Fashion weeks are a feast for the eyes. A deluge of extravagant outfits swan through the city’s streets in a demonstration of taste and influence. Even in Copenhagen, a city known for favoring functional and minimalist aesthetics, the unofficial dress code of fashion week is ‘more is more’—layer, accessorize, layer again, then add pair of sunglasses for good measure (and, this year, a much-needed umbrella).
Within this sea of maximalism, the humble jean could seem out of place. After all, fashion week is exclusive, timely, and trend-centered. Jeans are ubiquitous, timeless, and impervious to trends (for the most part). No other item is so inclusive and yet so personal to each of us. Perhaps this is why fashion's fascination with denim shows no sign of fading any time soon.
This was clear at Levi’s Copenhagen fashion week party, which took place at the local hotspot Apollo Bar. The dress code encouraged denim, and guests came through, proving loudly that this staple fabric is anything but limiting. Weaving through the crowd from the entrance to the bar, I passed customized denim jackets, upcycled jeans, made-to-measure two-piece co-ords, collaborations with Ganni and Ambush, and plenty of double denim classics. Even the DJs Tara Kumar and Kim Turnball pulled up in full denim fits.
The evening was thrown in honor of Levi’s most treasured model, the 501, which marked its 150th anniversary this year. It’s pretty much impossible to talk about jeans without mentioning the 501 and to this day it remains the quintessential blue jean. Why? We caught up with Paul Dillinger, Levi's head of global product innovation, to ask him exactly that.
Why do you think the 501 is still so beloved 150 years on?
A great pair of Levi’s 501s share a lot of the same characteristics as a good friendship: They’re long-lasting and durable. They’re low-maintenance, easygoing and casual. They go with anything, and you can take them everywhere. They’re understated, humble, and loyal… and there aren’t a lot of other clothes in my closet that I describe with the same language I use to describe my best friend.
What’s so special about CPH fashion week for Levis?
For me, it feels like Levi’s and Copenhagen Fashion Week share a lot of the same values – especially with respect to diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability.
I think it’s fair to say that fashion events can have a reputation for being aloof and exclusive, but here in Copenhagen—these fashion folks are nice. Everyone is smiling, and the smiles feel sincere. The vibe at our events—and throughout the whole city—has been fresh and optimistic, fueled by young creative energy. …so it just feels like the right place for Levi’s to show up.
Do you have a favorite 501 celebrity moment or fit?
There’s an amazing photograph taken by Maria Chabot in 1944 of the American painter Georgia O’Keeffe on the back of a motorcycle in the New Mexico dessert, wearing a pair of rigid, cinch-back 501s cuffed up above her knees… and she looks like she’s having the time of her life. In my opinion, that is the quintessential 501 moment.
What’s your favorite way to wear 501s?
I like to size-up and wear them a little baggy around the waist, but then taper them a little from below the knee to the cuff to get that “carrot shape” anti-fit silhouette.
Do you ever double denim?
All the time… and I don’t care who knows about it. “My name is Paul Dillinger and I like to double denim.”
What denim trend are you obsessed with right now?
I’m really enjoying the shift away from fit conformity and trend ubiquity and toward comfort, self-confidence and self-care. Trying to squeeze yourself into some skinny denim sausage casings or suffering to break-in a new pair of raw rigid heavy-weight selvage denim just feels like an old-fashioned chore that’s unnecessary. I love seeing younger consumers dressing for comfort and embracing a whole new world of kinder, gentler denim.
We couldn't agree more. Swipe through the galleries above for some of favorite denim looks from the night.
