Jeans everywhere

Denims have a complicated history, which I do not wish to dwelve into. In decades before 90s, denims had been treated to be an inferior piece of clothing, but 90s changed the picture. However denim received a major upgrade and higher status in the decade of 2000s.

2000s was the decade when jeans became the symbol of being 'ultra cool' and 'rad'. Yes, denims existed even before 2000s, but they gained a momentum in the 2000s.

In 90s denims were considered too casual. Yes, people would wear them to college and casual activities. But if one had to visit someone's home, go to a family meet, or going for a meet up with friends, then jeans were not considered appropriate. One was expected to dress up in a formal or semi formal attire which excluded denims. But 2000s broke this norm and popularized jeans for everything and everywhere. Denims became the cool, mainstream, and trendy.

During this period, several celebrities were spotted wearing jeans for day to day life as well as formal events. A lot of celebrities would turn up to the events wearing jeans and that attire was still considered acceptable. Somehow the whole fashion scene was revolving around jeans in 2000s. Humor me and search for celebrity pictures of 2000s. You will find 90% of those where they had been wearing denims.

Now do not get me wrong here. Jeans are the integral part of my life and wardrobe. As a lover of denim, I loved the trend of jeans everywhere back then. But now, when I have gained a little knowledge about style and fashion, I feel this trend blew out of proportion. Jeans is not appropriate everywhere.

In award shows we would see that celebrities had been dressing down, wearing jeans and tshirt. It would feel too casual. The reason was simple. An event where one is getting felicitated, one is required to dress up. Additionally, if someone else is getting felicitated, then dressing down for such event is downright disrespectful. These are the simple norms for which in my opinion jeans were not appropriate.

There was a specific moment when I thought not everywhere jeans can be worn. I saw people wearing jeans at weddings because apparently jeans were making them 'cool' and they thought they 'stood out' in the ceremony. Similarly I saw people wearing jeans in religious ceremonies. This is where I would say a line needed to be drawn.

2000s trend of jeans anywhere and everywhere did more damage to the fabric of society. Most people including youngsters had realised this themselves. By the end of the 2000s and beginning of 2010s the fad of jeans everywhere faded away. For good.

Even today for every gender and age, denims remain an essential part of the wardrobe. They will never be replaced. But at least now there is better sensitivity towards the clothing and dressing for the occasion.

For various reasons, I do believe that the trend of jeans for everything and jeans everywhere should stay in 2000s and should never come back.

- Sincerely,
A girl who loves denim but understands its limitations