By Liesel Schmidt
Stonewashed, dark rinse, faded, ripped, bedazzled, bootcut, slim-fit, low-rise, mid-rise…
The many iterations of denim that exist today would leave Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss speechless, as would the fact that—on average—the world population owns anywhere from six to ten pairs of jeans each, making good old dungarees the single most common form of everyday casual wear across cultures, ages and gender identities.
Look at your own jeans (because, statistically speaking, chances are high that you’re wearing one of the many pairs you own right at this very moment). That textile you’ve gotten used to wearing on the regular was invented in the 17th century by French guys who needed something sturdy enough to stand up to the wear and tear of hard labor. Centuries later in 1873, Davis and Strauss patented and manufactured the first pair of rivet-reinforced blue denim jeans, introducing the pants to the factory, farm, railway and shipyard workers that were their main market until the 1950s, when the counterculture began wearing them as a show of rebellion and nonconformity. As it trickled down to the youth, denim was pushed into the mainstream fashion industry. By the late 1960s, jeans had gained popularity outside of the United States and were widely adopted in other parts of the world.
Long story short, jeans are a beautiful example of function becoming fashion—and we at Blue Bay Lifestyle Co. do love a good origin story. But more than that, we swoon for a great pair of jeans.
And as we begin the painfully slow creep toward the cooler months of fall, we’ll start shifting our focus from the denim shorts that have been our best friends throughout the heat of summer (Liverpool cuts an awesome pair) and thinking about the ways to round out the lineup of jeans in this year’s rotation. Because, as fantastically worn-in as your old threads might be, it never hurts for a refresh that livens up your wardrobe and keeps you looking current.
And yes, gentlemen—that includes you.
Jeans are, in their way, the great equalizer. Whether young or old, man or woman, blue-collar worker or C-suite executive (or vice versa), most people own and wear jeans as a regular part of their ensemble. The comfort, the versatility, the durability and longevity all make jeans a wise investment piece that will see other trends come and go, all while enjoying pride of place and permanence in the world of fashion.
At Blue Bay, we love showing off our jeans (and boy, do we have great jeans). From our ankle-length Charlie B trouser-cut denim to boot cut, dark wash Liverpool, our women’s styles will give you indigo inspiration for every occasion. As for you men out there, we’ve got Liverpool styles that may make you reconsider which pair of jeans gets top billing in your closet—and you won’t even have to wade your way through a massive department store to find them.
Of course, great denim isn’t limited to jeans. We’ve also stocked the racks with shorts, skorts, skirts, capris, jackets and chambray tops, proving that this hardworking fabric can do just about everything.
So, before sweater weather officially arrives, stop in at Blue Bay Lifestyle Co. to give your denim lineup the refresh it deserves. After all, every closet has a hero—and chances are, it’s made of denim.
