by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Jeans — like all garments — will gradually fade after months and years of use. The original “indigo” color, for instance, may turn into more of a light blue. While there’s no way to completely avoid fading, you can mitigate its impact by following some simple steps. Wash Them Inside Out This tip is pretty much self-explanatory: washing your jeans inside out will protect the exterior denim fabric from fading. The only downside to this technique is that stubborn stains and dirt may not be cleaned as easily. Assuming your jeans are relatively clean, however, you can flip them inside out before washing to help preserve their color. Wash With Color Water Another helpful tip to preserve the color of your jeans is to wash them with cold water. Warm water is more effective at removing dirt and grime, but it can also strip away color from your jeans and garments. For this reason, it’s recommended that you wash your jeans in cold water if you wish to preserve their color. Setting your washing machine to the “cold” setting will go a long ways in preserving the original color of your jeans and other garments. Use Color Guard Of course, you can also use special color guard laundry detergent or additives to help preserve the color of your jeans. Products such as this contain compounds that work to protect the color of your garments in the washing machine. It’s not going to prevent all fading and bleeding from occurring, but it will certainly help. Try to get into the habit of using a color guard product when washing your...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Uncategorized
Tired of wearing the same indigo-colored jeans day after day? While there’s certainly nothing wrong with wearing traditional colors such as indigo and navy, denim is available in dozens of other colors as well, including black. Black jeans can open the doors to a whole new world of fashion possibilities. Whether you are going out for drinks with friends, running errands around town, or even attending a semi-formal event, black jeans offer the perfect combination of style and comfort. Skinny or Straight-Leg Jeans When choosing a pair of black jeans, consider the cut and how it will impact your appearance. Skinny and straight-leg cuts are generally the preferred choice for black jeans, simply because the dark color enhances the wearer’s appearance to make him or her appear thinner. Of course, the cut is ultimately a personal preference, so don’t feel like you must choose between either skinny or straight-leg. Feel free to try on several different cuts to see what works and what doesn’t. Don’t Wear Brown! If you are going to wear black jeans, be sure to avoid wearing ANY brown in your outfit. This includes your shirt, shoes, belt, and other accessories. Going back to the basics of fashion 101, brown and black do not mix. You can wear either brown or black, but you cannot wear them together — not if you want to look good, at least. So be sure to check your outfit to ensure it doesn’t contain any brown when wearing black jeans. What About the Shoes? Don’t make the mistakes of wearing black shoes with black jeans. This may seem harmless enough,...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Fashion, jeans
While fashion trends come and go from year to year, jeans remain the single most popular type of pants among both men and women. Of course, there’s a good reason for this trend: denim is strong, durable, resistant to wear and tear, and stylish. With that said, you’ll want to avoid making the following fashion mistakes when wearing a pair of denim jeans. Wrong Cut We’ve talked about this before on the MakeYourJeans blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that jeans are available in more than a dozen different cuts, ranging from boot cut and relaxed fit to skinny leg and straight leg. When choosing a new pair of jeans, consider how and when you”ll be wearing them. If you plan on wearing them with boots, for instance, you should probably stick with boot cut — unless you intend to wear your boots over your jeans, in which case skinny or straight leg will work. Too Baggy There’s nothing wrong with wearing a pair or loose-fitting jeans. In fact, many men and women prefer this style due to the increased comfort. However, jeans that are overly baggy will have a negative impact on your appearance. A pair of properly fitted jeans should remain on your waist without requiring the assistance of a belt or suspenders. If your jeans have a tendency to fall down, you may want to get them tailored so they fit better. Distressed in the Wrong Areas Distressed jeans have become increasingly popular in the past decade. Manufactured using special “distressing” techniques, they feature a vintage, worn-in look that many men and women prefer. If you...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Jackets
So you’re in the market for a new pair of jeans? There’s no denying the fact that jeans are one of the most versatile pants on the planet. You can dress them up, dress them down, or wear them for everyday casual use. But not all jeans are the same, which is why it’s important to choose the variety that’s best suited for your needs. Wash One of the first things to consider when shopping for new jeans is the wash. Denim jeans are available in numerous washes, some of which includes indigo, faded, stone-wash, etc. A good rule of thumb is to choose a darker wash for jeans that you intended to wear for formal occasions, and a lighter wash for casual occasions. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t wear light jeans for formal occasions, but darker washes tend to look the best. Cut Something else to consider when shopping for jeans is the cut. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that denim jeans are available in dozens of different cuts. From boot-cut to skinny and straight leg, there are plenty of different cuts from which to choose. Think about the way in which you’ll be wearing your new jeans and choose the cut that’s best suited towards your needs. If you plan on wearing them with boots, for instance, then boot-cut would obviously be the better choice. But if you plan on wearing them with tennis shoes, straight-leg might work. Size Of course, you should also consider the size when choosing a new pair of jeans. There’s nothing more...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Fashion, jeans
