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."
I doubt it's the size of your church. My church is easily 8-10 times the size of your church, with an extremely conservtive Sunday attendance of 1600, not counting student ministries. We still wear jeans.
Hardly, she's taking heat from me at least for saying that I, my family, my pastor and the entire congregation at my church is failing to respect God. Silly as it might sound, I took umbrage at that comment, I can't imagine why.
I think it's disrespectful too. Guess that's why I admire her. Jeans should not be worn at chuch. It's not a picnic.
Courage!
I think she's holding her own very well. Others have been rude to her. You apparently have a problem with my admiring her. It had nothing to do with you.
Sorry, church isn't a fashion show. With this, I'm done with it. I'm sick of the sanctimony that's starting to permeate this thread. I'll pray for the both of you.
I agree. I'll hold the door for you, and then I'm outta here too.
Absolutely, especially when we attend a formal gathering.
That might be a little too much, But I think sports would be a little more interesting if every sport did what baseball does and have the manager dress like the players.
Who said anything about a fashion show? I'm simply saying that if you can dress up for a wedding, to go to a country club or for work how is it that you can not show respect for God by wearing something a little nicer than blue jeans. Jeans are casual. My relationship with God is anything but casual. I have more respect for Him than that.
No But I will I am a definite Boot Girl!
I just bought some cool suede ones with a turqousie pendant on them.
I will check it out!
This is about TWENTY YEARS late in the writing.
I would STONGLY support theaters publishing a dress code which was suite and tie for evening performances. (if you want casual, go to a matine)
Women have been allowed to attend church in pants for only the last 3 decades and though that doesn't bother me at all,there IS a proscription in the Bible (and please don't tell me that everything but the TEN COMMANDMENTS and a ban on homosexuality was over ridden,once Jesus came!)against that. Jeans/dungarees are another matter. Even the poorest of the poor,used to have SUNDAY BEST clothes. Personally, I'd rather see someone come to church in the cheapest of the cheap proper attire,or clothes they got for nothing,from church run/philanthropic organizations,than in $200 jeans.
Call me old fashioned, call me petty,call me anything else you care to,it's the fact that people now accept the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR for everything,which galls me. What's next...going to church or the theatre or anywhere else,in pajamas,because that becomes the newest "fashion fad" ? Why not ski clothes,tennis outfits,or a bathing suit,because you're going to engage in those activities after church, or because it's "more comfortable" ?
You should also try eBay. I've found some fabulous vintage suits there that flatter my body (five feet ten inches, very long legs, amazingly short torso, narrow shoulders, no discernible waist) - as long as you buy by measurement, not size, you should be okay.
THIRTY....sadly, some people began to wear jeans to Broadway shows in 1973.
If you need any Houston help or advice, give me a holler. I'm a native and there are TONS of us FReepers here!
And King David stripped down naked and danced before the Lord. Your offering up scriptures supports nothing. There are plenty to counter what you have offered. Jesus said not to worry about clothes. Why do you?
"Why not ski clothes,tennis outfits,or a bathing suit,because you're going to engage in those activities after church, or because it's "more comfortable" ?"
My mom and I just had this conversation about kids wearing their sports uniforms to church because they have a game before/after Mass. I don't think you're teaching your kids about etiquette if you allow them to do this.
If you're old fashioned, then I am too! ;-)
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