denim

French fashion label Façonnable, born from a tailor's atelier in Nice in the 1950s, has always been one of our favorite men's style staples. Now the company, which is committed to innovation, quality fabrics, impeccable cuts and singular details, is launching a new line called Façonnable Jeans, adding a contemporary spin to its portfolio. Inspired by the relaxed lifestyle of the Côte d'Azur, Façonnable Jeans offers the best of the world of denim while adhering to the principles of fine tailoring the brand is known for.

Refined stitching; the finest materials such as Japanese chambray; and contemporary fits distinguish the new collection, while prewashing and hand finishing guarantee a soft feel and unique patina. The new collection encompasses more than just jeans to round out the wardrobe, including khakis, washed cotton polos and T-shirts, and various styles of jackets, along with stylish accessories such as pocket squares and handmade ties, shoes, bags, belts, scarves, caps and boxer shorts.

There are a lot of men out there who are uncomfortable shopping for jeans. There are so many different styles available, it boggles the mind. As a result, they often order "that looks normal" men's jeans online or just get the same ones their mom bought them in high school. This does not exactly ... make for hotness.

Ladies, it's the holidays. It's time to get your man some proper jeans. This is beneficial for both of you. Check out our gallery of our favorites from HUDSON Jeans, the same denim company who brought us the $995 custom jeans earlier this year (What makes Hudson Denim Resurrection Jeans worth $995? -- don't worry they don't cost that much). Be sure and visit (or have him visit) the Fit Guide before purchasing.

And ladies, even if you aren't looking for men's jeans today, we recommend you check out this gallery anyway. Consider it an early Happy Holidays from Luxist to you.

With the latest in up-market jeans being readied for release, it's exciting to see what's in the pipeline. In this crowded space, look for the biggest noise to be made not by any fashion company you've pined over. Rather, the hottest denim on the market could be coming from the most unexpected place on earth ... by way of Scandinavia.

According to Financial Times, "As clean silhouettes and the much-feted new minimalism shape the autumn trends, it looks like denim will take an equally reductive route: out with slashed, stonewash, fussy 1980s styles and in with the basics." And you'll find this manufactured in North Korea.

FT continues:

Two years ago, a trio of young, twenty-something Swedes were invited by the government into North Korea to manufacture a national jeans line. Really. "Noko", as it was named, features two jeans styles for men and women: the Kara slim-fit and the Oke loose-fit ($215 plus shipping), both straight-cut and dark-wash, in keeping with the austere nightscapes of the designers' inspiration, Pyongyang.

The Noko styles are consistent with what is expected for autumn:

"For autumn, denim is very customer-friendly," says Lesley Torson of Trilogy, a London denim boutique. "It's dark, and washes are quite clean, giving it a more polished look." Meanwhile, the advent of styles such as the utilitarian cargo with convenient side pockets, the forgiving high-rise cut, and the faithful indigo boot-cut flare will offer something the premium jeans world hasn't seen for years: wearability.

We've been following young Georgia May Jagger's career with considerable interest since she first broke into the modeling scene in the summer of 2008. Since then Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall's genetically gifted offspring scored a gig as the face of Versace and posed for luxury denim brand Hudson Jeans. Now Georgia May has been tapped for Hudson's newest ad campaign as well, shot by Mario Sorrenti at Alder Manor, a restored 1912 mansion in Yonkers, New York. The sexy snaps are some of the young stunner's most provocative yet, with Jagger posing topless in most of the shots. "Georgia May is a true embodiment of the spirit of the Hudson brand," Ben Taverniti, creative director of Hudson Jeans, tells Vogue UK. "She doesn't try, she's just cool. She has that certain Je ne sais quoi."

Two of America's best known menswear brands, Brooks Brothers and Levi's, have collaborated on a new denim collection. Levi's Jeans, Made in the USA for Brooks Brothers, will be available at Brooks Brothers stores nationwide, online and in Brooks Brothers catalogs as of this week, affirming the two companies' shared commitment to products that are "made in America". The collection features a carefully crafted assortment of sophisticated and classic jeans designed specifically for Brooks Brothers' customers. Offered in a range of timeless finishes and washes, the line consists of versions of Levi's original and iconic 501 jean, the zip-fly 505, and the modern and streamlined 514 Slim Straight jean. Each pair is crafted in a factory in Los Angeles using imported materials and will retail for $148.

