Skinny Jeans

The cliché “History always repeats itself” may be the case when dealing with a hot new trend in fashion known as skinny jeans. Skinny jeans, according to answers.com, are defined as slim-fit pants that have a snug fit through the legs and taper completely at the opening for the ankle.

According to skinnyjeans.org, skinny jeans originated in the 1950s when jeans were know as the style for youth rebellion. They were worn by some of the popular sex symbols of that era like Marlon Brando and James Dean. What is fascinating is that most women didn’t wear jeans at all during the ‘50s.

Women began to take part in the trend during the 1960s after Sandra Dee, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe wore the slim, close fitting pants.

Skinny jeans made a big statement in the 1980s. Skinnyjeans.com says that most heavy metal bands like Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax rocked the skinny jean look well into the 1990s. Skinny jeans never really went out of style throughout the decades; they just were more popular for different groups.

An online article by Lori Hayashida entitled “The Skinny Jean: A Brief History” states that by 2000 denim is everywhere, and celebrities help embrace the forgotten skinny jean look. Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie and Sienna Miller are among those who support the lost trend. Moss has been credited with reintroducing the jeans to women across the world.

Celebrities have influenced many people including Emma Cutmore a Junior Golfer from Essex, England at the University of the Cumberlands. Cutmore says that Victoria Beckham a former Spice Girl influenced her when she tried out the skinny look. “ Victoria is a big fashion icon back home,” says Cutmore.

Cutmore says that she saw Beckham wear skinny jeans and wanted to try them for herself. “They are very popular back home (England),” says Cutmore.

Skinny jeans have become the hottest trend among celebrities. Gwyneth Paltrow, Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad and Nicole Richie have all been sighted supporting the popular style this season.

Skinny Jeans are not just for celebrities according to fashionhippo.com.

Anyone can find skinny jeans for a reasonable price that suits each individual’s body type. Old Navy, Kohls, Pac Sun and almost any department store have a wide variety from which to choose.

There are many ways to wear skinny jeans. Wear them tucked into boots, with high heels, or flats, says Johneen Manning a writer for "Women’s Fashion."

Manning stated in her recent online article that flare legged and boot legged jeans are just too hard to tuck into boots, so the solution is skinny jeans. There is less fabric to tuck in making it much easier to get the boots zipped up.

She also says that with heels, the overall effect of the skinny jean paired with heels creates the long slimming look every woman wants. However, the hardest look to pull off is skinny jeans with flats. When pairing with flats, skinny jeans can exaggerate the hips and butt and can make even slender women look heavy, so beware.

Cutmore says the reason that she likes skinny jeans so much is the fact that you can dress them up or down. “ I think they look good with heels and tennis shoes,” she said.

Skinny Jeans are not for everyone. Alli Burton a sophomore at the University of the Cumberlands says that everywhere she looks she sees girls wearing skinny jeans. “Either you can rock them or you can’t my short stumpy legs are not a fan of the trend,” says Burton.

Now that the old cliché has proven true for fashion as well, make sure to save back your skinny jeans. Someday your children may raid your closet to find that at one point you wore the same thing that they are wearing, it just may have been 20-30 years earlier.