Plus Size Denim, Addition Elle and #jeansdujour!

Hey Everyone!
So I was recently contacted by Addition Elle to see if I'd like to work with them on a project. It's called #jeansdujour and it's all about denim. You all know how much I love jeans, so of course I said yes! Denim is such an important wardrobe staple, it can be dressed up or down, and there are so many different colours and styles. Addition Elle will be launching some amazing designer denim collections in the Fall, so you'll be able to get designer brands of denim, like Pashu by Parasuco, Second Denim Yoga Jeans, Levi's, Love & Legend, Buffalo David Bitton, Foxy Jeans, Apple Bottoms, Angels Denim, Silver, DKNY Jeans, Suko Jeans, and Makers of True Originals, in their stores and online. This is a very exciting development, and I hope you'll follow along for my coverage of the launch and the different brands over the next few months. I can't wait to try out all these jeans!

For my first #jeansdujour post, I thought I would give you guys a little walk down memory lane, and show you how jeans came into popularity and how they have become an important part of North American and global pop culture. I'll give you a brief look at denim in fashion history so you can see the different eras and styles, and where we've come from. It's always fun to incorporate a little nostalgia into your looks as well, so I hope this post will give you some fashion inspiration!

In the 1930s, Western films were popularized and this facilitated the emergence of denim into mainstream fashion and pop culture. The cowboy figure was a symbol of North American culture, one which people began drawing all kinds of inspiration from, a phenomenon which continues to today.

In the 40s, not much denim was made as a result of the war, but some American soldiers would wear denim while they were off duty, which led to the internation popularization of jeans.

In the 1950s, the American rebel figure emerged. James Dean appeared in a pair of Lee jeans in the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause and fashion has never been the same. This was the beginning of the widespread popularization of denim. Here's the iconic picture that started it all:

In the 1960s, more women began to wear jeans and trousers, the bohemian/hippie style was born in the latter half of the decade, as well as the mod fashion we know and love which developed during the first half of the 60s.

The first half of the 60s...

The second half of the 60s...

In the 1970s a new cut of jean became popular - the bellbottom.

In the 1980s, there was a  designer denim boom, with brands like Calvin Klein and Guess? launching multi-million dollar ad campaigns with supermodels like Claudia Schiffer. The rises tended to be high, and the washes light to medium. Designers started branching out and using denim fabric to make jackets, shirts, skirts, and dresses. Denim became a very important part of North American culture.

In the 1990s the grunge style became popular, and teenagers everywhere started cutting up their jeans for a more raggedy look. Plaid was everywhere.

This style was reflected in the extremely popular TV show Beverley Hills 90210, which aired from 1990 to 2000. This show served as fashion inspiration for many teens in its time.

After 2000, really "anything goes" (embellishments, whiskering, a variety of washes, rises, styles, etc.) and designers feel free to work with denim in a variety of different ways. Everyone from pop stars to royalty feel comfortable wearing jeans in the public eye, and they become a "casual friday" staple in offices all over North America. Celebrities begin their own denim lines (Nelly with Apple Bottoms, Victoria Beckham, and P. Diddy with Sean John, amongst others).

Denim has come a long way over the past 80 years, and we continally revisit some of the awesome styles. There are so many different and beautiful ways to wear denim, and I hope we continue to find new and unique ways to design and wear denim!

Make sure you check out Addition Elle for the most up to date plus size denim fashion. Their new designer collections and in-house brands are really amazing! Also check out my Pinterest board for denim styling inspiration!

Check out my Pinterest board here