Denim Shorts have been part of the uniform for hippie rock stars and a staple for festival goers for the past 60 years. During the summer time we see all sorts of people wearing denim shorts, displaying their pins to the world. An American fashion writer in 1967 was quoted saying that wearing denim is one of the world’s oldest fabrics, yet it remained eternally young
The origin of the name itself is hidden in mystery, and fashion historians to this day cannot agree on the word from which it derives. The story of how denim came about dates back from the 19th century during the gold rush, miners wanted fabric materials that wouldn’t tear easily and sustained the harsh conditions underground, and in 1853 Leob Strauss started a business supplying clothes – Leob eventually changed his name to Levi.
Since Levi’s Dungarees made their debut over a century ago, denim shorts have staked their place by finding their way into almost every person’s wardrobe throughout the world through their flexibility and comfort.
With the amount of flesh they display, denim shorts inevitably drew the attention of rebellious teenagers, and by the 1950s they were donned by nearly every teenager on the streets. By the ’60s, denim shorts were worn by the hippie movement and became very bohemian. Denim shorts were everywhere in fashion and not just limited to style pieces. In the ’80s Madonna redefined denim shorts by styling them with ripped tights and punk crop tops, and in the ’90s grunge wouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t for the endless supply of destroyed denim often seen worn by Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
Fast-forward to the present day and denim shorts are still going strong and show no signs of fading away; they always manages to evolve with the trends and are among the most versatile items of clothing to own. Denim shorts can be worn by almost anything, a stripy crop top with ankle boots for example, or a plain black t-shirt and sandal for a summery festival look. Now that the weather’s warming up, it’s time to dare to bare and wear a pair.
L+R:
Asos Pimkie Denim Shorts £21.99
ASOS Denim Confetti Embroidered Mom Short £30.00
ASOS Denim Mom Short in Mid Wash £28.00
Asos Noisy May Destroyed Boyfriend Shorts £32.00
So will you be wearing your denim shorts this summer?
