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What Are Barrel Jeans?

by XiaoBo 16 Nov 2023

Barrel jeans are also known as balloon jeans . Barrel jeans are similar in appearance to skinny jeans, but have a rather snug waist. The thigh area of the barrel jeans is also fitted, which gives the look a flattering shape. Barrel jeans were first released by Whistles in 2017 in a branded version. Shoppers love the fashion of barrel jeans and they are in demand because they are comfortable and flattering to the figure.  

Experts and stylists say that bow jeans fashion is not just for a few months, but with the potential to last longer. The thigh area provided in the barrel jeans is quite wide. This gives a voluminous silhouette to the bottom garment. Wide legs, curved and with a fly at the bottom, are popular in the current season.  

Various other details are often added, such as pleats at the waist, shortened ankles, ripped knee, combination of fabric that makes it soft or stiff, elastic waistband and various other details. Details are chosen based on personal comfort and style.  

The style of barrel jeans can be controversial for some people, as it makes them look a bit sloppy. Barrel jeans can be styled in a thousand ways. From a simple look to a layered look with boots, barrel jeans are on the trend at this moment in fashion. Most of the fabric of the barrel jeans is made of stretchy material, which means it will be quite easy to move and bend your knees in the jeans.

History Of Barrel Jeans

The large family of Leib Strauss from Bavaria was left without a breadwinner at an early age – his mother had to feed seven children alone. As soon as the young man turned 18, he went to the United States after his older brothers. In the new country, the emigrant first changed his name to hide his origins: the Jewish Leib Strauss turned into quite American Levi Strauss.  

By the 1840s, the Levy brothers were already in the wholesale business, supplying clothing to small stores on the West Coast of the States. After learning all the pitfalls of trade, the young entrepreneur opened his own company, which was named Levi Strauss & Co.  

Meanwhile, the world was gripped by the Gold Rush: businessmen from different parts of the world rushed to the American mines. Resourceful Strauss found a way to capitalize on the general frenzy: Levi Strauss & Co. started to produce high-strength clothes for gold diggers. According to legend, with which one of the oldest brands in the United States has grown, Levi arrived at the San Francisco mines on a ship filled with goods. When all the clothes were sold out, he allegedly took off the sail and sewed the last pair of pants from it.  

Whether there is any truth to this story is not known. A more down-to-earth version of the appearance of the first prototype of barrel jeans says Strauss cut pants from sailcloth in the struggle for customers who spent the day on their knees in search of precious metal. The fabric was brought to him from the French town of Nîmes, and he dyed it a bright indigo color. That's how the name denim came to be called denim - "denim" - "from Nîmes". There has been no innovation in these pants yet.  

Levi Strauss never became the creator of everyone's favorite blue jeans. According to the history of the brand, one day the wife of an unknown worker asked tailor Jacob Davis to make strong pants for her husband, and the master decided to insert copper rivets in the waistband and pockets of the overalls, thereby further strengthening the seams, and the fly to do on the buttons. His idea became a hit, and the company began to equip denim pants with rivets.  

In 1873, Davis and Strauss patented blue pants with rivets (Davis alone could not file a patent because he did not have the necessary amount of money) – this is considered the official birth date of jeans. "Neither of them could have even imagined the success this idea would translate into," comments Levi Strauss & Co biographer Tracy Panek.  

21,000 pairs of pants were sold by Davis and Strauss in the first year of trading.  

By 1890, Davis and Strauss had named the pants after the number of one of their batches – 501. Originally, the "501 overalls without tops," as fans called them, were worn over work clothes. Therefore, like all pants of the time, pants were produced without belt loops: it was thought that men would wear them with suspenders. They had one back pocket, a small watch pocket, a buttoned fly, a belt at the back and buttons for suspenders.  

The word "jeans" didn't appear on Levi's packaging until 1960.  

Levi Strauss never married or had children, so after his death in 1902, his four nephews took over the company. After the Great Depression, Levi Strauss & Co.'s profits were at an all-time low, so management focused on making their most successful product, the 501 model, even more durable.  

