Students all over campus have been spotted sporting the ripped jeans trend. (Maddi Driggs)
Style specialists expect to see a rise in ripped, 'destroyed' jeans as the weather begins to warm up. In spite of the chilly weather, ripped jeans are a trend that can already be spotted on BYU campus.
'Ripped denim isn't considered such a casual thing today,' said BYU graduate Nikki Rudd, a wardrobe stylist assistant in Los Angeles. 'You see celebs, fashion bloggers, etc. wearing a good pair of ripped jeans out and they dress them up. If you are worried that they are too casual and inappropriate for some settings, I disagree. I think whether they just have little knee slits, or are full-blown shredded, they can be styled to fit any setting.'
Rudd said her favorite brand of jeans right now is Citizens of Humanity.
'I recently purchased the 'rocket high rise skinny' jeans that are ripped and I love them,' Rudd said. 'Although they cost me more than I would like to pay for ripped jeans, I've worn them a ton. I also love Madewell denim. They have great jeans from classic to ripped. I own a few pair and have loved them. On the cheaper side, I own some H&M jeans that are seriously great, and they have held up really well. To me, I really don't care about the name brand, if they fit and are cool, I will buy them.'
Rudd said there's nothing wrong with a good, classic jean without rips, but a good pair of ripped jeans is a great way to make an outfit more exciting. She said more of a statement can be made by wearing ripped denim.
Joann Distler wears her ripped jeans on campus. (Maddi Driggs)
These trends that are popular in the fashion capitals of the world can also be seen on students across campus. BYU junior and New York native Joann Distler said her Top Shop Jamie Jeans are her favorite.
'I wear them almost all the time,' Distler said. 'I love them because they are high-waisted, and the best part is the holes in the knees because they are so fashionable and remind me of New York fashion. I also love the fact that one of my favorite pair of jeans are from the London-based brand Top Shop because it brings a bit of European fashion to Provo.'
Distler noticed the trend on her favorite fashion icons about a year ago and has been embracing it ever since. Distler loves that she can express herself through her fashion.
Sophomore Mercedes Miller works in the fashion industry as a model and has noticed the growing trend too.
'I saw people on Instagram wearing ripped jeans and at first I didn't think I would ever wear them until I finally broke down and bought some,' Miller said. 'I have a hard time not wearing them every day now. I even ended up wearing them for one of my fashion photo shoots. On campus I have noticed the growing trend, even in the winter when it is so cold, there are some die-hard fans that continue to sport those ripped knees. I myself am one of those fans, I will endure the cold in order to be fashionable.'