The skinny jean story (Part 1)

James Dean, Marlon Brando and Elvis wore their jeans straight and slim. Although women in the 50′s didn’t often wear jeans, Audrey Hepburn, Sandra Dee and Marilyn Monroe wore slim, close fitting pants that had the same sexy silhouette as today’s skinnies.

By the 1960′s women’s jeans were more common (even though the zipper was in the back) and they continued to have that skinny silhouette.

The look could be super sweet like the girl next door, or sexy and rebellious like those greaser chics in the musical and movie.

Rock and Roll was coming of age and tight jeans were the uniform.

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We think of elephant bells and groovy flare jeans but dig a little deeper and you’ll find the beginning of the punk movement and the skinniest jeans in history.

Tight from the waist to the ankle, safety pins were often used to keep them snug around the body and increase that bondage appeal.

Think of the Sex Pistols and The Ramones as prime examples. Vivian Westwood had her own shop selling this “anti-fashion” to the ultra hip crowd.

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Tight jeans were definitely in for women and men. Tight and stone washed (still no stretch in denim), this is where tapered legs jeans really made their mark, and the style lasted well into the early 90′s.

Remember those oversized sweatshirts and the colorful leg warmers? Pat Benetar, Chrissie Hynde and the rolling Stones, all the serious rockers wore their denim tight – without leg warmers, of course.

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Check out part 2 where we cover the story up till today!