Constantly changing, over the next 30 years, the pants gained a second back pocket, as well as rivets, to match the new men's fashion for belts. The back rivets were moved under the pockets: customers complained that they scratched furniture. The 501 eventually became the most popular model in both the history of Levi Strauss & Co. and in the history of jeans in general.  

In 1918, Levi's pants were first worn by women – the company released a tunic and pants "for work and leisure". But before the appearance of full-fledged women's jeans was still more than 15 years: the first model for girls - Lady Levi's Lot 701 - was presented in 1934. In the cut, it resembled the legendary 501 pants, and they looked more feminine only due to the wide waistband.  

Along with the success of the brand, the number of its competitors grew — the goods of other manufacturers were often mistaken for the original Levi's. Then the company came up with a new move, which remains its trademark to this day.To barrel jeans instantly caught the eye of customers, on the right back pocket began to sew a small red tag, on which in white font was written Levi's.  

Soon, the brand began positioning the barrel jeans as clothing not only for work but also for leisure, and Levi's 501s evolved from blue-collar work pants to an everyday attribute of Hollywood stars. "We have in our archives a wonderful letter from silent movie actor William Hart. In it, he addresses his colleague Rudy Valle: 'Come to my ranch. Here in California, all we wear all year round is Levi's,'" says historian Panek."  

In 1980, Levi's became the official sponsor of the Olympic Games. With the brand, the Olympic Committee tried to boost the patriotic spirit of citizens frustrated by economic instability under Ronald Reagan. Levi's was then one of the most respected brands in American culture. Each athlete received a set of 30 pieces of clothing: jacket, fur mittens, cowboy boots, hat, plaid shirt, wool sweater, and jeans. It's considered one of the best Olympic uniforms of the U.S. national team.  

Almost half a century has passed, but interest in the brand's jeans still does not fade.  

In fashion,, return jeans-tube jeans or jeans-bottoms - loose-fitting pants with wide pants, which, for example, put on the catwalk in 2005 fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Like the high-waisted "mom jeans" that have been popular for several years now, this model shows that people prefer to reject tight and constraining silhouettes.  

Andrew Chen, co-owner of New York-based jeans brand 3sixteen, explained to The Wall Street Journal - the increased popularity of these barrel jeans is due to the fact that people spending more time at home and wantinging to feel comfortable, and tight "skinnies" prevent Americans from sitting on the couch because they cut into the sides, which during the quarantine may have increased in size. That's why, according to the designer, buyers have switched to more baggy and comfortable models of jeans, which do not tighten the body and allow you to forget about discomfort.  

Such models are produced by both mass-market brands - for example, Zara, Wrangler and Levi's – and more expensive brands – Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta. Janine Chilton-Faust, vice president of men's design at Levi Strauss & Co., noted in a conversation with reporters that the style is inspired by skateboarders, who favor barrel jeans, even if they do fall down a bit and hang up. "The younger generation is really gravitating towards looser, baggier models," she clarified. That said, older people also share their choices.

How To Style Barrel Jeans?

Here are some tips for you to style a pair of barrel jeans.

With a t-shirt

The easiest solution is to combine a t-shirt and barrel jeans. T-shirt let it be a little oversize, it can be tucked into the pants. You can also complement the image with a jacket or bomber, if it is cool outside. As an option, a classic button-down shirt will do. Throw it over the shirt and do not button it up. Complete the look with sneakers or sneakers.  

With a blazer

You will be surprised, but in the upcoming summer, shapeless over-size blazers are going out of fashion. They are replaced by fitted products. They are best combined with loose-fitting pants. A fitted blazer and barrel jeans create a harmonious image. In case you do not have a fitted blazer, you can do the following. Simply emphasize and mark your waist with a waist belt. Complete the look with elegant stiletto shoes. As a result, you will get a sophisticated and modern office casual outfit.  

With a blouse

Another option how you can present an elegant image with informal barrel jeans. Simply combine such wide pants with an elegant blouse: better with ruffles, flounces or ruffles. Consider a sweater with translucent sleeves, you can even have a print (for example, a polka dot looks cute).  

With a cropped sweater

Traditionally, barrel jeans are characterized by a high fit. This means that they go perfectly with any cropped sweatshirt. In relatively cooler weather, use a short oversize sweater that will barely reach the top of your jeans.
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