The middle classes began to wear cheap denim pants to project an informal image, and therefore one of self-confidence, physical and political activity, and youth. Clothing for the demonstrably young and the fit has to allow for movement, to leave arms and legs free. Work clothes do this, as do clothes for sport and relaxation. People began to discard such rules and signs both in manner and in dress, even when not anticipating very much physical exertion. Fit, young and casual now became the trinity of laws.
Tight jeans flatter the young, exalt the skinny, disqualify the dumpy and the old.
They are classically dyed blue, the modern West's favourite, most conservative colour. By wearing jeans, therefore, you could fervently conform on several different levels with society's demands, even as you dressed for the most desperately desired role of the decade, that of Dissident. In any case, denim's roughness and toughness itself underlined the body's softness, and so lent it more sexual allure. The miniskirt exacted a heavy price for granting women the young, fit, casual, sexually liberated look. But a grown woman had constantly to watch out.