Work Ethic

January 16, 2017 Jill Lawrence

Work style denims are truly without gender since being worn by factory workers in the USA in the early 1900's. None more so than the ubiquitous boiler suit. Once crafted in heavy weight durable 3x1 twill indigo denim and brown duck cloth it is now made from lighter weight denims with added style details as a fashion garment for both genders. Likewise the ticking workers jacket originally from the Osh Kosh USA brand is now a must for a denim fashion statement in all kinds of denim.

Work style indigo originated in Japan and China with simple or little detail except for function. Once in padded indigo quilted cotton now in light weight indigo styled like the simple Japanese pyjama. They are truly genderless and more attractive for being so.

L: ©Indigo the colour that changed the world R: ©I AND ME

Workers aprons; workers bags and simple Asian work jackets have become part of our genderless denim fashion arena. Anything and everything can be and now is made from indigo denim taking inspiration from the past - in this case the old work ethic.

Top Right: ©Worn 2 Bottom Right: ©Indigo the colour that changed the world

Vintage

January 12, 2017 Jill Lawrence

In the popular days of 50's denim, the denim was unisex. James Dean and Marilyn Monroe would be wearing exactly the same jeans. They would just wear them differently. Style them differently. Denim in it's original nature is genderless. It is a unique fabric lending itself to any wearer regardless of gender perceptions.

L: ©Denim From Cowboys to Catwalks Centre: ©Jeans Des Heros Right: ©Denim From Cowboys to Catwalks

The Tailored class - tailoring leads to gender neutrality

January 9, 2017 Jill Lawrence

The Dark overdyed indigo denim in this trucker jacket with bold overstitched style details easily morphs into the classic blazer for genderless tailored denims. Likewise the loose cut lightweight denim for easy shaped tops works for both genders.

Oversized shapeless jackets, baggy cut pants bereft of any embellishment are true "denims without gender or class". Likewise the overstyled slick city trucker.

Simple and clean with emphasis on shape and detail make these jackets seem almost architectural in their genderless statement.

Baggy Boyfriend on Girls, Skinny Girlfriend on Guys

January 5, 2017 Jill Lawrence

Baggy, oversized, worn in and worn out finishing - demonstrating the current trend for girls fashion denim. Shapeless with a comfort attitude with added style details of huge cuffs, rolled cuffs, dropped bibs, ankle visibility and ripped knees.

Skinny guys with urban attitude. Note the saturated mono colour - no weft grin denim here. And note the essential accessories of work boots or loafers with ankle visibility always with rolled cuffs, totally genderless attire.

Trend Alert: Gender Neutrality

January 3, 2017 Jill Lawrence

Boys will be girls, Girls will be boys

Back in the day when girls first wore jeans they wore men's jeans from the local general store as there were no jeans for women. What a different story it is today! In fact the denim market dedicated to women's jeans represents at least 50% of all jeans sold. There are myriad shapes, fits, fabrics, finishes and shades - all for girls. But jeans life doesn't stand still. The boundaries between girls and guys fits are now blurred. Girls now buy mens jeans for their creative washing, easy baggy comfort and added attitude whilst guys buy girls skinnies for their leg hug, clean saturated colour and urban message. The traditional jeans trucker jackets have always predominantly been gender neutral with size variation to cater for the girls. Follow us in our look at this growing trend for reasons and inspiration.

Trucker jackets teamed with straight cut baggies appeal to both genders in dark or light denims. They are easy, genderless and without class. Denim is a great leveller in all ways.

Left: ©Angelos Frentzos Centre: ©Bethnals

Comfort, downtime, weekend vibe - genderless clothing fits our easy lifestyle. The development of lighter weight and fluid denims in differentiated soft fibres as well as cotton with lycra enables us to create styles that work for all needs. The denim no longer has to be indigo blue to be regarded as "jeans". As well as the ubiquitous Indigo, black , ecru and grey have all become essentials in the denim arena.

Left: ©Mother Top right: ©I AND ME Bottom Right: ©Guess

Bling Brand - Ashish Denim

December 29, 2016 Jill Lawrence

Ashish Gupta was born in India where he studied Fine Art after which he studied fashion at Central St Martins. His wanderlust in search of success did not end in London. He went to Paris to seek design success where after being robbed of his whole portfolio he designed for friends. Spotted by Browns focus he designed his first collection in 2001 and won the New generation design award 3 times.

His designs are luxe glam with more than a little flavour of his Indian heritage with embellishment and bling being a huge part of their attraction. His fine art background accounts for why his freestyle textile embellishment plays such a huge part in his clothing design. No surface is left unadorned.

Even his jeanswear demonstrates the ultimate in bling. Pattern and sequinned decoration combine to create their own level of taste.

There is so much going on in an Ashish garment that you don't know where to look first. For lovers of embellishment his items are a "must have". Jeans are probably the most commercial vehicle for his OTT decoration.

Glam Rock Sequins

December 26, 2016 Jill Lawrence

Overt decoration for its own sake makes a statement both day and night of fun fashion and lack of taste.

Hologram and rainbow sequins combine with motifs and embroidery for the ultimate party wear.

L-R ©Ashish, ©Ashish, ©Dsquared ©Dsquared

Brilliant colours and all over sequinned effects create a mirror like shine. Victoriana ornament embellishment of the classic fitted trucker jacket is a exercise in the creation of opposites.

Studs and Rhinestones

December 22, 2016 Jill Lawrence

Studs are an obvious means of decoration being a natural part of the jean alongside pocket rivets and button fly.

From there it is a simple one step to the stud becoming a rhinestone.

We can have the most fun creating patterns using only shiny studs in different colours. Rhinestone studs in combination with ripping and shredding techniques creates a jean which travels with ease from day to party.

Studs and sequins combine with embroidery adding a different dimension of colour and form to simple studding.

Ultra bling in rhinestone studs in this customised Levi trucker jacket. Better with the coarse 3x1 twill as an indigo base than something more elegant = attraction of opposites.