The Light Wash Jean Returns and Other Fashion Trends for the Winter

In cities all over the world, the Americana trend is taking off.  Americana is defined as a collection of “books, papers, maps, etc., relating to America, esp. to its history, culture, and geography.” (Random House Dictionary 2010). More and more current trends are reflecting this nostalgic feel, a “Depression-era” aesthetic with workwear and military influences. Also the fashion pendulum is swinging back, after several years of dark washes, fashionistas are returning to the medium to light wash. While dark denim, with its body flattering properties, will never be out of style, lighter denim in a modern cut is one simple way to update your wardrobe without breaking the bank. We made some sets on Polyvore to illustrate some ideas on how to wear both trends, without looking like you stepped out of history!

Pair these light wash jeans with a plaid shirt and lace up boots and you’ve got an all-American look for winter that’s simple and, while on trend this year, will remain a classic look.

Americana - indiDenim all purpose skinny light wash 2 by coombsbe featuring flat boots

For cold days a Fair-Isle sweater, one with a colorful geometric design named for one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, is a piece that will be right at home with the vintage country trends for this winter. This design was first popularized back in the 1920s when it was worn by the Duke of Windsor. Since you probably aren’t going for the great-grandfather look the key is to keep the vintage silhouette slim. Make sure that either the jeans or your top (or both!) are body-conscious to keep the look modern.

Americana Chic - indiDenim all purpose skinny 1 by coombsbe featuring black shoes

Elbow patches on sweaters, jackets or shirts are also a workwear trend that is resurfacing. These patches were originally worn to extend the life of clothing after the elbows wore out (or preemptively sewed on to prevent this occurrence). Adding this small detail is a fun way to try out the trend without taking it too far.

Americana - all purpose skinny light wash 3 by coombsbe featuring a crew neck sweater

So what do you think of the workwear trend? Is it something you’ll try to incorporate into your wardrobe, or is it too behind the times?

posted by: Bonnie Coombs on November 30, 2010 at 10:45 am
filed under: Trend AlertMisc Musings | comments (1)
TAGS: light wash

Back to blog home

On 12-01-2010, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said

Great article, well explained and very interesting.  I always enjoy what you write about.  Keep up the good work!