There is an everlasting and classic appeal to denim that is undeniable. It's easy to wear and matches anything that you already own. You can dress it up with heels and bold jewelry or wear casually with a pair of flats or sneakers. Denim is also versatile and has a wide range of uses. We've seen denim used for shirts, jackets, vests, jumpsuits, dresses, bags and of course, shorts. At one point in my life I've worn denim in every which way you can imagine. But I can't say that I've ever worn or wanted to wear denim shoes before - until I came across Lanvin's Pom Pom Espadrille ($319). They have the comfort of a flat sole with a slight cushion mixed with a quirky but ultra cute denim pom pom at the vamp. They are a unexpected and fun alternative to ballet flats that can be paired with a maxi dress, shorts, or even a little romper. See below for other denim shoes that will carry you throughout the seasons.

Gents in need of jeans have a new place to shop in Beverly Hills. Domenico Vacca wrapped up his three city search for the new face of DV Denim and unveiled his celebrity inspired DV Denim Collection on May 25 (previous stops on the tour were New York City and Miami). Recent Dancing with the Stars contest Chad Ochocino was among the sports stars and celebs who showed up to check out the flagship store on Rodeo Drive. DV Denim's celebrity-inspired jeans including the Jeremy Jean named after Jeremy Piven; the Mickey Jean named after Mickey Rourke and The Forest Jean named after Forest Whitaker.

In an interview with the LA Times, Vacca explained that the DV Denim jeans, which sell for $340 to $595 and are limited to about 200 pair each have all sort of high quality details. Some use Italian and Japanese selvedge denim and are carefully distressed, embellished and embroidered with what Vacca refers to as "sartorial touches."

Hudson Jeans, a denim company with celebrity fans including Sandra Bullock, Pink and Gisele Bündchen, has a new concept hitting stores this month: one-of-a-kind, hand-cut and hand-sewn jeans, available at your usual fine retailers for the steep price of $995.. They may not be bespoke, but the result is the same; you can find a pair that's uniquely "you," whether that means sideways back pockets and zippers everywhere or whitewashed denim with artfully placed seams in unusual places, and be certain no one else will have the same pair of blues.

The collection is called Resurrection (right), and comes at a premium price of $995 per pair (most Hudson denim goes for $215 to $325). We chatted with designer Ben Taverniti (below), who has been creating couture pieces featured in the likes of French Vogue since age 19, about the collection, his philosophies and all things Hudson Jeans.

Luxist: What makes Hudson jeans so special and worth so much more than other brands?

Benjamin Taverniti: The Spring/Summer 2010 HUDSON Collection is the ultimate expression of the HUDSON brand consisting of four distinct groups - Minimalist, D.I.Y., Subversion and Resurrection (each jean is one of a kind). We source our fabric from the finest mills in Japan and Italy. Design, construction, and quality are our utmost priority.

L: How has your notorious couture past influenced the way you design jeans?

BT: It's trained my eye to be extremely critical and precise with fits, which is the most important thing when it comes to denim.

L: Do you have any advice for men and women who want to look hot in their jeans? What should they look for?

BT: Jeans do not make you ... you make the jeans ... Style should be fearless and confident.

Bad news for fashion brand Rock & Republic. The Los Angeles-based company famous for pricey jeans with embellished pockets has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company plans to continue business as usual and is taking the Chapter 11 opportunity to reorganize and as the LA Times puts it, explore financial relationships, otherwise known as finding friends with deep pockets.

The brand was founded by Michael Ball in 2002. It gained attention for partnering with Victoria Beckham for a line of pricey denim with a crown on the rear. The brand expanded from clothing into sunglasses, handbags and cosmetics but quotes from Geoffrey D. Lurie, the company's newly named chief restructuring officer, indicate that the company will be focusing more on its core apparel and footwear businesses. At the start of 2009 Michael Ball told the AP that "the days of the $300 jeans are gone." Rock & Republic then launched the Limited Edition Recession Collection selling jeans for under $150. They haven't dropped the decadence entirely though, the Crazy B!@#H jeans shown here in Dementia Black sell for $385.

