FUTURE OF THE FIVE-POCKET

We are in the midst of our buying season for Spring 2010, with our men's buyer Jeff heading to Las Vegas next week for Project, one of the biggest industry trade shows. I know, we're not even into the ACTUAL fall season yet, but this is how the game works, you guys. Thanks to the lovely folks at Project who sent us a guide to the upcoming show, the buying team here at the Denim Bar are able to give you a sneak peek at the direction the spring collections are headed. See what the denim experts are saying about the future of the five-pocket.

SAM KU, head designer for AG Adriano Goldschmied: "Many of our best-selling styles currently are true-blue vintage casts with distress: holes in the knees, and tears and abrasion in other places of wear. Our basics line is seeing more of this vintage look, however using different laundry techniques from 'AG-ed.' We have a patent-pending laundry technique that allows us to create very 3D-looking whiskers in an efficient, production friendly, and consistent way. Customers looking for realistic vintage looks under 200 USD will be very excited to see these finishes in the Spring 2010 collection."

"We are building onto the amazing success of our boyfriend fits by offering different options based on those silhouettes. For spring 2010 we are introducing a Khaki program. We are offering the Tomboy Khaki, and the Ex-Boyfriend Khaki Crop, which have traditional military khaki details and are washed with our 'AG-ed' finishes. Our Carpenter group is also based on our boyfriend fits. We have a Cropped Carpenter/painter pant and short that we are very excited about.

"AG has a great work-wear detail chambray shirt in an AG-ed finish, with 3D wrinkles and distress in the inner elbow of the shirt. We have denim 2x1 jackets, again with work-wear detail, along with a great basic denim jacket."

PAIGE ADAMS-GELLER, founder and designer of Paige Premium Denim: "Our spring/summer collection features washes and colors that are slightly less destructed yet never flat or lacking surface interest. Destruction is still in the mix, but more pioneering wash details prevail such as new marbling techniques and inventive hues. Creative hand tacking adds intensity to the natural shades of indigo."

"The important cuts and shapes to look for are updates of the old school boot cuts and skinny jeans. I also believe in skinnies that are super long and scrunchy in a trouser style which merges the masculine with the uber sexy."

"Besides jeans the All-American denim jacket and vest will make a strong comeback. Lighter weight denims in shirts, dresses, and shorts will also fare well."

SIMON MILLER, founder of Simon Miller Jeans: "I love a perfect pair of raw untouched denim jeans, but we are selling a lot of authentic vintage washes and it seems consumers are moving toward the lighter finished. Regardless of the shade, however, consumers want an authentic vintage wash; anything overdone is redundant."

"All our shapes are slim and straight regardless of style. There is still no substitute for a pair of perfect fitting slim fit or dark straight denim jeans."

"I love the new versions of chambray shirts I see around... Vintage worn-in selvedge denim shirts contrast well with dark denims."

JEROME DAHAN, CEO and founder of Citizens of Humanity: "For next season, favorable treatments are not too extreme and a little on the cleaner side. For washes, definitely light washes for spring are what girls want to wear!"

"The boyfriend jean will still be around but with Citizens of Humanity, I've introduced other relaxed silhouettes that are loose in fit but less masculine in feel."

JEFF RUDES, co-founder of J Brand: "Lightweight fabrics are becoming more and more sought after. Comfort is a very important ingredient in premium denim for both men and women."

"Washes and treatments will run the gamut from simple to extreme. You will see some very distressed washes - from dark background to light shades and overdyed distressed washes to tone it down and offer a subtle variation."

"Different styles are starting to emerge that are an evolution of the boyfriend and still have that great slouchy fit."