Posted on 03/09/2005 9:47:25 AM PST by qam1
NEW YORK – They've been part of the American "uniform" for years, worn to casual restaurants, house parties, and some workplaces.
But as jeans become more expensive, they are also becoming more ubiquitous, showing up everywhere from Midwestern churches to Broadway shows. Nothing is off limits, it seems. Or is it? Among those who buy high-priced, designer denim or who simply don jeans frequently - there's debate about where it's appropriate to wear them.
The tug of war over jeans etiquette is particularly prevalent in New York City. Here, people tend to be more creative about their appearance, and are often more demanding about how fashion-conscious people should look, says Dannielle Romano, editor at large for DailyCandy.com, a fashion and trends website.
Many 20- and 30-somethings here have theater backgrounds, for example, and often say it's inappropriate to wear jeans to theater and other cultural performances out of respect for the performers and the surroundings (even though the venues themselves have no official dress codes).
"I am all in favor of the current denim revolution that we are having, but I do feel that there are times when jeans should be left at home," says Lisa Kerson, a jewelry designer in her early 30s, whose parents insisted that she look nice when going to a play or traveling on a plane. "I still get bothered when I see people wearing jeans to the theater, ballet, opera, etc.," she says in an e-mail.
Melissa Popiel also prefers not to see denim at the theater, or at an engagement party. To her, jeans are OK for a house party or a casual dinner, but not for traditionally dressy places. "I don't like going to cocktail parties and seeing people in jeans," says the advertising executive, who's in her late 20s.
Ms. Popiel estimates she owns about 15 to 20 pairs, including premium brands, and has paid as much as $200 for a pair.
Many others are also paying big bucks for their jeans - from $150 to $1,000 or more per pair. Celebrities, in particular, are making jeans their garb of choice for appearances on talk shows and at some red-carpet events.
That, say fashion experts, sets the tone for the masses, who are encouraged by features like one in the Jan. 24 edition of Us magazine, "Hollywood's 10 Hottest Jeans," complete with suggestions for buying "premium" denim ($140 or more).
The concept of designer jeans is not new, however. They were also hot in the 1970s and 80s.
Are these jeans made for parties?
Etiquette experts offer few hard and fast rules about jeans, but among them are the obvious: Leave them in the closet when you're attending a wedding, or if your workplace bans them.
"A lot of it has to do with the appropriateness of the kind of jean you're wearing," says Peter Post, grandson of manners maven Emily Post and author of the book "Essential Manners for Men."
It comes down to determining if the jeans are for fashion or work. A pair that you do yard work in, for example, are "probably not appropriate to be wearing to a restaurant that night," he explains.
Mr. Post has seen men show up in quality restaurants wearing denim, which doesn't bother him as much as how sloppy their appearance sometimes is.He recalls seeing a man dressed in a T-shirt and old rumpled jeans. "He hadn't taken any care to step it up just a notch, to say to the woman he was with, 'You know, you're really important to me. I want to look good. I want you to look at me and be proud of me,' " he says.
Dark denim is making it easier for men to comfortably wear jeans in the evenings, especially since black jeans are no longer "in." But no matter how hip a certain style may be, some places are still off-limits.
"I probably won't wear them to a funeral," says Robert Smith, a 30- something businessman in Rockton, Ill. But in the past few years he's started wearing them everywhere else - to church and to most work-related functions.
Not the fabric but how it's used
The good news for jeans devotees is that standards for judging people on their appearance are loosening a bit - at least among women under 40. A recent study by Cotton Incorporated indicates that Generation X-age women (26 to 39) are less concerned about first impressions when it comes to dressing than they were 10 years ago, and more often are taking the approach that "you can't judge a book by its cover." The reverse was true for women boomer-age and older.
Alice Harris, author of the book "The Blue Jean," attributes the rise of jeans to casual Fridays in workplaces, which shifted the way people viewed dressing.
"We've actually gone back to a much simpler way of looking at it," suggests Post of the changing attitudes. It's not that certain materials, like denim, are bad. "It's what you've done with that material."
Correction on my post 119. The word vvery should be very and snooby should be snobby!
I did actually think of that scene but luckily it was a crack free zone. All I was forced to look at were boxers.
"Correction on my post 119. The word vvery should be very and snooby should be snobby!"
I'm going to now judge you on your lack of typing skills. How dare you insult this thread with your lack of perfect proof-reading. I'll forgive you if you're wearing something I judge to be "appropriate". wink wink :)
Please calm down. I doubt anyone here would propose that the government force people to dress one way or another.
Yes, you have the right to wear what you wish (subject to indecency laws and private property rights). And I have the right to criticize what you wear. As you say, either you are for freedom or you are not -- and that includes freedom of speech.
"And I have the right to criticize what you wear."
