How do I Get the Balmain Bleached Skinny Jeans Look?
Fashion forward French designer Christophe Decarnin heads the House of Balmain. Decarnin draws visual references from everyday life, saying that "anything and everything" can inspire his edgy, avant-garde designs. Regularly featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Style, Balmain denim prices start just under one thousand dollars per pair. This makes authentic Balmain jeans a realistic purchase only for super-wealthy celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Lindsay Lohan. Not to fear, thriftier fashionistas can achieve the same look at literally a fraction of the cost.
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Things You'll Need
- Bleach
- White vinegar
- Clean sponge
- Scissors
- Steel wool
- Rubber gloves
- One quart sized plastic tub
- Large plastic dish tub
- Cotton dark denim jeans
Instructions
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1
Mix the chemicals. Measure one cup of bleach and pour it into the quart sized tub. Fill the tub the rest of the way with hot water (make sure it's not too hot so as not to burn yourself). Measure two cups of white vinegar and pour it into the large tub. Fill the large tub the rest of the way with cold water.
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2
Distress your denim. Cut small slits into the denim at the knees and use the steel wool to fray the edges. Rub the steel wool in a circular pattern over the hems' edges, seams, and pockets to soften the material for a well worn look.
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3
Spread the jeans flat on a stain resistant work surface such as a laundry table or kitchen counter. Put your rubber gloves on and dip the sponge into the bleach mixture. Squeeze the sponge out so that it is only damp. Rub the sponge on the jeans in the areas you'd like to bleach. Continue to go over the areas until you see the effect you're looking for.
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4
Flip the jeans over and repeat Step 3 on the back side of the jeans.
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5
Stop the bleaching action. To maintain the integrity of the fabric, once you've achieved the desired effect with the bleach and the sponge, you will need to immediately soak the jeans in a vinegar bath. Allow to soak for ten to twenty minutes.
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6
Wash the jeans in your laundry machine using regular detergent. Dry the jeans as you normally would. You're then ready to rock those jeans out. When people ask you "are those Balmain?" give them a sly knowing smile and enjoy your craftiness.
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Tips & Warnings
It is important to rip and distress the denim prior to bleaching. Bleach will weaken the fabric fibers, which could cause unintentional rips if you distress with steel wool after bleaching.
Distress jeans at points where natural wear and tear would eventually cause the same result - the pockets, knees, and butt of the jeans are the areas to pay special attention to.
It is better to use a drier sponge and go over the areas you're bleaching several times rather than soak the denim and potentially ruin it with over saturation.
Bleach is extremely caustic, make sure to use in a well vented area and protect your clothing while completing this project.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jeans image by Francis Bourgouin from Fotolia.com
