Research shows Brits hang onto favourite jeans for up to 40 years

JEAN junkies relax - you are not alone in your denim hoarding hobby.

Even though you know you may never fit into them again, research reveals jean lovers hang on to their favourite denims for up to 40 years.

Many believe their slouching, tight-fitting or super sexy strides eventually will come back into fashion, even if that means shunning decades of trends and shedding the kilos, the Herald Sun reports.

A UK survey found the average Briton had five pairs of jeans and kept them for six years. But women kept their jeans longer than men.

Almost half of those interviewed believed their jeans would never go out of fashion, while three in 10 women - but only 12 per cent of men - admitted keeping their old pairs in the hope they would one day lose enough weight to squeeze back into them.

Some said they kept their jeans because they were the most comfortable thing in their wardrobe and others said their jeans represented sentimental memories.

Jean collector Emma Grasso, 27, has 12 pairs with the oldest being 10 years old.

"With time they get thinner and more comfy. They are almost like trackies, you just whack them on," she said.

Ms Grasso, who works at Dakota501 jeans shop on Chapel St, said she nicknamed her jeans based on their label and their cut and once spent $400 on a pair.

"I am lucky I can fit into all 12 pairs. I am attached to them and associate them with good times," she said.

She was surprised by the survey results, given that Gen Y was a "throwaway" fashion generation.

"Gen Y are into disposable fashion so they treat denim like that as well," she said.

"But the trend is transient and you see the same people buy jeans every six months."

The survey of 1000 Essex shoppers also found that 46 per cent of men had a pair of old jeans they used for messy jobs such as painting and decorating.

By Georgie Pilcher

Levi's Man

Tom Graber of Rockland, Wisconsin, says his favourite jeans are blue Levi's 560s. He has two pairs of them and about six other pairs of jeans.

The Levi's came from Kohl's a few years ago for $30 a pair, but now Tom says that "when I need to replace my jeans I buy Wranglers at Wal-Mart for $14.50 a pair."

He adds that "the last several years I have reduced my spending on jeans because of the economy. I wear them longer and my wife mends the jeans I wear to work to get a little more life out of them."

Closet Staples

Julie Wax shows off her favourite pair of A-pocket 7 for All Mankind jeans. She says she "paid $178 for them, but it was so well worth it! I wear them ALL the time."

Julie owns 14 pair of jeans and says 90% are designer jeans that "still look brand new". Julie says, "are one of my closet staples and a must when putting together my wardrobe."

The best thing about her jeans "is they look dressy enough to wear out at night, but are also great for a casual Friday or day around the house. No matter what, I always pair them with heels," says Julie, who writes a blog I Heart Heels.

Levi's originals

Lisa Mulhall of Delray Beach, Florida, swears by Levi's jeans. "I have loved Levi's jeans since I was a teenager. Nothing fits as well or makes me feel as good," she says.

Her favourite style is the original 501 button fly - she owns 3 pairs. "They are perfect for my favourite shopping - antiquing," she says.

In the above picture, Lisa wears Levi's 552 midrise straight leg jean, which whe also loves despite their slightly pricier tag of $69.50.

It's all in the pockets

Cindy Crebsbech Boca Raton, Fla, is wearing Tag jeans that she bought for $176. "I have never liked jeans for my body, but the pockets on these give a new look," she says.

Loyal to her brand

Tiffany West of Tacoma, Wash, says the only brand of denim she will wear is 7 for All Mankind, and she owns 20 pairs of their designer jeans.

"I love their jeans. I don't own any other brand but 7's. The fit is perfect for my body shape and size. I also know that no matter what they will look good on me," she says.

Tiffany says she has not splurged on jeans since being unemployed in January, not because she can't afford them, but because she already has so many pairs. "I find it worth every penny for jeans that fit and flatter," she says.

No overalls or acid wash

Norman Hawley of Andover, Mass, purchases a new pair of jeans about every two years. Old jeans get demoted to yard work or snow shoveling, making the style eligible for purchase once again.

Although he says he is not too particular about style and allows his wife to influence his clothing choices, Norman acknowledges that he has recently retired his acid wash jeans (they are now in the yard work stage) and doesn't own jean overalls or coveralls. He is wearing Tommy jeans in this photo.

More than 'mom jeans'

"Once you finally find a brand that fits your body, you stick with it," says Carlene Iglas of Bath, NY. Carlene's favorite jeans come from Eddie Bauer and she likes them because of their durability. "They last through countless washes!"

