For several years, as many readers know, I have been fascinated by ripped jeans and they have potentially inspired me to start my own non-traditional clothing business. I share my concept at the end of this updated Weblog, for those unfamiliar with my idea.

Why update the ripped jeans Weblog you ask? New photos.

The main reason that this classic Weblog is offered to you again this year is because of the new ripped jeans photos I've collected, including one to go with the beloved surprise photo at the end.

So even if you don't read the whole thing again, I encourage you to just look at the photos.

Each year, due to the high volume or country music events I attend, I get to see more of the ripped jeans generation than most. This year was no exception.

On a trip to Nashville, and a trip to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, and on trips to Loretta's Last Call in Boston, Off the Rails in Worcester, Kowloon's Country Fest, and assorted other venues, I was duly impressed with the increased range of ripped clothing I observed this year.

I personally do not own a pair of torn, distressed, or ripped jeans or whatever your personal preference is for naming them. Recently, I saw an ad for 'Destructed Jeans,' kind of a cool name.

What prompted my original research was the fact that I had seen so many ripped jeans, with so many different sized holes, locations and tears, and I wanted to research the style and share that knowledge. Why wouldn’t everyone in the world want to be an expert on this social and fashion phenomena?

And of course, when it comes to fashion, who wouldn’t like to know my thoughts? Right?

If you currently wear ripped jeans or, like me, have always wondered why people do, then read on, because in a few short paragraphs, I will share my extensive research on ripped jeans and some of my observations about the style.

In case you didn’t know, a couple of guys named Levi and Strauss were early American fashion magnates and created what we refer to today as blue jeans. Raise your hand if you knew that? Very good class.

Historically, dating from the Levi and Strauss era, jeans were for workingmen and were actually dyed blue so everyone would know that the wearers were workingmen. Kind of a class distinction not unlike today’s hard hat?

Torn jeans happened in those days because of repeated use or an accident and remain torned or ripped because the primarily poor folks wearing them couldn’t afford to replace them. But It wasn’t cool then to wear ripped jeans, it was embarrassing.

The whole modern ripped or torn jeans look started as part of the Punk Rock movement, (see my brother’s Wikipedia page here. Chris Doherty and his band Gang Green were early pioneers of the genre).

The style was borrowed by the Grunge movement a decade or two later and surfaces every now and then, seemingly more ‘now’ than ‘then.’

Originally, the 20^th century incarnation was one of those signs of defiance and rebellion that young people engage in. (Just repeating what I’ve read). Like Rock ‘n Roll and Butterfly tattoos. For more information check out this site pagalparrot.com

That’s all you need to know about the history.

Our next lesson is on ripping jeans. Some sources indicate there are established ways to reach ripped jean fashion heights.

Ok, so she had limited fashion sense. Why couldn’t I wear torn anything to school? This was the first known suppression of my fashion sense by a parent. If I ripped something, she sewed it, or it didn’t go to school.

How many cuts or rips are cool? 

The more cuts the better? Is there a level of tearing of the jeans that makes them ‘mesh jeans’ like mesh stockings? Can you wear mesh stockings under mesh jeans? Asking for a friend.

Are ripped Jeans like snowflakes? 

Do you wear ripped jeans in the winter? 

If so, you’re going to have to explain that one. Isn’t that like turning the air conditioning on in the winter? Wouldn’t you call ripped winter jeans, ‘air-conditioned jeans?’

Are ripped shirts and tops next? 

They exist? What will they think of next?

Maybe too hard to see the tears among the folds?

Ok, torn hats, shoes, or underwear? 

Maybe not, but after thinking about it, why not?

They put holes in jackets, too? 

A complete line of air-conditioned winter wear. Something is wrong here.

Well, they are cooler than full length jeans, because they are shorts, unless those jeans are ripped extensively making them air-conditioned pants. Where do you think the best place to rip shorts might be?

Why are all the cuts in the front? 

I don’t even see much action on the back or the side. I guess no one wants a butt cut. Forget the question.

I’m not sure that an 8-year-old or an 80-year-old could look as cool in them as an 18-, 28-, or 38-year-old.

My number one question: are vertical rips or horizontal rips cooler?

I stared at a lot of legs for this project and horizontal rips way outnumber verticals. I wonder why?

As a result of the extensive research I've conducted, I am still planning to launch my own line of clothing that follows in the tradition of ripped jeans: stained shirts.

That's right, I am planning to launch a line of dress shirts and tops that have been pre-stained with soup, coffee and salad dressing.

What was formerly a garment taken out of circulation with a stain, will soon be considered cool, just like ripped jeans. And, like ripped jeans, my clothing line will have both horizontal and vertical stains, in a variety of hues.

My kind of fashion, been wearing the style for years.

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