What are ripped jeans, exactly?
It’s a pair of jeans with a frayed, worn look and distinct women’s ripped jeans spots where the skin peeps out, usually at the knees. These ‘rips’ can arise due to misuse or can be made at home using a blade or a pair of scissors. The goal is to loosen the tightly woven fabric and expose the ragged ends.
Let’s start with Punk.
Distressed jeans, a near relative of ripped jeans, were enormously popular during the late 1970s when the Punk-rock era was unraveling worldwide. Denim and women’s leopard jeans became the preferred language of expression for a big segment of the world’s young who were dissatisfied with traditional society. In the United Kingdom, bands like Sex Pistols championed denim and began adorning denim pants and jackets with safety pins, buttons, and batches. Torn jeans became associated with anti-establishment sentiment and hippie culture.
The Resurrection
If Punk-rock adopted damaged jeans as an expression, the ’90s embraced the ‘non-fashion’ slogan to keep the grunge concept alive. Over T-shirts, tattered, loose pants were teamed with Pendleton’s during the decade. This trend lasted throughout the 2000s when ripped jeans became a ‘casual chic’ apparel category staple. Ripped jeans have long been a favorite among musicians in the United States, from Iggy Pop — who claims to have started the fashion in the United States — through Curt Cobain and The Ramones. Salt and Pepa’s ‘Shake-your-thang’ video from 1988 featured heavily tailored distressed, shredded jeans. Ripped jeans are now widely connected with rebellious people and causes worldwide.
Appropriation on the high street
Affordable women’s jeans, which began as a protest against social conventions, have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. Diesel, Citizens of Humanity, and Balmain are among the designer companies designed ripped editions, while Zara, Levis, and Marks & Spencer have all stocked up on the item. HUEMN, an Indian androgynous label, experimented with shredded jeans in their 2017 collection.
HOW DO THEY RIP THEM UP?
There are two ways to rip denim: using a laser or by hand. Low-cost brands that produce vast numbers of apparel favour the former, whereas high-end designers choose the latter. A 2500W Laser Sharp DenimHD Abrasion System is the most commonly utilized machine.
The laser is pointed towards the denim, which is pressed vertically against a metal backdrop, and it works by burning holes in the fabric in a pattern pre-programmed into the software. It’s so precise that it cannot only ‘distress’ the fabric by burning a small hole in it but also carve elaborate patterns into it. Each pair takes less than a minute to complete.
Jeggings are one of the most popular kinds of jeans.
They’re a blend of jeans, leggings, and boutique flare jeans, and they’re ideal for when you want to be comfortable while looking put-together. They’re usually quite stretchy, hugging the body for a close but not restrictive fit.
Skinny or Super Skinny jeans are form-fitting pants that appear too tight (but not always the sensation). They have a similar appearance to jeggings, but they are commonly referred to be genuine jeans because they have pockets and buttons. Because they fit at the ankle, they’re ideal for highlighting long, slim legs.
IT’S AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SCIENCE.
Those rips in your jeans may appear random, but they are anything but. To begin, there are three types of rips: a hole, a shred, and a scrape.
A hole cuts completely through the fabric, while a shred leaves threads behind to disguise the hole (a small abrasion on the surface). While the latter two are usually modest, holes can be considerably larger.
According to fashion experts, holes should always be horizontal (vertical ones go against the grain of the denim and can cause the jeans to fall apart). Never broader than the leg of a pair of jeans (for the same reason), and never higher than an inch when standing (as they will expose even more flesh when you sit).
FRAYING
It would seem natural that ripped jeans would be less expensive than unripped jeans because you’re receiving less material for your money – but the contrary is true. A pair of Paige denim Hoxton jeans with frayed ankles and matching holes on each knee costs £295 at Selfridges, while a near-identical unripped Margot pair only £200.
The ‘distressed’ version of J Brand Indigo cropped jeans costs £220, while the ‘indigo’ version costs £200. Frame sells thin jeans for £123 and ripped jeans for £155. According to Topshop, high-waisted skinny jeans cost £36, while a super rip’ pair costs £46.
Make the required calculations.
You have a few options for taking your measurements. Your waist and inseam measurements are the two measurements you’ll need for jeans. However, you should calculate how much of a raise you’ll require.
This is ideal if you have a pair of boutique ripped jeans at home that you reach for frequently due to their comfort. You can use this item of clothes to take your measurements. If not, try again, but measure yourself instead of the outfit this time.
Shopping Suggestions for Jeans
Some people go jeans shopping and find that one perfect pair with just one flaw: the rise may be too low or high, the waistband may gap while fitting perfectly elsewhere, the length may make you appear stocky and short, and the leg cut may be too long, too fast, too flared, too baggy, too tight, or whatever. Take a closer look if you find yourself in this situation. Don’t buy something just to tweak one feature; it won’t work.
What type of jeans should you wear if you have a top-heavy body type?
If you have a triangle shaped body, which means your shoulders and bust are wider than the rest of your body, you should focus on your bottom half. You may wish to show off your fantastic leg shape.
A boot-cut shape (with a slight flare at the hem starting at the knee) is suitable for a top-heavy figure. This will aid in the figure’s equilibrium. You’ll look like you’re from the 1970s if the flare is too big.
