and indigo non denims. Brush backs for warmth.  Brushing and cropping to emulate suede and indigo moleskin.

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As well as sueded finishes the surface is also manipulated to have a visually diffused appearance.

Soft flannel effects perpetuate the desired softness. Brushed twills have a natural softness and blurred surface appearance.  Indigo denim which can appear rugged and flat but with ombre dyeing appear to be soft to touch - such are the joys of effect denims .

Behind The Scenes: INDIGO

Indigo is the most romantic and quixotic dye of all shades.  Much can be achieved from the indigo paste from deepest blues which adhere to the host fibre for hardly any time at all to palest weathered indigo blues of either green or reddish cast

Initially a hand process the craft of indigo dyeing has evolved to a mass manufactured product. But still the hand crafted results are the most sought even today.

Waxed tie dyed patterns an hand woven Ikat weaves continue to look joyful maintaining their freshness and style relevance.

.... and of course the antique versions of vintage hand dyed indigo stripes and dobbies are THE most sought after in whatever form be it a garment or a bedquilt.

The Gees Bend quilts are among the most desired and the most marvellous having a naivety and spontaneous charm.

Trend Direction: SOFT FOCUS

Close Up - Blurred Lines

Spraying, brushing, and layering replace heavy decay and destruction.

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Soft acid wash effects and marbled wax resist patterns add a soft halo to bleached out indigos.

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Marbled dye resist patterns swim across the garment which is lighter than light - swirling lightness creates must have effects.

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Acid print bleaches away the indigo in patterns resembling random splashes, acid wash and even tie dye. The whole is heavily bleach washed for a sunshine beachy look.

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These blurred patterns are completed by heavy scraping and spraying to achieve a super worn out light blue look with the softest hand.  

Trend Direction: Soft Focus

Close Up - Delicate Touch

Gossamer open structures; finest warps;  lightweights with quixotic texture; a living indigo fabric.

Mix up the blues; darkest red casted shades combine refreshingly with green casts and even greyed worn in casts.

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Soft "knit denims" add laid back comfort to everyday jeanswear. Looking fresher in brilliant indigos. The loop back achieves a softness unusual in traditional jeanswear - creating an all day comfort garment.

Melange warps and wefts give us real flannel effect denims with indigo teased softness.

Trend Direction: SOFT FOCUS

Wear it - Soft Focus

"Knit" denims from Diesel look quirky in pieced together different indigo shades.

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Splash prints combined with random surface scratches creating a soft comfortable worn in appearance.  Big sloppy shapes give the impression of "don't care" cool.

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New oversized layered designs for our Soft Focus edit.

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Daily comfort brushed and worn in basics with fluid tencel coats and onesies from the high street.

Zara

Mih

Topman

Levi

Levi

G-Star

G-Star