Designer Q & A - Earls Jeans
1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
Jeans are functional and fashionable, they can be worn everywhere now from work to a sexy date.. The aging process of the indigo changes with every wash and wear and makes your jeans very personal. We fall in love with our favourite pair of jeans. Nothing can make you feel more sexy and confident than the right pair of jeans with the perfect fit and attitude.
2) Last time I counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
Earl Jean was the original premium denim brand. We have one of the most recognizable fits the Straight leg. We have followed the philosophy of the founder: A perfect jean is created when high quality denim, premium washes, and a perfect fit come together.
3) Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration for Earl comes from our vintage samples, current trends, celebrity style, and what people are wearing on the streets of NY and LA. Our designer travel abroad to source materials, and seeing the way people dress from different cultures changes your perspective on style.
4) Are there any essential jeans that everyone should have in their wardrobe?
YES!!! Earls most flattering fit for everyone is the Mid Rise Boot cut jean. It’s a classic, and that’s why it’s always going to look right. Whether the trend is super skinny or wide leg, this jean can sustain any of the trends
5) Which style and wash of your jeans are flying out of the shops the quickest at the moment?
Our straight leg fit in the dark rinse wash (see above).
6) What are the first pair of jeans you remember?
I had osh kosh b'gosh elastic waist jeans!
7) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have owned?
I still love and wear my original Earl jeans to death! They are about ten years old and are still the deepest navy blue and fit perfectly!
8) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have produced?
Our Hi Rise Wide Leg jean in a bleach out color. They are a high rise flare with nicely detailed criss-cross front pockets and double yoke and pierced back pockets. This pair was featured on the cover of WWD.
9) How many pairs of jeans do you currently own and which are your favourites?
about 40. I save some that I know will always be special from Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, and Stella Mcartney's first collection for Chloe. I break these out for fashion moments, but I usually wear Earl skinny’s in various washes, Earl blasted slim fits, and J Brand Love Story jeans in every color.
10) Are you a "wash your jeans after each wear" person or a "wear your jeans for six months before you wash them" person?
Yes, i have my jeans washed after each wear. They are always washed inside our and hung upside down and pleated to dry. Certain black jeans I will only have dry cleaned. i hate the look of faded, dull black jeans
11) Do you own jeans for different occasions (for instance I have work jeans, smart jeans, weekend jeans, holiday jeans, jeans for going to concerts in, jeans for gardening in) if so what have you got?
Absolutely. but not really broken up like this. i have them broken into groups that coordinate with my shoe closet, i.e.: *jeans for stilettos, jeans for kitten heels, jeans for platforms, jeans for boots ( jeans worn over and under boots are different, also depends on stiletto heels or fur booties), jeans for flats, and jeans for sneakers.
12) Which is your favourite jeans shop?
Ron Herman carries all different skinny jeans. The Ksubi store in ny is amazing. i know these two will have what I want. Kitson has a great selection. I don't like to be overwhelmed in a sea of denim. I know what I want before I go in usually. I got stores that carry my favorite brands in various fits and washes.
13) Which celebs are currently wearing your jeans?
Natalie Portman wears our jeans, Leighton Meester, Fergie, Whitney Port and more!
14) How important big an effect does it have on your sales when a celeb is seen wearing a pair of your jeans?
Having the right celebrity photographed in a pair of your jeans is invaluable and crucial to the success of denim brands today. If you are a new denim company trying to break in to the premium denim market, and do not have the right celebrity wattage attached to your brand, you probably won't survive very long. Photos of style stars like Cameron Diaz, Fergie, Kate Holmes, and Rachel Bilson really move the denim sales needle.
15) Who is your current favourite denim icon (male & female). I am thinking the person who has the most denim style?
Nobody wears faded, ripped jeans like David Beckham, and Gisele Bundchen. Smokin hot. Ironically, Gisele was the first supermodel to star in an Earl ad campaign in early 2000’s
16) Which person living or dead would you most like to see in a pair of your jeans?
I would love to see Marilyn Monroe in the original Earl dark rinse.
17) What is the worst denim crime?
Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake at the MTV music awards wearing the matching patchwork denim ensembles!!
18) If jeans had not been invented, what would we all be wearing?
We would still be wearing dresses and stockings! The perfect jean is every girl’s dream!
19) And finally, any predictions for denim in 2008/09
Everything has been so dark and clean for a long time so the trend will move to the extreme opposite more wide leg silhouettes and bleached out washes. You will see lots more styles with holes, tricks and added stitch details, not your basic 5-pocket jeans. Skinny legs will stick around for a little while, but the wide leg flare changes up the silhouette drastically.
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