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.