This month I’m putting a twist on my Retro-fitted column. It’s all about a current trend for twenty-somethings. And yes, because I’m no longer in my twenties (cough), I’ve enlisted the help of an adorable, fearless fashionista straight from the style hub of all things up and coming – New York City. And she’s here to educate us on jean jackets.
Meet Elsa B – newest contributor to My French Twist, student at Bennington College, and straight outta Brooklyn. And according to Elsa, here’s the word on the streets… oversized jean jackets. And like all things denim, they are crazy versatile. Wear them with shorts, skirts, dresses, leggings. Make it a staple in this spring’s wardrobe.
And if you’ve always been a jean jacket aficionado, you’re in good company. Levi Strauss created the denim jacket circa 1880. It has evolved ever since and still retains today its classic status of anti-establishment cool. But how did we get from this (the original Levi denim jacket)…
to this…
Evolution, of course, but also because of the spunk and ingenuity of people from every generation who dare to take a classic piece of clothing and make it their own. In the fifties, James Dean was seldom seen without his iconic jean jacket, symbolizing his youth and rebellion. In the sixties, Marilyn Monroe made it sexy. In the seventies, the denim jacket became a staple in every free spirit’s wardrobe, alongside flared pants and graphic tees (think John Lennon). The rebellious spirit of the jean jacket in the eighties can be described in one word – Madonna. The popularity of this garment continued in the nineties, appearing in sultry Guess ad campaigns. And today you can see deconstructed versions of the jean jacket worn by celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Rihanna. Seems the life of this little jacket just goes on forever.
