Ode to the Canadian Tuxedo

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The Canadian Tuxedo. I don't know if there has been a look so disparaged, yet so celebrated when it comes to denim. What is it about denim on denim that makes it so dangerous? Could it be that there is no middle ground when rocking double denim? Either the look works, or it doesn't. Some people such as the mighty Lzzy Hale can pull off the look flawlessly, making it seem cooler than the other side of the pillow. Others make it look as if a denim clad lumberjack from a B horror movie has come back from the 80s to haunt our dreams.

My first experience with the Canadian Tuxedo came as a young lad when I saw Shania Twain's Any Man of Mine music video. To many, the video may be cringeworthy as it epitomizes the pitfalls of 90s denim fashion, but to me it was the quintessential country music video. It was Shania being Shania, unapologetically Country in a decade when it was okay to be Country. Boots and jeans were still king (or queen), and the curse of Scotch tape logo colored leggings was merely a twinkle in Satan's eye. Ah, the good ol' days. 

Since then I've seen the Canadian Tuxedo rear it's beautifully ugly head from time to time. No, it doesn't always work, but that's OK. Anyone willing to wave the flag of denim by doubling up on the blessed fabric deserves a tip of the hat. May we all cast off the judgmental chains of society and embrace our inner Lzzy (or lumberjack). 

Long live the Canadian Tuxedo!

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Denim Icons - Lzzy Hale

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Lzzy Hale. The best singer in rock & roll. One of the rare performers out there who's golden voice is as powerful as it is beautiful. Her music moves me and connects with my soul in a way unrivaled by the work of most other musicians. As Lzzy carves out a place in history as one of rock's most iconic artists, she is also establishing a place as one of today's ultimate denim icons.

Denim has been a staple of the rock & roll world for generations. Artists such as Elvis Presley, Joan Jett, and Bruce Springsteen helped to make jeans an integral part of the rock uniform.  Lzzy Hale stands second to no one when it comes to waving the flag for denim, carrying on the tradition of rocking jeans while rocking the free world.

One of my favorite aspects of Lzzy's style is that she takes the classic denim look and makes it completely her own, creating one of rock's most unique styles. This quality comes through in her music as well. Halestorm calls on the energy of old-school hard rockers and takes that energy to create a wall of noise that is contemporary and unique to them alone.

If you have never heard Lzzy and her band Halestorm, I encourage you to check them out. Their most recent release Into the Wild Life is from top to bottom a brilliant album that showcases the band's versatility and Lzzy's incredible voice. Give them a listen! You can check out the band's YouTube page here.

Note: I do not own the images in this post.

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The Jeans Blog Denim Tales

I recently had the opportunity to do a story for The Jeans Blog Denim Tales feature. If you should feel so inclined, please check it out here on The Jeans Blog.

Here Goes Nothing

     Roughly two years ago as I was killing some time on the internet I came across an article that essentially pronounced the death of jeans. Athleisure was the new up and coming movement in fashion that was going to kill off the denim industry. As ridiculous as it sounds, reading that the floral print legging clad Grim Reaper was coming for denim depressed me more than it should have. Moping around worrying that blue jeans would go the way of Members Only jackets and Blockbuster Video, I felt determined to do something, anything, to help keep the denim flag flying.
     Fortunately I have mostly recovered from my blue jean blues, and I have realized that as an anonymous small town guy from Idaho there really isn't much I can do to stop the powerful invasion of the rising athleisure giant. I can only hope and pray this movement suffers the same fate of the long defunct Spandex craze of the 80s. In the meantime, I've decided to start this blog as a small, humble effort to tip my hat to blue jeans. As long as I can remember I have loved denim and it's unique, rich history. Jeans have been and will hopefully continue to be a vital part of Americana. They have also been a vital part of fashion culture worldwide, which is very encouraging to see. Denim isn't dead yet, and I am hopeful that it will live on well into the future.
     That brings me to this point. I am kicking off this blog, not knowing exactly what it will become or how it will be shaped. It is dedicated to denim, and that is my jumping off point. Will this blog develop into a viable tool for promoting and celebrating denim, or will it suffer a horrific fate at the hands of the jogger pants monster I'm certain is hiding under my bed? I guess I will find out, and I hope any kind soul reading this will join me. Here goes nothing!