She also likes Lee jeans, since both brands fit well and are still reasonably priced. Carlele says she usually spends about $25 on a pair of jeans and likes to shop the Eddie Bauer outlet.

Jeans for all seasons

"I don't mind spending $75-125 on jeans because they are a permanent investment in my wardrobe," says Mark Gershman of Scottsdale, Ariz, shown here in his favourite Lucky Brand jeans.

Mark says he shops for jeans when they are on sale during the winter months. He looksfor 'a great fit, nice wash, a muted pocket treatment and a good sale price."

The rough shape of the economy has made him think about the number of pairs of jeans he owns. "I really don't need another - still I look when new styles arrive," he says.

A necessary evil

I wear jeans all the time, but when I need to buy a new pair I break into the same type of sweat as I do if you told me were going bathing suit shopping," says Nicole Stith, who terms denim a 'necessary evil' in her closet.

Nicole's favourite brands include True Religion and Paige Denim, but she says the economic climate has attracted her to less expensive lines such as Banana Republic.

Nicole, of Los Gatos, CA, has one rule of thumb when shopping for denim. "If it is a trendy style you are looking for, try to find it under $60 since you probably won't be wearing it next season".

Confessions of an online shopper

Dave Daucanski of West Palm Beach, Fla, shops the Web for reduced prices on designer jeans, including his favourite brands, Chip & Pepper and Adriano Goldschmied.

He visits the Gilt Group (gilt.com) and clothesoffourback.org for discounts, but says he has spent as much as $300 on a pair of jeans.

Taylor-ing to the tall girl

Working from home has made jeans a staple in the wardrobe of Sherry Natoli of Tampa. "In my corporate life, I wore suits & heels everyday. It's a joy not to be doing that!" she says.

Sherry's favorite pair of jeans come from Ann Taylor and cost under $50 on sale - a bargain compared to the jeans her 28 year old daughter typically spends $100 to $200 on. Ann Taylor jeans also come in Tall. which is essential for Sherry, who is 5'9".

Sherry says she is currently looking for a pair of black jeans to add to her closet, which already contains about 20 jeans. She is trying to wait until the recession eases but says new jeans will be one of her first.

Worth the splurge

"I think that jeans are one of the things that you can splurge on," says Marietta Landon, of Douglasville, Ga., shown here in her favorite Citizens of Humanity jeans. She paid $150 for them two years ago and says she still wears them all the time.

Marietta, who has about 7 pairs of jeans, says she "enjoys the thrill of finding a bargain" and looks for jeans at department stores like Nordstrom, online or at sample sales.

Blue jeans selling strong, but high-end sales could suffer

The $13 billion denim industry — a life preserver for the sinking apparel industry the past year — may be fraying at the high end of its product line.

While old standbys including Levi's, Lee and Wrangler are still seeing sales increases that likely will continue in the coming year, sales increases for pricey premium jeans will likely occur only in the under-$200 category, according to market research firm NPD Group.

Sales of these and even pricier jeans had soared deep into the recession — up 17% last year alone, says NPD — as retailers and apparel makers benefited from a largely recession-resistant jones for jeans. But really pricey denim pants may be falling out of fashion.

"The economy shifted, and all of a sudden those outrageous prices actually look outrageous," says NPD chief retail analyst Marshal Cohen. "The superpremium jean business has dropped off tremendously because the inspirational shoppers aren't going up that high, and luxury customers aren't buying two or three pairs anymore."

While at least one high-end manufacturer boasts of planning no adjustments for the coming year, others have dropped prices and are offering additional product lines to consumers who want the brand appeal without the $300-plus price tags. And Gap plans to take advantage of the downscaling of denim next month when it introduces a $60 line of what it says are great-fitting jeans designed in part by hires from premium jean companies.

Total jeans sales were up 2.3% for the three months ended in February, NPD says, while apparel sales overall declined 6.3% for the same period.

That three-month period was the most challenging in terms of consumer spending, so any growth during that time is significant, Cohen says.

Shoppers such as Debi DeFrank, 42, helped drive the recession trend of jeans-buying. DeFrank, a Fox News makeup artist from Ellicott City, Md., owns about 25 pairs, including several by high-end manufacturers True Religion, 7 for All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity.

"I'm always looking for the pair of jeans that fits the best," says DeFrank. "Then I go and shop some more and say, 'No, these are the ones that fit me the best.' "

DeFrank, who travels extensively for work, says jeans are the perfect thing to pack. "I don't want to have to put dress pants in my suitcase."

Instead, she wears a pair of her many light-colored jeans by day and her darker ones with heels at night for dinner. There are skinny jeans for certain boots and every other possible cut to go with the dozens of shoes and 10 pairs of boots she owns.

