Common Clothing Unknowns #3

The Skinny Jean

What is a skinny Jean?

Skinny jeans are pants made of jean fabric that fit snuggly from the waist to the ankle.

Where did the skinny jean originate?

Tight fitting pants originated from 17th century menswear. French aristocracy wore snuggly fitting pants with ornately designed blouses as a sign of wealth and superiority. The french spread the tight pants trend all across Europe. The fashion fell out of style and didn't make a comeback until the early 1800’s in the form of a snuggly fitting pantalone. This was a style for men however, not women. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s when menswear was adorned “appropriate” for women-only in the smallest sense because they weren’t socially accepted as everyday wear for women. The loosely-fitted bloomers that were tight across the calves but baggy everywhere above the knee were worn for sports only. Not until the earlier 1900’s did pants became a more common thing for women to wear. They were still the same bloomer style, but often worn under skirts rather than by themselves. Gradually as time passed through the 1900’s, pants started thinning across the entire leg. By the 1950’s and 1960’s, it was a popular trend to wear skinny pants thanks to the rock and roll wave. There was a drop in popularity in the 70’s due to the popularity of the bell bottom, but by the 80’s, the punk revolution had skinnies coming back in full swing. There was another drop in popularity in the 90’s and bit of a fight against the popular bootcut and flare style jean. Skinny jeans won this fight by the mid 2000’s and have been a popular trend ever since.

What are the skinny jean types/styles?

Skinny jeans can vary in many ways. Colors can range from across the spectrum, sticking with the traditional blues-tones most are filled with, or the variety kind with colors stretching across the color wheel. They can feature different types of waist cuts, different fabric patterns, different shapes-such as the ‘curvy’ or ‘super skinny’. They can also have embellishments such as rhinestones, buttons, fringes, or shredding.

What Can You Pair skinny jeans with?

Depending on the occasion, skinny jeans can be worn with just about anything. Very formal or ceremonial occasions typical draw out either a dress or skirt, but if paired with the right top and accessories, skinny pants can fit. They can be fit to work with any situation. Sticking strictly with the jean side, they can be worn with a general graphic t-shirt, a tight-fitting crop top, or a comfy sweater. More dressy skinny pants usually look best with nice quality, formal tops, something with a higher neck and a longer torso falling past the hips. Skinny pants also looks great with professional clothing, such as collared shirts, polos, and slightly fitted blouses.

Sources:

http://startupfashion.com/fashion-archives-history-skinny-jeans

https://skinnyjeansme.wordpress.com/skinny-jeans-history/

http://www.refinery29.com/history-of-skinny-jeans#slide-1