Onvis True Stories and Blue Virgin Denim
ONVIS is an Italian denim brand that goes beyond a classical consumer brand approach. ONVIS is literally living through its wearers. By offering people raw denim jeans - 'Blue Virgins' - and asking them to live in their products everyday by (ab)using them as much as possible. Once daily life has left its traces on the denim, ONVIS encourages the wearers to send back their pair of worn-out jeans and ONVIS replicates the pattern for a possible next limited edition of the so called 'True Stories' collection. If your jeans are selected to be the next style created, you will earn royalties of up to 5,000 Euros! Both the raw jeans and the re-created distressed and worn in True Stories versions are for sale on their website and they ship worldwide. Be sure to check out the true stories behind those who inspired these styles below, including a music producer and DJ, a young architect, a photographer in San Francisco, and a designer from London. What will your true story be?
Gwen Stefani In Levi's Boyfriend Jeans
Daria Werbowy's Vogue Paris Denim Editorial
Daria Werbowy poses in a Vintage Levi's Denim Jacket for the cover of Vogue Paris' May 2009 edition. Along with her cover, Daria graces the pages of the mag wearing a plethora of swimsuits coordinated with a miscellany of denim pieces . The shoot must have been so entertaining; Daria looks totally gangsta due to the ass kicking themed shots. The name of the shoot is, 'Irresistible en Jean, C'est Possible' or 'Irresistible in Denim, It is Possible'.
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Levi's Second Life Shoes
Levi's® are giving a second life to worn-out jeans by turning them into new shoes and accessories. Two pairs of used Levi's are used jeans to create each pair of these unique shoes. And because no two pairs of jeans are the same, each pair of Levi's® recycled shoes will be customized and individual.The exclusive "Another Life" jeans shoe are available in selected branches of John Lewis and Levi's stores. The range also includes belts and baseball caps, all made from used Levi's Jeans.
'Do It Yourself' Jeans - Sprayed & Spattered
One of the big fashion trends at the moment is recycling your own clothes, or 'shopping your closet'. But every girl also needs a bit of a lift and something that feels new, even if it isn't. We've been inspired by some fashion bloggers with nimble fingers and a crafty streak to showcase the best do-it-yourself denim washes. They are a bang on trend and a great way to revitalize a forgotten pair of jeans. Mimi Jung of BrookandLyn, is an expert denim d.i.y.-er and has created these supercool skinnies, which were originally grey, by spraying and dripping bleach. The grey shade has bleached to this lovely nude-y pink shade. Of course, if you did these on black or blue jeans, the bleached-out shade would be different - but the idea would work just as well.
Just spray on bleach, or bleach and water mix, from a plastic spray pump bottle (for watering plants, or an old kitchen cleaner spray bottle perhaps) and wait for the results. Take care of anything that might be damaged by the bleach - the bathroom is the best place for this kind of thing - and also take care of yourself! The better made the denim, and the darker the shade, the longer it will take to bleach out. Also, remember that when you rinse the bleach out, the effect may be more pronounced than what you see beforehand. Rinse with water (some people recommend vinegar to stop the bleach acting on the denim) and dry.
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Real Men Wear (Denim) Blouses
For men, wearing a jean jacket is like shaving with a straight razor: The high degree of difficulty scares away the faint hearted, but those that do it well appreciate the air of nonchalance it affords them, and the stylishly-iconic company they find themselves in.
Lately Mr. West (pictured above...not the prophetic Princeton Prof.) has been seen wearing a vintage Big E Levi's jacket.... Now, while the bowtie is a bit avant garde for your average lunch meeting at California Pizza Kitchen, we are of the mind that the time is right for every American man to buy the denim jacket he's always wanted, but wasn't sure he could pull off.
Men: Appreciate the history of what you're wearing. The more you know the more comfortable you'll feel about wearing it, and the more confidently you'll rock it. You think Kanye knows his jacket is a "Big E"?.... You're damn right he does..
The earliest denim jackets came to be around the same time as the development of the classic 5 pocket blue jean. They were called "Work Blouses" and were worn more as a heavy weight shirt than as a jacket. The high waisted pant and shorter jacket were favored by cowboys as they were more saddle ready than the high-backed bib overalls worn by their mine-bound blue collar counterparts. The jackets had pleats in the front that were often let out by their cowboy owners, so heavy wool sweaters could be worn comfortably underneath. Jean jackets were the worn for work because they were durable and comfortable. Remember those key points when you put yours on... Are you exuding rugged confidence yet?
Great American men have worn denim jackets as far back as they've worn chiseled jaws and broad shoulders. But for the street, you're aiming for Steve McQueen (see above), not Roy Rogers. Buy your jacket raw, dark and stiff. It should fit trim and smart. Start yourself off with the idiot proof look: Dark denim jacket, white t, Khakis and Jack Purcell's. It's no fail, and you can wear it often to get the break in on your jacket started. Once you've got a little wear on your jacket, you can brave the waters into hot denim on denim action. Keep you jacket and jeans at least three shades off from one another. A dirtier lighter jacket with darker, newer jeans at first.... Brand new, dark jackets with old faded jeans can be a little awkward sometimes, tread carefully. Perhaps even more importantly is that you wear your jacket like it's YOURS. Throw it on to add an extra layer to whatever you'd otherwise wear. DON'T fall into the dude ranch trap and add in any more western wear that you'd otherwise put on. Keep it simple, keep it classic.
Remember guys: Your goal is to look like you got dressed purposefully and deliberately that morning, and you haven't given what you're wearing a thought since then. Good Luck!
This post was written by Madeline Harmon of Chucks Vintage in Los Angeles and Bill "Broken Twill" Sack