By Jayne O'Donnell and Michelle Walbaum, USA TODAY

Rihanna in jeans

Many people are in love with this style of Rihanna. She is wearing a jeans here alongwith the orange pumps. Seems that whatever she wears looks fierce on her.

Ripped jeans make a comeback

Warning: your grandmom won’t approve; heck, neither will your mom. They might just offer to take you shopping when they see you in a pair of ripped jeans. But ripped jeans are back and we’re not sure who to thank for the revival. Was it Sienna Miller, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, Christina Aguilera or Megan Fox — who wore them first this season?

Closer home, the fashion forward Sonam Kapoor wore them first for a ramp show. Kareena Kapoor wore hers at the press meet of Kambakkht Ishq, as did Deepika Padukone while promoting her next, Love Aaj Kal, in Delhi and at the launch of a fashion mag. Model Nina Manuel and Gauri Khan are following suit. Most have ripped the denims themselves — like Koena Mitra. “People think you can’t afford a new pair. But they’re great for travelling. The rips should be on your thighs, knees and calves,” suggests Koena.

Not if you are Gisele Bundchen, though. Gisele’s strategically ripped denim shorts exposed her derriere in a recent photoshoot. Even if you don’t go that far, it’s prudent to know when and where to flaunt them. They’re great for lounging in, or even a game of basketball. Leave them in the closet if you’re headed for a cocktail party.

Model and actor Mohsin Akhtar ripped his jeans for an action scene in the forthcoming Mumbai Mast Kalandar. “I’ve also worn them for catalogue shoots. They’re attention grabbing,” agrees Mohsin.

Also, experiment with colours. You can go the Rihanna way by getting one in each shade. Sophie Chaudhry’s looking for a black pair, like Rihanna’s. “Blue is overdone. Black looks hot. I want loads of rips in the pair,” she smiles.

But that could have the ‘trying-too-hard’ look, warns stylist Anahita Shroff Adjania. She ripped Deepika and Saif’s jeans in Love Aaj Kal. “Deepika wears hers with dressy kurtas and Saif with tees. If you want to avoid a deliberate attempt, fray it, and also fray other sections of the jeans,” she states.

Ripped jeans are a classic case of recycling innovation. They were hot in the ’90s and returned in a wee way when Shakira belly-danced in her snug brown pair of ripped jeans to Whenever Wherever. And style bhai Salman Khan did it for men when he wore a distressed pair with a bandanna around his knee last year.

Javine supports 'Jeans for Genes'

Singer Javine launched a new range of badges for children's charity Jeans for Genes.

The 2005 Eurovision contestant was joined by her 18-month-old daughter Angel Mai Hylton Harvey for a musical tea party in London's Battersea Park with pre-school favourites Fifi and the Flowertots, who feature on the badges.

There are four different badges for children to collect, and can be bought for £1 each from www.jeansforgenes.com/webshop.

Nicolas & Carla in jeans

French President Nicolas Sarkozy & his wife Carla Bruni in Jeans.

Megan Fox in Jeans

Megan Fox is seen here in a ripped jeans with her kid. Megan has a love for tight t-shirts & jeans.

Oprah Winfrey in Jeans

Oprah Winfrey, one of the biggest celebrities of the TV, Internet & Twitter, is seen wearing Jeans here on her show days before her makeover.

Solange is the brand ambassador for Armani

After her sister Beyonce riding high in the glamour world, younger sis Solange Knowles has become the brand ambassador for the Armani jeans. Fashion designer Georgio Armani is proud to announce the deal with Solange who will be the celebrity model for the jeans saying, "Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool, fashion sensibility. Solange epitomises this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her single, 'I Decided'."

RIP Michael

Guys, please take this post as a tribute to the King of Pop - Michael Jackson - where he's seen in a Jeans above. RIP Michael.

Beyonce jeans

Beyonce is seen above in the white version of the Balmain Distressed Jeans which costs around $2500.

Mariah Carey in Jeans

Mariah Carey is seen above wearing boot cut skinny Jeans at the Teen Choice Awards.

Crystal Encrusted jeans

The Crystal Encrusted jeans by LRG Jeans comes from $500. When it comes to jeans, sometimes the more bling the better. Luxirie, the women’s line of LRG, pushes the envelope with jewel-encrusted detailing on the back pocket, adding a little excitement to an otherwise normal piece. For more information go to www.luxirie.com.

