What is the difference between men's jeans and women's jeans?

Jeans are the most unique item of clothing because they constantly change as you wear them. We change any other clothes with signs of wear as if they have become unusable, but not jeans: the test of time is only beneficial to them.

Trousers made from denim were first introduced by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis in 1873. The creators named them after the city of Genoa in Italy, where the durable cotton canvas that became the forefather of denim was produced in large quantities. Another, no less popular, name is also known - denim. Its origins should be sought in the French city of Nimes, which was famous for the production of coarse, hard and very dense fabric, twill weave.

The first jeans were made only for men. But in 1934, Levi Strauss and Co. broke this gender bias and developed a new line of denim pants for women. Jeans became a regular part of both genders' wardrobes. But it wasn't until the 1950s that they became part of everyday wear, having come a long way from work pants to works of sewing art.

Jeans look equally good on both men and women. Therefore, it may seem that denim is unisex clothing. This is not entirely true. Despite the external similarity, there are obvious differences between women's and men's jeans. They are hidden in the details. We will talk about them today.

• Distinctive features or how to understand men's jeans or women's jeans?
• What are unisex jeans and their distinctive features?

DIFFERENTIAL FEATURES OR HOW TO UNDERSTAND MEN'S OR WOMEN'S JEANS?

Men's and women's jeans have subtle, at first glance, features that nevertheless indicate a fundamental difference between them. In other words, "the devil is in the details," and there are eight such details:

1. cut
2. model
3. lightning
4. finish
5. fit,
6. material,
7. number of belt loops,
8. button placement.

1. Difference in cut and size

There are two types of cut for men's and women's trousers:

1. Cut from the hip line to the knee - it is conventionally divided into two categories: tight and loose. The latter can be regular and very loose.
2. Cut from the knee to the bottom edge - can be tapered, straight or flared.

At the same time, men's jeans in any silhouette (straight, wide or tight) differ from women's jeans by having more freedom at the waist and in the crotch. This means that they are more comfortable when walking, sitting and bending.

Fold women's and men's jeans in half along the back seam, and you'll see that women's pants have a shorter rise (the distance from the inseam between the legs to the top of the waistband). In addition, the rise and the back seam are more curved (half-moon shaped). This is especially noticeable in mid- and high-waisted models.

When determining the size of jeans, the main criteria are the waist size W (waist) and the length of the product L (length). For example, W30L32 indicates that the waist size is 30 inches, and the length is 32 inches. So, women's sizes start at 24" and end at 38", and men's sizes start at 28" and end at 44".

2. Differences in models and colors

The model and color are the two most noticeable differences. But they are usually considered indirect signs, because fashion offers a good choice for the wardrobes of both sexes. Judge for yourself. Men's jeans have 4 main models (classic, skinny, flared, loose fit) and at least 6 more varieties (baggy, cargo, ripped, colored, cropped and jeans with a dropped crotch). A total of 10 options.

The women's selection includes the same 4 main positions and 40 more varieties (if you are interested, you can look at them all here). Among the most unusual, we would highlight: jeans with a knitted pattern, shiny jeans, jeans with a designer print, jeans in patchwork style and jeans with embroidery.

The color range offers no less rich choice. Only for "girls" it, like the style, is brighter (from neutral to flashy shades (pink, lilac, yellow, terracotta), and for "boys" it is more restrained (light blue, blue, gray, indigo).

3. Difference in the type of fastener (zipper or buttons)

Buttons look vintage, and zippers look modern. But the type of fastener is not only a question of aesthetics, but also functionality. Zippers are more effective and convenient, especially for women with their manicures. But such a fastener breaks more often. It is more difficult to repair. It can come undone at the most inopportune moment, putting the owner in an awkward position. If you've ever seen a person forget to zip up their jeans, they most likely had zip-up pants.

Buttons require additional skills to fasten, and unfastening them takes longer. But such a system is more reliable than a zipper. And, even if one button flies off, the others will insure.

The first Levi’s 501 model, which appeared on May 20, 1873, was fastened with “bolts” - metal buttons. At that time, this was the only way to securely fasten jeans. It was another twenty years before the first zipper appeared, and fifty years before the zipper as we know it today appeared.

Already in the 1930s, the zipper was widely used in clothing production, including on trousers. But Levi Strauss and Co only introduced it in 1947 and only on women's jeans. This is where the idea came from that women's models are fastened with a zipper, and men's with bolts. These days, most men's and women's jeans have a zipper, but button-up trousers are much more common among men's jeans. The fastener is almost always covered by a placket.

