50 Ways to Wear Denim

Here are some of the most misguided bits of advice and observations given in 50 Ways to Wear Denim:

A rolled up sleeve says let’s get down to business.

Denim anchors sequined clothing and accessories for a high-low look that goes from day to night.

Highlight your curves by donning a sash-like denim bow around the waist.

A cute pair of cutoff jean shorts will get you past any velvet rope.

Hoping for an upgrade to first class? Ditch the sweats and spandex and don your best pair of jeans.

This is an extraordinarily difficult book to review as author Freidman seems to think she invented fashion and thread, which somehow gives her license to offer some of the most inane, pedestrian, adolescent, and just plain ridiculous ideas for 50 Ways to Wear Denim!

First, no matter how basic the message of the book if you write a book whose subject is fashion then write in fashion speak; do not invent terminology by creating a vocabulary unknown to anyone else in the business of fashion.

Second, there isn’t a human alive from ages eight and up who doesn’t shop online or watch television or look at a magazine so why on earth would they buy a book that instructs them how to turn a pair of jeans into cut offs? DUH! Please note if a picture is worth a thousand words then any photo speaks louder than the entire contents of the book.

And then there is:

How to knot your shirttails!

How to tuck in your shirt.

Suggesting jeans for yard work.  

Wearing jeans with leopard.

How to roll a cuff of your jeans.

Wearing a scarf with denim.

How to wear a necklace with denim.

Wearing jeans with a white T-shirt. 

Matching your eye shadow to your jeans.

All of these revelations are included and expanded upon in this book. Then of course the book wouldn’t be complete unless there were sweeping erroneous blanket statements about the suitability of denim for any woman such as “high waisted jeans are gorgeous on every body type”—said who? Ever? Especially if you have a 20-inch waist with 45-inch hips . . .  Wow, so chic and flattering!

No need to go on. The contents insults readers who will finish the tome with the conclusion that there is no cure for stupid—or maybe some human needs this book—someone who has been living under a rock for the majority of their life.

If you are in search of a real book about denim, Blue Blooded: Denim Hunters and Jeans Culture by Thomas Stege Bojer and Josh Sims  Gestalten (Editor) is an absolute must read.