Rock-N-Roll Denim

The Rock-N-Roll Denim comes from $1000 to $3000 depending on embellishments. Rockers such as Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler have been known to indulge in a pair of really great fitting jeans. Their True Religion jeans, worn at the Citicard/Advantage private concert series in New York City on Dec. 3, were embroidered and embellished by Tyler, but stylists such as Oligo Tissew can create similar pairs. For more information go to www.oligotissew.com.

Celebrity Favorite for $450

Worn by the likes of Brad Pitt and other A-listers, PRPS jeans are made of rare selvage denim that is hand-dyed with natural pigments. Expertly distressed in strategic places, you would have to be making some serious cash to rock these jeans. For more information go to www.bloomingdales.com.

Premium Lines for $675

Jeans in Diesel’s Denim Gallery start at $400 and go to $675. They are hand-dyed and distressed (a process that puts minor rips in the material), and no pair are alike. What’s more, they are only available in New York City and Japan. For more information go to www.diesel.com.

Custom made jeans for $800 to $1000

In creating a one-of-a-kind jean, Ernest Sewn takes into consideration your exact measurements and style preferences. But it doesn’t come cheap. Custom-made jeans start at $800 and can go up to $1000 depending on the denim, buttons and rivets used. For more go to www.earnestsewn.com

“Designer” Jeans for US$ 1185

Never one to be described as “understated,” Roberto Cavalli incorporates his over-the-top aesthetic into his designer jeans. This includes replacing rhinestones for rivets and using multiple denim washes, all of which are loved by celebrities like Beyonce and J-Lo. For more information go to www.bergdorfgoodman.com.

Plain Premium Jeans

For women who want to steer clear of rhinestone and fancy rivets, the Triple 5 Soul jeans have virtually no detailing and come in a heavy dark wash denim that has a small amount of stretch in them. Comes in US$ 700. For more information go to www.triple5soul.com.

Brad Pitt in Edwin Jeans photoshoot

Seen above is Brad Pitt on a couch while on the photoshoot for Japanese Jeans brand - Edwin.

Angelina Jolie in Jeans

The top Hollywood actress, Angelina Jolie, is seen above in J Brand jeans. The J Brand Jeans has acquired a cult status with so many celebrities wearing it.

Cindy Crawford in Jeans

Watch Cindy Crawford, the US based model, brand ambassador, tv & movie actress, in jeans above at a recent party in Los Angeles. The left image is of the last year for the same event - The pose remains same and jeans too!!!

Barack Obama in Jeans

The current US President Barack Obama is seen in blue denims, light blue shirt & black jacket. He is probably also carrying his laptop with him. This image was clicked before him starting his US Presidential campaign.

Madonna in Jeans

The singer, actor & celebrity icon Madonna is seen above in a skinny jeans with shiny red & black tops.

Britney Spears in Jeans

Celebrities across the globe wear jeans on various occasions and on regular basis as well. Britney Spears is seen above in Destroyed brand jeans.

World's first paper made jeans

The world's first 100% paper-made jeans will set you back US$5,400. The jeans is made through Japanese paper by the company called Japan Pulp & Paper (JPP) based in Tokyo. The jeans is to be sold as collector's item at around US $5,400 and the company aims to produce only 10 pairs of the jeans.

JPP has used denim made out from Washi, which is a Japanese paper that’s tougher than general paper usually used outside Nippon. The denim is then used to produce jeans, which can be worn & washed just like existing jeans. Reportedly, JPP has promised a smooth feeling & good thermal insulation for wearers. Using Washi to produce clothes is not that uncommon in Japan, where it has been the basis of socks & underwears in the past.

Tommy Hilfiger jeans

Tommy Hilfiger is a brand of clothes established by US based fashion designer Thomas Jacob Hilfiger. Thomas was born and raised in Elmira, New York. The second of eight children, he grew up in an Irish American family and claims direct descent from Scotland's national Bard Robert Burns. His parents originally intended for him to be an engineer. He attended Elmira Free Academy for high school. Rather than furthering his education, he started to work in retail at the age of 18. Hilfiger would go to New York City to buy jeans and bell-bottom pants, which he customized and resold at a local downtown Elmira store, Brown's.

