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."
Shall I build you a throne?
I believe the last time the word "dungarees" was used was 1972.
Shall I build you a throne?
oops, my computer goofed
And FYI.........I ignored your post to me about how you accepted my "apology". But you're back at it,so here's what I was going to tell you,but held off.....
I NEVER GAVE YO AN APOLOGY BECAUSE I,UNLIKE YOU,HAD NOTHING TO APOLOGISE FOR!
Well, you too are really "cool".
No reply is necessary.
How was thwe Chinese dinner last night?
Oh my gosh! If THAT'S why you are called the Queen Mum of Manners.....well, my momma never taught me manners like that.
No, I'm not a part of REKA, and I suppose I'll now be insulted for not knowing what that is. If it involves hurting people's feelings, I wouldn't want any part of it. I came on today doing the Christian thing....mending fences, and trying to be polite to people. Everyone responded in kind, and I thought you had too. Apparently I was wrong. I was teasing about building you a throne (it was a joke about the Queen mum thing), jesting between new friends. I have been sadly mistaken.
And it shows,dear...your abject lack of manners and training. ;^)
Someone will have to. I'll wager tools won't fit her hand.
I was more than pleasant to you,until you once again turned smarmy.
If something is meant as a joke,put a smiley face at the end. If you are being sarcastic use (/sarcasm) at the end of the post.
It's your own fault, that your pathetic attempt at what you imagined to be a humorous post was not taken as one by me.
I hope that the few helpful hints I've supplied you with,will help you in the future.
Read the entire thread...she has NOT been a "nice lady".
I repeat. It is INCONCEVIBLE to me how you can be so rude to that nice lady.
Hey man I was brought up that a good starched pair of wranglers, a starched white shirt, blue blazer, and a black hat and your ready to step out.
I can also call in the troops.,of which there are many,but quite frankly,I am NOT going to get into a senseless flame war;especially not because some Johnny come lately has decided he wants one. Go tilt at some other windmill. ;^)
I've always liked this poem, and perhaps this is a good time to share it.
"Love Thy Neighbor."
Let me be a little kinder;
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more.
Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better
Those whom I am caring for.
Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker,
With the brother who is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me.
Troops???? Flame war????(shaking head in disbelief)
Chinese was greasy, luke-warm and delicious...
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