Jeans Jargon

Jeans Jargon  by Andy DeShong

Wash

Wash refers to the color and finish of a pair of jeans.

• Dark Wash - Dark washed jeans are the original denim; they are a deep indigo color and are often a bit stiff.

• Stone Washed -These jeans are pre-washed and weathered to create a softer look and feel. The color is faded and the cotton in the jeans has a worn appearance.

• Dirty Washed - Dirty washed jeans are like stone washed jeans in that they have been pre-washed to make them softer and to give them that worn-in look, but they have also been treated in a way that makes them appear dirty, or tinged beige, brown or khaki.

Distressed

Distressed jeans are highly faded and are finished off with holes, rips, tears and often fraying hems.

Rise

The rise on a pair of jeans determines how high or low the jeans will sit on the waist.

• Classic Rise - This traditional denim look is quickly coming back in fashion. A classic rise comes right below or at the belly button.

• Low Rise - Low rise jeans sit well below the belly button, above or just at the hip bones.

• Ultra-Low Rise - These jeans sit even lower than low rise jeans, usually below the hip bones.

• High Waist - Currently making it back into fashion, high waist jeans have a rise that comes above the belly button.

Cut

The cut of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment is shaped and typically refers to the legs of the jeans.

• Straight leg - Straight leg jeans have a uniform fit from the top of the pant leg to the bottom. The bottom does not flare out, nor does it come in at the ankle.

• Boot Cut - Boot cut jeans are slim in the thigh area and begin to angle out below the knee to make a moderately wide hem at the bottom.

• Skinny- Hugely popular this year, the skinny jean is tight throughout. These jeans usually have a higher percentage of elastic in the denim to keep them slim yet comfortable.

• Flare Leg-Like boot cut jeans; flare leg jeans angle out below the knee, but much more so, creating a bell-like shape at the hem.

• Ankle Length- Ankle length jeans should fit with the hem coming down to above the ankle bone.

• Capri Length- Capris are short jeans, with the hem stopping at mid-calf level.

Fit

The fit of a pair of jeans refers to how the garment sits on the body; it especially refers to the seat and thigh area.

• Slim Fit - Slim Fit jeans are tight in the seat and thigh area.

• Regular Fit - Regular fit jeans are slim in the seat and thigh area, but are roomy enough to be comfortable.

• Relaxed Fit- These jeans are roomy in the seat and thigh area, but not baggy.

• Loose Fit- Loose fit jeans are very roomy and often baggy throughout.