The Denim Dilemma: A Jean-ius Solution

Craig Sidell
3 min readAug 7, 2023

Ah, blue jeans — the ultimate fashion staple. They’re comfortable, versatile, and they go with everything. But have you ever stopped to think about the absurdity of denim? It’s like we’ve all agreed to wear the same fabric, in the same shade, in the same cut, for decades on end. So let’s take a moment to laugh at ourselves, and perhaps even find some deeper meaning in our love of blue jeans.

First of all, let’s talk about the name. “Blue jeans” sounds like the name of a depressed Smurf. And speaking of Smurfs, have you ever noticed how many blue jean puns there are? “I can’t believe I got arrested for wearing these pants — I thought they were jean-ius!” Or how about, “I asked my tailor to make me some pants out of denim, but when I got them back, they were a total jean-mishap!” Okay, maybe those aren’t the best examples, but you get the idea. There’s something inherently funny about blue jeans.

But there’s also something deeper going on here. Blue jeans are a symbol of American culture. They represent the frontier spirit, the rugged individualism that built this country. When we wear blue jeans, we’re saying, “I may be sitting in a cubicle right now, but deep down, I’m a cowboy/girl.” Blue jeans are a way to connect with our roots, even if we’ve never ridden a horse or wrangled a steer.

And let’s not forget the practicality of blue jeans. They’re tough as nails — you can wear them to do yard work, to go hiking, to ride a bike. They’re like a superhero costume for everyday life. But there’s…

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Craig Sidell

Craig Sidell grew up in Beantown, attended college in the City of Brotherly Love and currently resides in the Big Apple with his amazing wife and children.