Of all the fabrics that could be worn to an awards show or event, denim has to be the most informal. The early 2000s were plagued with look after look of celebrities combining designer jeans and tops, or even dresses. At first glance, it seems baffling that a celebrity would choose to throw away their chance at glitz and glamour by wearing jeans on the red carpet. Surprisingly, there are other reasons that stars chose to go down a different route.
Anti-Conformity
Has your mom ever yelled at you to not put on jeans before a nice event when you were younger? Then you may be dealing with some internalized judgment looking at these photos of celebrities wearing jeans on the red carpet with not a care in the world. These ensembles are the product of the early 2000s trend of wearing jeans and a going-out top. This look allowed for experimentation with tops from retailers. If you’ve ever used this formula for the basis of your outfit, you would know that most of the self-expression is shown with the top.
Between 2002 and 2007, red carpets were filled with celebrities embracing the more casual and comfortable jeans and a going-out top. Throughout the time period, this evolved to wearing dresses over jeans. This style walks the line between dressy and casual, with celebrities choosing tops ranging from neutral tops to halters embellished with lace and glitter.
Choosing this combination also saved celebrities from the criticism that they were trying “too hard” with their look. The contrast between hyper-feminine dresses and denim pants also gave the ability to play with gender norms. Dresses and pants are two gendered garments with a long history.
During the Victorian era, the dress reform movement, aka the rational dress movement, was advanced by activists like Amelia Jenks Bloomer and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The movement spread across the United States and parts of Europe after women’s heavy dresses and tight corsets led to falling down stairs, overheating and difficulty breathing.
These practical alternatives were the object of ridicule for nearly a century before they made their way into acceptable fashion.
Throwback
While dresses and jeans certainly had their moment in the early 2000s, they have been creeping back into the trend cycle and have been seen at more than one major public event recently.
Jessica Alba attending the Teen Choice Awards sporting a floral top and jeans in 2005.
Ashley Tisdale attending the premiere of the “Princess Diaries 2”, 2004 in jeans, a pink top and pink feather boa.
Today
Katie Holmes attending the iHeart Radio’s Jingleball, December 9 2022, in medium wash jeans and a navy halter top.
Kodi-Smit McPhee attending the 2022 Met Gala in a nod to the Gilded Age.
Dressing up for a major event comes with significant pressure to look good in the eyes of the press and the public. We salute you, celebrities of the early 2000s, for challenging the status quo.
What are your favorite denim red carpet throwbacks? Let us know and tweet us @VALLEYmag
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