He later opened his own store, named The People's Place, around the block in downtown Elmira. Although the store was a hot spot for teens with frequent contests and live DJ appearances, there were often more people hanging out than shopping. Over the years, a number of stores closed in downtown Elmira as shopping traffic shifted to the new Arnot Mall in Horseheads, New York. It wasn't long before The People's Place became another casualty. After seven years, The People's Place went bankrupt, when Hilfiger was 25. The site of the original store has since been demolished to make room for First Arena, home of the Elmira Jackals Hockey team. Some of the products of Tommy Hilfiger:

• Hilfiger Denim: A premium-upscale denim collection for men and women. Designs are inspired by American classics and finished with a modern edge and fresh spirit.
• True Star Gold: fragrance created by Hilfiger and spokeswoman Beyoncé Knowles
• True Star: Another fragrance created by Hilfiger and with spokesperson Beyoncé Knowles
• True Star Men: A fragrance created by Hilfiger and with spokesperson Enrique Iglesias
• Tommy Girl: Fragrance for women
• Red Label: A line of denim-themed products including jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts
• H by Tommy Hilfiger: An upscale line which was ended after Tommy Hilfger sold his company, the same sort of style is now carried on under the Tommy Hilfiger label in their specialty stores
• Tommy Hilfiger, the company line of clothes sold in department stores, company stores, and specialty stores
• Tommy Hilfiger for the Home, a line of bedding and bath products
• Tommy Sailing, was due to be released in January or February 2007
  

Wrangler Jeans

Wrangler is a jeans brand popular across the world for producing quality cow-boy jeans. Wrangler Jeans was created by, Bernard Lichtenstein (Rodeo Ben), a Polish tailor who was working closely with the cowboys in Blue Beill to help design jeans suitable for rodeo use. The 13MWZ style, introduced in 1947 by Bernard, is still available globally.

Today, Wrangler is owned by VF Corporation, Greensborough, NC, which also owns other jeans brands such as Lee, Jan Sport & The North Face. Wrangler Jeans was first made by Blue Bell, who acquired the brand when they took over Casey Jones in the mid-1940s. Some of the styles under which Wranger sells its Jeans are:

• 20X
• 5 Pocket Jeans
• Aura
• Genuine Wrangler
• Riggs Workwear
• Rustler
• Timber Creek
• Wrangler 47
• Wrangler Five Star
• Wrangler FR
• Wrangler ProGear
• Wrangler Rugged Wear
• Wrangler Western Wear
  

Levi Strauss & Co

Levi's, or Levi Strauss & Co, was the first company for branded denim jeans established in the year 1853 by Levi Strauss who came from Buttenheim, Franconia (Kingdom of Bavaria) to San Francisco, CA. Since then the company has been producing quality jeans, although the company started modern jeans only in 1920. Levi's is a known brand the world over and its logo describes the strength of a Levi's jeans where two horses are trying to torn apart a Levi's jeans from inbetween but haven't succeeded. The logo also tells that Levi's Jeans was patented in US on 20-May-1873. It comes with the tagline - Original Riveted Quality Clothing. Today, not just jeans, Levi's is also known for shirts, t-shirts, shorts, trousers, jackets, other accessories & mobiles. Levi's is not only the oldest but is also considered to be the global leader in jeans. Several songs jumped into popularity after featuring in TV ads by Levi's which include:

• The Joker (Steve Miller Band, 1990)
• Inside (Stiltskin, 1994)
• Boombastic (Shaggy, 1995)
• Spaceman (Babylon Zoo, 1996)
• Flat Beat (Mr. Oizo, 1999)
  

Jeans top brands

The top brands for the design & manufacturing of Jeans are below, which include the top designer labels as well across the world. Jeans from these brands are always in fashion:

• 7 For All
• Calvin Klein
• Diesel
• DKNY
• GAP
• Guess
• Guillemot
• Lee
• Lee Dungarees
• Legendary Gold Jeans
• Levi's
• Lucky Brand Jeans
• Lucky Dog
• Pepe Jeans London
• Riders
• Rustler
• Tommy Hilfiger
• True Religion Brand Jeans
• Wrangler
  

Welcome to the Jeans of the World!!!

Jeans is a casual wear that is woren all across the world and which gained popularity amongst the workers' class, probably cowboys, and subsequently in teenagers in the year 1950. Jeans are traditionally made of thick denim clothes which mainly come in Blue Denim. Today, Jeans come in various styles & colors The historic brands of the pants, or trousers, are Levi's and Wrangler. Jeans of various fits have been in fashion, some of them being :

• Ankle Jeans
• Baggy jeans
• Bell-bottoms/Flares/Boot-cut
• Boy cut
• Capris
• Carpenter jeans
• High waist cut
• Jorts (Jean shorts)
• Loose
• Low-rise jeans/Hip-huggers
• Overalls
• Phat pants
• Relaxed
• Sagging
• Shortalls
• Skinny
• Slim
• Straight