Splitting opinion... The jeans with a zip that means they really do come as a pair!
YOU may already own a ‘pair’ of jeans – but probably not ones that take it quite so literally. The latest trend in denim is for a zip that runs down the front, underneath and up to join the waistband at the back – splitting the trousers in two. French fashion brand Vetements has worked with Levi’s to create a high-end version that costs £1,295, and the idea has begun filtering down to the high street. A cheaper version of the jeans costs £113 from American brand Reformation. However even the most dedicated fashionistas are balking at the idea, with Elle magazine warning that they are ‘not for the faint-hearted’. Harper’s Bazaar described the craze as being part of ‘the great jeans apocalypse’, as denim trends become increasingly extreme. The style is said to allow wearers to show off their rear – or underwear – by unzipping the back section. ‘We are starting to enter some questionable territory,’ the magazine said. Meanwhile social media users called the garments – which are only available for women – ‘horrible’ and the ‘ugliest jeans ever’. Other unusual styles sold on the high street include a pair made from clear plastic, which cost £55 at Topshop.
Denim versions with plastic ‘knee windows’ cost £49. High-end label Nordstrom also launched a pair for £330 which came with a ‘caked-on muddy coating’, while other brands have been offering styles with daring rips across the rear.
But despite the apparent impracticality of having a zip that runs from front to back, there are some benefits. Elle magazine adds that they could be ‘really great for the weak-bladdered’.