Luxist had been hanging out in London for a while when the men's-only denim brand MQT was brought to our attention. The denim business on the 'sceptered isle is just as intense as it is in NYC and every VIP section in LA, probably because the English take their various senses of style so... gravely... and because jeans are bloody expensive. That $250 pair of True Religion jeans scored at Fred Segal is £250 when you drive on the other side of the road. Which is $390. An inexpensive pair of jeans is $100. And that's real money.

We dropped in on MQT's central command hoping for a lesson in denim and a look at what are being called not the next big thing, but simply a big thing, period. What we got was not only a good lesson and a brilliant look, but a pair of loose fit jeans and the certitude that we'll be back buying more...

You have to admire the brio of Tom Ford. While others are planning lower priced denim lines, the popular menswear designer is going in a different direction. Ford, who once hawked mangled feather-strewn jeans at Gucci for over $3,000 is back in the jeans business for his own line. His latest offering is pairs of $990 jeans made from Japanese selvedge denim with pockets lined in silk and an 18K gold plated front button. Ford's new jeans, which aren't easily recognizable as a pricey pair (no bedazzled pockets, no trendy style) fit in with the new stealth shopping aesthetic of wearing things that are expensive without looking overtly flashy.

You know the economy is in trouble when Michael Ball, the founder of Rock & Republic tells the AP that "the days of the $300 jeans are gone." He should know. He's been selling fancy jeans with beaded back pockets to those who can afford them for years. Now, Rock & Republic is embracing hard times with a Limited Edition Recession Collection that will hit stores on March 1. The mini collection will feature just four pieces (two for both women and men) for $128 to $138.

The collection is part of a general retailing strategy that has many brands not just cutting prices but also cutting back the variety of clothing. With less shoppers at the stores, brands are focusing on items which will have the widest appeal. Brands hope they can keep customers continuing to shop on at least a most basic level until the economy brightens. Then Rock & Republic's Recession Collection will be off the shelves and retailers will shift back into temptation mode.

Audrina Patridge, the sanpaku-eyed brunette on "The Hills" is definitely coming into her own. She's been getting much of the air time on the show, recently bought her own Hollywood Hills home and now she has her own endorsement deal. She is the new face of Divine Rights of Denim and will appear in their Spring 2009 ad campaigns as well as ontribute to the design and merchandising process. Divine Rights of Denim launched in the Spring of 2008 and everything in the line retails for under $100. Jeans styles include: "Sensuality", "Envy", "Confidence," and "Jealousy." Audrina is quoted in the press release as being rather thrift-minded saying: "in a world where people spend upwards of $250 on a pair of premium jeans, it's nice to be a part of a line that everyone can afford."

As I mentioned when we were looking at the rare items in the world, old Levi's jeans are worth a lot of money. According to the Guinness Book of World Records the most valuable jeans are an original pair of Levi Strauss & Co 501 jeans aged over 115 years old which were sold to a collector in Japan for $60,000 through eBay in 2005. So it's big news that another pair of old Levi's have hit eBay. The seller reports that the rather dusty jeans were found in a mine in the Rand Mining District, on the Mojave Desert,. California. They are covered in candlewax from the candles the miner was using to light the tunnel he was working in and were found with a paper bag with the name of a mercantile store which operated between 1895 and 1898 in the town of Randsburg. The pants have a buckle back with suspender buttons and cloth label indicating they are size W34 x L33. The auction ends today and was over $11,000 last time I checked.

[via Kottke]

Styles may come and go but Levi's seem to manage to weather the vicissitudes of trends, falling in and out of fashion but never disappearing. Taking a page from luxury jeansmakers, the original 501s get a boost into the world of premium denim through the use of nine ounce Japanese denim that is hand dyed using methods that recreate the process from the original jeans. The Levis® Vintage XX First Blue Rigid Jeans have the original cinchback style used in 501s and come with a special totebag. They sell for around $570 and will be released at the end of September.

[via Acquire]