One of my favorite images of Marvin Gaye is a 1973 candid photo of him at Golden West Studios in Los Angeles working on his “What’s Going On” album. Gaye created the album as a lament for a society content with ignoring the needs of its black citizens. The candid photo captured an artist in his natural element. When I was approached by H&M to highlight their “Shades of Blue” denim campaign, I found it fitting to recreate my version of this musical and style icon.
I move a lot throughout the day, and it is essential for me to have a certain amount of elasticity included in my jeans. Denim snobs will argue against adding stretch. I’m not one of them. I focus on garments that work with my lifestyle. The slim fit is consistent through the thigh and leg. Usually, I would have to factor in the additional cost of having my jeans tapered at the calf. I went with the medium wash without any distressed characteristics. I need my pants, jeans, and trousers to be able to work with other items within my wardrobe from a sweater to a sports jacket. As much as jeans are an American classic, another “American Icon” has origins in Mexico.
The attire worn by Mexican cattle herders set the groundwork for what we call the “Western Shirt.” Characterized by a stylized yoke on the front and the back, the Western Shirt has been a fashion staple since the ’50s. The pearl snap buttons on the cuff and front pockets are a staple for any western shirt. You can see the same details above on Marvin. Yes, you will see various fabric alternatives of this shirt, but the denim remains king. They are viewed as a semi-formal piece of attire that cowboys with money wore. The western shirt in denim is a favorite because the fabric can withstand much wear and it is a perfect all-season fabric.
Towards the latter part of Mr. Gaye’s life, he transitioned from his sharp suits and clean-cut image, into a more casual, rebellious artist both musically and sartorially. Rocking a full beard, denim jeans, double rolled beanie and talking about the injustices of blacks, was flourishing as an artist. However, Mr. Gaye’s life was cut short due to an altercation with his father. Who knows what could have been for him artistically, but we thank him for his timeless music and how to pull off double denim like a legend.
Disclosure: This was a paid partnership with H&M. The thoughts and views are my own.