Skinny is the new black

Is Skinny the New Black? For Jeans, Yes


Sylviana Hamdani - Jakarta Globe

In 1969, a reporter for American Fabrics magazine wrote, “Denim is one of the world’s oldest fabrics, yet it remains eternally young.” The statement has certainly proven true. Over the decades, jeans have undergone numerous transformations without losing their popularity. From conventional straight legged trousers to hippie bell-bottoms, baggy hip-hop jeans and slashed-up rock star denims, jeans have remained a part of most people’s wardrobes.

Keeping with the times, Levi’s showcased their new “After Dark” collection to a number of selected media representatives at the Hu’u Bar in Kerobokan, Bali, on Nov. 30. With the tagline “Skinny is the New Black,” the collection boasts slim-fit jeans with dark blue, gray and black washes targeted at young partygoers between the ages of 18 and 34.

“Our group of designers conducted global research for this collection,” said Indah Sariva, Levi’s Indonesia women’s product manager.
“We’ve observed that there’s a trend among young people from around the world to get more lively after the sun sets. They hang out with friends and go to parties in the evening. And skinny jeans will be their must-have item.”
According to Indah, there are several reasons why some young people prefer to wear skinny jeans.
“Some say that they look smart in skinny jeans,” she said. “Others say they help to elongate their figures and highlight the curves of their legs.”

Jeans have certainly come a long way since Levi Strauss created the first pair of denim overalls in 1873 to answer the needs of gold miners in California looking for strong, sturdy pants suitable for heavy manual labor.
For many years, jeans were considered blue collar workers’ wear in the United States. This all changed with the rise of celebrities such as James Dean, Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley in the 1950s who were often seen sporting denim trousers and jackets.

Denim was reborn as something fashionable and sexy, a symbol of rebellion and adventure. “Jeans have become so chic and versatile,” said Donna Massie Hutagalung, Levi’s Indonesia senior manager. “Everyone, from toddlers to grandpas, wears them.” During the fashion show, young models with perfect figures confidently strutted down the bar’s makeshift runway. Tight jeans snugly embraced their long, lean legs.
Surely, skinny jeans are not made for everyone?

“Well, not really,” said Donna. “But this collection uses our Curve ID technology, so that the fit is not only based on size on the wearer, but also the shape of their body.” To come up with Curve ID, Levi’s analyzed the body shapes of 60,000 women worldwide. Jeans which utilize this technology were introduced to Indonesia in September 2010. They come in three cuts: the slight curve, the demi curve and the bold curve. Donna believes Levi’s Curve ID technology lets women with a wide variety of body shapes and sizes feel comfortable wearing skinny jeans. With the right cut, the jeans will fit snugly on your body, thus make you confident wearing them,” she said.

The women’s jeans showcased that night varied between three-quarter to full length cuts. Most were embellished with white stitches and metal studs along the side of the hips to highlight the curves. The tops varied from tight-fitting T-shirts with bold motifs to tank tops in shades of white, gray and dark brown, rolled up and tied off at the waist to reveal bare midriffs.

Paired with mid-rise skinny jeans, the style appeared daring and faintly reminiscent of 1980s women’s clothing style. The men’s collection boasted stone-washed, slim-fit trousers. The faded jeans were turned up at the cuffs and paired with black boots and flannel shirts. The look was reminiscent of how jeans were worn in the ‘50s, when they came in uniform lengths and the cuffs had to be rolled up to fit.
“For me, a pair of jeans is like a watch, shoes or T-shirt that you wear,” said DJ Winky, who entertained Levi’s guests at Vi Ai Pi in Kuta after the show. “It reveals your character.” He said he usually wears vintage jeans with a classic straight cut because they suit both his style and body type. “Wearing jeans is all about confidence. As long as you feel confident in what you’re wearing, you should go for it.”

Tips For Choosing Skinny Jeans

Even though skinny jeans are all the rage, not everybody feels comfortable wearing the tight, body-hugging, curve-revealing trousers.

For those of you who may not be a size six, yet want to follow the hottest current trend in jeans, here are some helpful hints:

1. Always try jeans on before you buy them. Make sure that they fit snugly around your body when sitting, bending and walking.

2. Choose dark colors, as they enhance the slimming effect.

3. Pair jeans up with loose, flowing tops. Cute baby doll shirts and tunics work best with skinny jeans.

4. Wear high heels with skinny jeans to make yourself look taller.

5. Last but not least, always choose comfort over style. If the pair of jeans you’re trying on does not feel comfortable, choose another. There are lots of styles and cuts available. You’ll find your perfect pair of skinnies in no time.