Tired of wearing the same cotton-twill denim jeans day after day? While there’s certainly nothing wrong with them, many people prefer a softer fabric. Thankfully, many clothing producers are now offering stretch denim jeans, which as the name suggests, have greater flexibility than their standard cotton-twill counterpart. But what exactly is stretch denim? And how should you wear them? Stretch Denim Defined Stretch denim is used to describe a denim-blend fabric that contains some type of elastic material, such as spandex or polyester. The addition of this elastic fabric allows the material to stretch (hence the name, stretch denim). It’s important to note that only a small amount of elastic material is required to produce stretch denim. When spandex is used, for instance, it generally requires just 3% to allow for a stretching capacity of 15% of greater. Benefits of Stretch Denim The most obvious benefit of stretch denim is the increased softness and comfort. Most premium, high-end jeans are comfortable to wear, simply because the manufacturer uses the appropriate denim fabric and washing techniques to soften them. However, stretch denim maintains an even higher level of softness and comfort. So if you are looking for a new pair of super-comfortable jeans, stretch denim might be the way to go. Disadvantages of Stretch Denim What are the disadvantages (if any) of stretch denim? For starters, you can expect to pay more for stretch denim than standard cotton-twill denim. By adding elastic fabric like spandex, it increases the production cost; therefore, companies must price stretch denim jeans higher than standard jeans. Another disadvantage of stretch denim is a shorter wearing...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Fashion, jeans
It’s disheartening when you purchase a new pair of jeans, only to find out the color has faded after just a single wash. Like all fabrics, denim will eventually fade from exposure to hot water. It may take a single wash, or it may take dozens, but fading is an all-too-common occurrence with jeans. We’ve discussed several different ways to protect jeans from fading in previous blog posts, but one method that we’ve yet to discuss is vinegar. Yes vinegar — the same vinegar that’s used on salads — can protect jeans from fading. It’s a cheap and effective way to “seal in” the color, preventing them from fading. It may sound somewhat unusual considering the fact that vinegar is rarely used on clothes, but vinegar can protect your jeans from fading. The same principle holds true with salt, as both salt and vinegar have similar properties in terms of their ability to protect fabrics from fading. So, how do you use vinegar to protect your jeans from fading? You really have one of two different options: you can soak your jeans in vinegar without dying them, or you can dye them and then soak them in vinegar. I recommend the latter method, as it ensures your jeans will remain a solid color that withstands the hands of time for years to come. The only items you’ll need for this process include a bottle of distilled white vinegar and dye, both of which are sold at most grocery stores. When you are ready to begin, dye your jeans by soaking them in a combination of cold water and distilled...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
We’ve all found ourselves in this situation at some point in time. You rummage through your wardrobe, find what appears to be the perfect pair of jeans, but when you go to try them on you realize they are way too big. No one wants to wear oversized jeans. They are uncomfortable, unflattering and won’t compliment the rest of your outfit. So, what can you do to correct the problem? Get Them Tailored One solution is to take your oversized jeans to a professional tailor. For about $10-$20 bucks, a tailor can remove a small portion of the denim fabric at the waist to make them smaller. Keep in mind, however, that this only works if the jeans are just a couple sizes too big. If they are 4+ sizes too big, it may require extensive work to shrink them down to size, at which point you could end up paying more than what they are worth. Wash and Dry Them Another solution is to wash and dry your oversized jeans. Each time they go through the washer and dryer, they should be a little bit smaller. The key thing to remember is that you want to use the hottest setting possible on both the washer and dryer. The heat will cause the fabric to shrink, which should in turn make them fit a little better. This isn’t something that’s going to happen after a single wash, but rather it will likely take half a dozen or more rounds in the washer and dryer before you can notice a difference in size. Boil Them in Water No, that’s not...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
When wearing jeans with boots, you have one of two different options available: you can place the bottom of your jeans over your boots, or you can tuck them inside your boots. There’s been a growing trend towards the latter option, as it offers a clean, stylish appearance that many women prefer. So, what’s the best way to tuck jeans into your boots? It’s important to note that not all jeans can be placed over the top of boots. If you are wearing skinny or straight-leg jeans, the bottom portion of the legs might be too tight, at which point you’ll have to tuck them into your boots. The good news, however, is that practically all cuts and styles of jeans can be tucked into boots. Whether the legs are straight, loose or somewhere in between, you can easily tuck them into your boots. There’s really no wrong way to tuck the bottom of your jeans into boots; however, many women prefer to create a “cuff” with their jeans first. To do this, flip the hem of each pant leg up about ankle height. This should be done using a single fold so there’s a minimal amount of denim protruding outwards. Next, fold them sideways to the denim is tighter around your ankles. Failure to fold the denim may result in your jeans being too baggy around the bottom, making it difficult to place them inside your boots. Once you’ve created a cuff with your jeans, pull your socks over them to the cuff in place. Because your socks will be hidden under the boots, it really doesn’t matter...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Uncategorized
There’s been a growing trend towards the inexpensive clothes in recent years, highlighted by some of the nation’s largest retailers. Known as “fast fashion,” it allows consumers to purchase more clothes without breaking the bank. But what’s causing this trend? And how long will it last? According to a recent report published by American Apparel, the average U.S. adult will purchase roughly 70 new garments this year, up from just 40 in 1991 and 62 in 2012. Men and women alike are paying more attention to what they wear, diversifying their wardrobes while staying on top of the latest fashion trends. Of course, in order to remain stylish, Americans must invest heavily in new clothes, which is something that we’re seen more of. Here’s the kicker, though: many people are choosing inexpensive, readily available garments over premium garments. One possible reason for this trend may lie in the overseas retailer Primark, which as annual sales increase by 17% in 2014 from the year prior. Primark is constantly adding cheap, new garments to its lineup, offering a wide selection to its target demographic of 20-30 year olds. As noted by Jamie Merriman of Bernstein, consumers often choose Primark because it’s like the “Costco” of retail shopping, meaning they can purchase everything from clothes and shoes to groceries and household cleaning supplies. “Consumers shop at Primark differently than they shop at a lot of retailers,” says Bernstein’s Jamie Merriman. “It’s almost like shopping at a Costco,”—which sells buckets of peanuts and vats of detergent—“where you’re thinking about it in terms of volume.” Another reason why many consumers are choosing fast fashion...
