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I can’t believe it’s not denim: how fashion fell in love with fake jeans

Jeans are practical and classic, but can be stiff and restrictive. Could ‘optical illusion’ fashion be the bridge between style and comfort? Plus: where to find sensible pants.

The American brand Rag & Bone, known for its traditional rigid fits and worn by celebrities including Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Aniston, now has an entire range dedicated to fake, easy-fitting denim. During his first catwalk show in 1989, Martin Margiela debuted his trompe l’oeil “tattoo T-shirt”, which is now widely copied, much like Jean Paul Gaultier’s illusory 90s “naked” dresses. But it was Matthieu Blazy’s debut show at Bottega Veneta that really put the art of visual fallacy back in the spotlight when he revealed backstage that a simple white tank top and straight cut jeans were made of leather.

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