# Why Are Blue Jeans Always Blue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426 "2007-10-20T23:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/21 "2007-10-21T01:47:14Z")
[QUOTE=Omega Glory] OKay, now that your question has been answered…how old are you, and where are you from? I just can’t wrap my head around you never having seen a pair of black jeans (not that they don’t come in other colors too, but black is very popular, and has been for ages). [/QUOTE] And white, if you want to really go back. I had mine. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/22 "2007-10-21T01:53:36Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] Which some of us had to take as an article of faith on our B&W TV sets. [/QUOTE] Which is likely the reason I couldn’t remember and had to go to wiki. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/23 "2007-10-21T02:00:45Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] And white, if you want to really go back. I had mine. [/QUOTE] Same here. IIRC, white jeans on guys was popular just before bell bottoms and elephant cords came in. Cut so tight you could barely get your feet through the damned things. Worn with Beatle boots. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/24 "2007-10-21T02:06:31Z")
For some reason I don’t really understand, I find the sight of a woman in _white_ jeans to be absolutely unbelievably sexy. More so than in blue jeans, which runs a very close second. Other colours don’t work for me at all; not in the sexiness stakes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/25 "2007-10-21T02:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] Same here. IIRC, white jeans on guys was popular just before bell bottoms and elephant cords came in. Cut so tight you could barely get your feet through the damned things. Worn with Beatle boots. [/QUOTE] Beetle boots, or those big blocky shoes that I don’t remember the name for. They were often two colors with a seam accross the toe and thick soles. All the “sensitive” guys wore them. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/26 "2007-10-21T02:13:40Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] For some reason I don’t really understand, I find the sight of a woman in _white_ jeans to be absolutely unbelievably sexy. More so than in blue jeans, which runs a very close second. Other colours don’t work for me at all; not in the sexiness stakes anyway. [/QUOTE] Well thank you very much! Oh, wait a minute. :o ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/27 "2007-10-21T12:30:18Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] If you must know, I am in my thirties and I am from Michigan. That is all I care to tell. As to why I have never seen another color of jeans, I don’t know. Maybe I just never looked for them. 🙂 [/QUOTE] It’s okay. Now you have an anecdote for the next installment of “things everyone knew except me” coming soon to MPSIMS. I didn’t really want any more information that that, just wondering. [QUOTE=yabob] [QUOTE=mangeorge] And white, if you want to really go back. I had mine. [/QUOTE] Same here. IIRC, white jeans on guys was popular just before bell bottoms and elephant cords came in. Cut so tight you could barely get your feet through the damned things. Worn with Beatle boots. [/QUOTE] All this was before my time. I’d be a little surprised to see a man in jeans any lighter than tan. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/28 "2007-10-21T12:52:09Z")
I had white jeans in the late 80’s. Also very fond memories of a girl in pink jeans and what it took to get them off… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/29 "2007-10-21T12:58:25Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I don’t cap my name because I am of the masses. Peace, mangeorge ND [/QUOTE] You know, they make a _salve_ that can help with that… ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/30 "2007-10-21T13:12:44Z")
Can’t add much, but thought I’d link in the discussion at Wiki about [denim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim), the cloth (which name is a shortening of the French _de Nimes_, where a similar sturdy fabric was made. If you have never looked into it before, the history of fabrics is a fascinating study. Took for me working as a manager in a department store before I discovered just how fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/31 "2007-10-21T14:01:24Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Wrong. Captain kangaroo wore the silly red coat. Mr. Greenjeans did indeed wear overalls. Green ones. [/QUOTE] Looks like he had two outfits: Mr. Green Jeans and the Captain: [http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/captain.jpg](http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/captain.jpg) In jeans: [http://www.big13.net/Photofweek/MrGreenJeans.jpg](http://www.big13.net/Photofweek/MrGreenJeans.jpg) Overalls: [http://timstvshowcase.com/kangaroo7.jpg](http://timstvshowcase.com/kangaroo7.jpg) Jeans: [http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/gallery/photo/Hensley\_Kangaroo\_f.jpg](http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/gallery/photo/Hensley_Kangaroo_f.jpg) Overalls: [http://graphics.ink19.com/magazine/features/captainKangaroo.jpeg](http://graphics.ink19.com/magazine/features/captainKangaroo.jpeg) Jeans: [http://timstvshowcase.com/kangaro2.jpg](http://timstvshowcase.com/kangaro2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/32 "2007-10-21T14:25:15Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] Can’t add much, but thought I’d link in the discussion at Wiki about [denim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim), the cloth (which name is a shortening of the French _de Nimes_, where a similar sturdy fabric was made. If you have never looked into it before, the history of fabrics is a fascinating study. Took for me working as a manager in a department store before I discovered just how fascinating. [/QUOTE] For me, the most fascinating so far would be silk. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/33 "2007-10-21T14:50:39Z")
I recall a company that sold jeans & jean jackets (those short ones like Billy Jack wore) in raw, un-dyed denim. Everything looked like painters dropcloth. I still have a pair of white jeans, with tapered legs. They look good with a white oxford shirt and canvas deck shoes, although the “Professor of Gilligan’s Island” connecton is unavoidable. But what color what Captain Kangaroo’s jacket? Was it always red, which can photograph in B&W as black? And another question: what kind of captain was he? A fireman captain, or was he a train conductor? Or was he a captain on some secret police force, indoctrinating children by day, tortuing suspects with ping pong balls by night? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/34 "2007-10-21T14:57:08Z")
[QUOTE=Slithy Tove] But what color what Captain Kangaroo’s jacket? Was it always red, which can photograph in B&W as black? [/QUOTE] Looks like he had a black one and maybe a blue one before he settled on red: [Captain Kangaroo](http://www.tvparty.com/lostterrytoons.html) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/35 "2007-10-21T15:21:05Z")
Upon reflection I’ve realized that I didn’t watch The Captain very much. Not surprising in that I was 10 when the show first aired. My dids watched it some when they were little, but they were more into Sesame Street and Pee-wee’s Playhouse. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/36 "2007-10-21T15:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] For me, the most fascinating so far would be silk. [/QUOTE] Yes, what is really fascinating about silk (and other fabrics) is how inventive man can be at finding ways to make thread, yarn and cloth. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/37 "2007-10-21T16:55:58Z")
I know that black jeans were readily available in 1977, because I started wearing them after seeing them referenced in literature. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/38 "2007-10-21T18:04:49Z")
Actually blue is one of the newfangled colors. The original color of jeans is indigo; distinctly different from blue. Think about it–imagine a brand new pair of dark “blue” jeans–would you call that color blue in any other context? I wouldn’t. There’s just too much purple in it for it to be blue. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/39 "2007-10-21T18:11:01Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Just having you on. Though I do have a semi-commie streak through my soul 🙂 [/QUOTE] man;george? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/40 "2007-10-21T18:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] man;george? [/QUOTE] Commie, not colon. I don’t have a colon. Wait a minute! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426.md?page=3)