4. Difference in finishing

Jeans of both sexes are decorated with decor. In the male version, this is mainly metal: rivets, spikes, chains, eyelets. In women's models, metal decorations are diluted with beads, embroidery, multi-colored patches, stripes, laces, cords and other decor.

How do you like these options for decorative design of the bottom of jeans?

5. The difference in fit

In English, rise is a fit. When applied to jeans, it means the height of the waist - the distance from the inseam between the legs to the top of the waist.

The fit of women's jeans can be:

• The rise of women's jeans can be:
• low rise (or low rise)
• high rise (high rise).

Due to the rounded shapes of the fair half, it is obvious that the fit is more important for women than for men. It visually corrects the figure, hiding from view what needs to be hidden and focusing attention on what needs to be highlighted.

• Mid- and high-waist jeans are better suited for women of short stature.
• A high waistline looks good on curvy figures. It covers the buttocks well, visually lengthens the legs and balances the hip area.
• For an "apple" figure - jeans with a classic fit, the waistband of which runs along the natural waistline.
• And almost all options will suit thin fashionistas.

Men's jeans are usually produced with a medium and high waistline. Low-rise items are rarer than the rule. They are not comfortable to wear due to the flatter anatomical structure of men in the hips and waist area. Therefore, the stronger sex prefers mainly medium-rise trousers.

6. The difference in material density

The density of the material is another distinctive feature by which you can understand whether these are men's or women's jeans. For boys, a denser fabric (even rough) is used, and for "girls" - a softer one. Not so long ago, the most common was traditional denim made of 100% cotton. But in recent years, "denim" with the addition of synthetic fibers has become popular - primarily elastane (another name is lycra, spandex). The properties of the fabric depend on the composition, density, production method and processing of the material. The most popular today are:

• classic denim (Denim) - painted front and white back;
• Sarge - a relief pattern in the form of a herringbone at 45 degrees;
• Stretch - denim with high elasticity;
• Jean - a cheap segment of fabric for budget models of trousers;
• Shambray - thin classic denim;
• Ecru - unbleached, untreated denim with the original color of cotton.

7. The difference is in the number of belt loops

But few people pay attention to this feature. But it is the belt loops (they are also belt loops) that will allow you to accurately determine whether these are men's or women's jeans. Women's jeans have 5 of them, men's jeans have 6 or more. The difference in quantity is dictated by the features of the figure of the strong and weak halves. The first one is flatter, so more belt loops are needed for a good fit. The second ones have clear curves from a narrow waist to curvy hips - such shapes can hold jeans without a belt.

8. The difference is in the arrangement of buttons.

Traditionally, men's trousers have the button(s) on the left, women's - on the right. Why? There are many versions of this, but the most popular one says that this is a preserved medieval custom.

In past centuries, noble people's clothes contained many details. It was difficult to put them on yourself. And if gentlemen somehow managed, then ladies resorted to the help of servants. And it was much easier for them to button things if the buttons were sewn on the right side. And since jeans appeared in the women's wardrobe when ladies began to dress without outside help, the tradition of the location of this element of clothing did not change. True, today you can already find women's denim with both right-hand and left-hand rows of buttons. In this regard, men's trousers continue to preserve this small gender difference.

WHAT ARE UNISEX JEANS AND THEIR DISTINGUISHING FEATURES?

The unisex style appeared in the second half of the last century and exists in parallel with all other fashion trends. As a rule, these are pants, jeans, sweaters and T-shirts in the streetwear, oversize, military style - spacious and comfortable to wear items that do not restrict movement.

With regard to unisex denim, all the above-mentioned features (except one) do not work. Therefore, straight-cut, skinny, ripped and flared jeans will look great on both women and men. Both halves will appreciate them for their versatility, simplicity and great scope for creative imagination if you want to decorate clothes with your own hands.

Unisex jeans are produced by many famous brands. Among them are Asos, Ives Saint Laurean, Levis, Chanel. Despite the critics of "equalization", the collections of things are very interesting and stylish. The term "unisex" itself suggests that a couple can buy and wear a model of denim trousers in the same style, color and trim, but sewn separately for "him" and for "her". Still, the peculiarities of the female and male figures leave their mark on the cut of the pants. And this is the only distinguishing feature.