50’s Fashions: After World War II idols like Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando and James Dean made denim the coveted item of teens everywhere. Their rebellious reputation had them banned by schools across the country. Boys wore the jeans cuffed in light washes or black whereas women rarely wore denim during this time. Levi’s, Lee Coopers and Wranglers were some of the popular brands.

60’s and 70’s Fashions: Aaah, the age of the hippies. In this decade, it was all about peace, love happiness—and personalizing your jeans. Embroidery, cutoffs, patches and psychedelic colors were a few of the popular trends among youth. Bell bottoms, hip huggers and stonewash jeans were a hit too. Jeans became much more affordable in the 70’s as they were produced in Southern sweatshops.

80’s Fashions: The 1980’s gave birth to designer jeans and worn-in looks. Stonewash, acid wash and ripped were the preferred styles. They were manufactured in skinny leg cuts that tapered at the ankle. Calvin Klein, Jordache and Gloria Vanderbilt were among the most popular brands.

90’s Fashions: Jeans were a little less popular in the 90’s but still considered a fashion staple. Carpenter jeans were a hit in the early part of the decade along with baggy jeans made popular by the hip-hop artists of the time.

Now: We’ve gone from ultra-low-rise and boot cut, made popular by the likes of celebrities like Britney Spears, back to skinny jeans from the 80’s and wide-leg and high-waist styles from the 70’s. Fashion is cyclical, constantly referencing earlier time periods, and denim is a perfect reflection of that. Worn-in looks are still coveted and refreshed versions of earlier styles. Along with new innovations in embellishments, washes and finishes offer limitless possibilities for the future.