How to Create Your Own Balmain-Style Jeans

by Dana Oliver (Subscribe to Dana Oliver's posts)
Posted May 15th 2009 at 4:15PM

Photos courtesy of Time Inc. Digital Studio

Christophe Decarnin filled Balmain's spring '09 runway with models in jeans in various states of disrepair. Prices for the designer versions range from $1,900 (for a basic pair) to $4,400 (for an intricately embroidered, "very distressed" style). Inspired by their cool look, resourceful InStyle fashion assistant Katie Casamassimo took out her materials and tools (right) to make her own interpretation. Here's how:

Step 1: Bunch areas on old black jeans and pour a bit of Clorox on each. "When you're happy with the color," Casamassimo says, "rinse out the bleach."

Step 2: Sand the knees and the fronts of the thighs with heavy grit paper.

Step 3: Slice the areas you want ripped and pick apart the fibers in the weave.

Step 4: Machine wash and dry your version -- twice. "That distresses clothes even more," she says.

Hey, if it works for InStyle, we're pretty sure it'll work for us. Will you be giving this transformation a try?

Not Just Jeans

Rachel Bilson
Our favorite celebs know that denim doesn't have to be worn as trousers. Here, Rachel Bilson teams a classic Levi's denim jacket with boots and a skirt, for a casual daytime look.

INFphoto.com

Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz does casual well. The actress carried an oversized denim Chanel bag -- and wore faded cutoffs -- in New York City.

Hector Vallenilla, Pacific Coast News

Ashley Olsen
Actress and fashionista Ashley Olsen dressed down in skinny pants and a timeless denim shirt in Beverley Hills.

COP/Buzz Foto

Kate Bosworth
Kate Bosworth paired a denim trilby with the jeans of the moment -- high-waisted flares.

Josephine Santos, Pacific Coast News

Sienna Miller
A vest was the perfect denim choice for boho-chic brit Sienna Miller. The actress kept her look feminine with a frilly top and necklace.

Bauer-Griffin

Elle MacPherson
Elle MacPherson -- known as The Body -- kept her supermodel self covered in a demure denim skirt.

Bauer-Griffin

Eve
Eve wore a tailored halter top made from dark blue denim. The songstress' fashion line, Fetish, includes plenty of denim clothing.

Steve Marcus, Reuters

Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba looked tanned and terrific in a corseted dark denim Dolce & Gabbana dress.

Albert L. Ortega, WireImage.com

Naomi Watts
Actress Naomi Watts teamed her short, paneled denim skirt with black shoes and glasses, and a lacy black blouse.

Andy Athineos, BEImages

Kate Moss
Supermodel Kate Moss is known for staying on the cutting edge of fashion. No surpise then that she jazzed up her Siwy Camilla cutoffs -- traditionally a summer look -- with opaque tights and a slouchy sweater in winter.

Keeble-Robinson/SplashNewsOnline.com

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