ARE YOU AN AVERAGE AMERICAN?

The average number of blue jeans a U.S. citizen has in their closet (which is were you may keep them if you have high-end designer jeans), or dresser (which is where I keep mine), or floor (which is where my kids keep theirs) is between seven and eight.
Considering all the styles, colors and fits a pair of jeans can come in, and how many different places we wear them, that number seems low. But this may be accounting only for the jeans that a person is actively using in his or her wardrobe at any given time. I am going to bet that if you are reading this blog you have a few more than that in your stash.

Most of us practically live in our blues, some even sleep. Their durability, comfort and character  gives us that can do feeling every time we put them on. I know I don't feel ready to tackle the day until mine are snuggly in place, zipped and buttoned. An what else invites you to wipe your hands on them as welcomingly as a good ol' pair of blue jeans ?

It's always bitter sweet when you have to give up wearing a beloved pair of jeans because they have become to worn to reasonably take out in public any more. I used to keep every pair of old blue jeans we had, thinking I would make some bags or a rag quilt out of them. Never did. Finally threw them away a couple of years ago before one of our moves. However I still hold onto the belief that I will someday make that quilt. A blue jean quilt - one that you can lay around in or eat on or watch TV with or snooze on or cuddle under with someone - would be a dream.

In 1979, at the age of seventeen, I worked at a clothing store in Spokane Washington called Harvey's. On the main level they sold higher-end men's suits. Downstairs they had the tailor shop and a storage room were they whittled out a spot to sell the "in" clothes. It was considered very cool to go down into that dark windowless cellar with the loud music and shop for the latest styles. I worked with the first openly gay man I had known, and we sold "designer" blue jeans, along with other hip men's clothing. This was my first introduction to really nice blue jeans. Prior to that I had sewn many of my own clothes, including a pair of jeans. Never again. Nothing fit or felt like a good pair of high-waisted, designer label jeans.

The history behind this most iconic piece of American clothing is fascinating, and I hope to share that with you soon!

Check out my shop at:
Etsy.com/shop/https://www.etsy.com/shop/VizziVique?ref=search_shop_redirect
to see the styles we used to wear back in the late 70's and the 80's. Buy a pair of jeans just for the fun of it. And go ahead; tuck your shirt in!

ARE DEMIM BLUE JEANS REALLY AN AMERICAN CREATION?

Yup! But, like apple pie, it's origins can be traced elsewhere.