Yes, you have the right to criticize someone for what they are wearing. Does that make you nice? Prolly not. Would it please God? Prolly not. We have the right to say and do many things, but that doesn't make it "right". But hey, that's just me. lol
Whoa...I am glad my acquaintances and relatives are not as snooty and rude as you and yours. Yes, I wear Durango boots, Rocky Mountain jeans and a big silver belt buckle with an American Eagle on it (and FYI, I am female)on a daily basis...but showboating? I think not, that dress is common in our area, as common as the gun I carry. And no...I don't line dance, that's for sissies. One final thing...since you apparently have an aversion to country girls and seem to have no problem whatsoever in being rude to them...next time you see a country girl without animal hair on her, will you please kick her butt back to the city for me?
I'm part of that "in-between generation" (I was born at the end of '62), and I've got no problem with jeans all the time; but there are some places that I wouldn't dare wear 'em -- church is among those. Then again, I think it's tied to how you were raised.
Apples and oranges. Nobody is calling for government to legislate dress codes. We're talking about standards of behavior and dress that are followed in certain situations. Just because something is legal doesn't mean that civilized people should engage in it.
Wearing what you wish for whatever occasion is the right of every individual in the US or the world for that matter.
No, it isn't. Many private establishments and businesses have dress codes and they'll ask you to leave if you don't follow them. Even without such rules, a civilized person should always dress appropriately for the particular circumstances.
IMHO, people who wear a t-shirt to a nice restaurant or jeans to a wedding are either (a) ignorant of proper rules of decorum, meaning they weren't raised right or (b) making a childish statement: "look at me, look at me, I'm different!"
I only wear jeans to church when I am volunteering in Children's church or the nursery because it gets very messy!
I'm 25, I'm a conservative libertarian, and I'm a heavily tattooed rock&roll guy. So let me chime in with my $0.02 on this one, for what it's worth to you.
Nobody anywhere on this thread is saying that we want government to mandate dress codes. It is SOCIETY that mandates them. Some things never change. My girlfriend often whines to me "why don't you ever let me pay for dinner?" And she gets upset with me when I say "because you can't, you're a lady and I'm a man", I will treat her and the situation with the appropriate respect.
As far as "un-Christian", please, don't be silly! Judging a person on how they dress for a certain situation is a fact of life. Would you hire me if I showed up for the interview in jeans and a t-shirt?
Furthermore, it is NOT restricive of freedom to think that people would have enough class to know that when I go to a rock show, I'm going to wear a black skull t-shirt, jeans, and a camo hat. But when I go to the Philharmonic, I am going to wear a suit, a tie, and nicely shined shoes. I have enough respect for myself and my fellow patrons to dress in the appropriate manner. And if you say "it's not comfortable!" well, then you need to get a pair of pants that fit properly. If you say "it costs too much to get a suit!" you can always wear dress slacks, a sports coat, and a tie, or remember that you are spending $55 a ticket, maybe you should go somewhere they do not expect you to dress a certain way (even if you aren't REQUIRED to).
Additionally, yes, wearing whatever you want whenever you want to is your right. You do have the freedom to be a classless, uncultured slob. You are free to be an idiot. I love freedom and cherish it daily. But the next time you aren't showing respect for yourself, let alone your date, or other people participating in the activity that you are underdressed for, that someone like me will be there, some "snotty, elitist, pretentious SOB", to look down on you. You may not be a bad person. And dressing in this manner won't get you shunned for life. But remember that the person mocking you could be a heavily tattooed, 25 year old guy in a punk rock band!
Get real! How does it feel to be schooled by some punk, tattooed, KID!?
People who wear a t-shirt to a nice restaurant or jeans to a wedding are either (a) ignorant of proper rules of decorum, meaning they weren't raised right or (b) making a childish statement: "look at me, look at me, I'm different!"
In either case, they're really not worth knowing. What other reason could they have for such behavior?
Well, I wouldn't in my wildest dreams but I am so out of the loop that my opinion is irrelevant.
Yes, the missing "link" is how you were raised - unless you are a complete rebel - but then that is because how you were rasied too! HA!
If Cheerios and juice are involved, all dress code rules are off! ;)
Too true. While it is important to straightn yourself up before going in, the attitude of your heart and your behaviour there are a thousand times more important.
Not to mention bodily functions of little ones - better to wear something washable!
The last time we went to the 5th Avenue theatre in Seattle, I was shocked at the attire being worn. This was an evening performance and there were women in jeans. Of course, there were the traditional evening attire, but I suppose it's like everywhere else. Now they have office dress down Fridays and people don't dress up to go to church anymore.
The rest were underdressed.
What did Reagan say to you?
Or did you make that part up?
The rest were underdressed.
What did Reagan say to you?
Or did you make that part up?
No, they actually try to run in them.
My husband is a policeman, and he comes home sometimes in hysterics, describing these juvenile deliquents who attempt to run while wearing those ridiculous jeans.
The long and short of it is...they CAN'T. Hubby rarely needs to even break out of a jog to catch them. From what I hear, watching them try to ride the bikes they just stole is pretty funny, too.
Regards,
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