Nudie Jeans Fall 2011 Preview

 

I'd like to share a secret with you. Well, not really a secret, but something only my close friends know. My boyfriend is my personal Ken doll. I love dressing him up and making him try new things. He likes it too. He looks in the mirror when I dress him in a 'hit' and turns this way and that, checking out every angle, with the biggest grin on his face while telling me how great he feels. He's like a girl that way.

Why do I bring this up you ask? Because when I walked in the Nudie Jeans showroom to preview their Fall 2011 collection, all I could think of the whole time was "I want to dress him in this, and this, and this, and this..." From outerwear, to jeans, to shirts to khakis I created look after look after look for him...in my mind. 

For Fall, Nudie continues with their popular carryovers (above), recognizable by their 'Dry' denim (Nudie terminology for raw) or dark indigo washes. This season, however, saw many new washes (below) that were more daring than we're used to seeing from the brand, such as marblized washes and heavy abrasions. 

 

 

 

There is a significant move towards using more sustainable materials with several styles made of recycled denim, recycled cotton, organic cotton and vegetable dyes. Eventually the brand plans to use all sustainable materials in their clothing and has been recognized as a "Good Environmental Choice" in Sweden.

 

They've also introduced a line of casual clothing with a range of uber-cool khakis with complimentary sportswear. New to me was a selvedge khaki complete with that red selvedge identifier in the seam. Unique pocket details, interesting weaves and super soft textures are going to appeal to fans of the brand.

 

Heavily coated 'Dry' denim was used in outerwear and was reminiscent of oil cloth. I loved how it was used in a bomber jacket and parka. In the case of a zippered jacket (below) the coating was translucent allowing the natural indigo color to come through.

 

A black wool shirt was a standout piece as that material is normally seen in outerwear such as peacoats. Also, a wool plaid jacket was lined with dry denim and was reversible. These items highlighted to me the brand's penchant for coming up with innovative ideas without being over-the-top.

 

Although the brand is largely menswear, the jeans can be somewhat androgynous starting at a size 28. Case in point, on my way to the showroom, I found myself walking behind a girl wearing a pair of Nudie Jeans cuffed at the ankles. Jackets were sized for men but womenswear details in one, like pleating, will encourage girls to borrow their boyfriend's denim jackets. Hmm, that's an idea. A traditional looking denim jacket that looked to be the worn-in version of a similar 'Dry' style was actually handmade and upon closer inspection you could see the uneven stitching and small imperfections that make handmade garments unique.

 

I fawned over the denim shirts. Although denim shirts have been talked about for quite some time, using the term 'denim' to describe these items is, more often than not, a misnomer. Most of the time these shirts are made of an indigo-dyed lightweight chambray or other lightweight material. It's actually quite rare to see a shirt actually made of denim. Nudie offered a few styles of authentic denim shirts that were sturdy and offered all of the characteristics and effects you would expect from the fabric.