For The New Black Woman

DENIM is hot, as in "gotta have it now." Denim is cool--you can wear it almost anywhere. Denim is "in"--in-style and en vogue. Denim is comfortable: read "I can live in this."

Regardless of your job, lifestyle, age or figure, you can wear denim and wear it with style.

These days, top-name designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui are taking the durable, cotton fabric and fashioning it into stylish creations. This season, denim is popular on the runways from New York to Paris to Milan and in South Africa. South African designer Bonga Bhengu recently showed in New York several two-tone denim outfits cleverly accented with safety pins.

Renowned designers such as Ralph Lauren long have been known for jeans but now offer a more extensive line of denim styles. Famous shoe designers who have taken to denim include Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Jimmy Choo, who like the stiffness and crisp ruggedness of the endearing and enduring fabric. Christian Dior is among the many designers showcasing denim handbags.

A number of African-American-owned design houses specialize in urban apparel, and denim is the favored fabric. Denim hip-hop gear is a staple of FUBU, Karl Kani, Roc-A-Fella, Russell Simmons' Phat Farm line, and Sean (Puffy) Combs' Sean John line. All have expanded beyond just blue jeans and have made millions by offering an abundant variety of denim attire.

At star-studded social events in Hollywood and New York, and everywhere in between, celebrities and social/fashion mavens strut the red carpet in denim attire that range from jeweled jeans to midriff tops to sassy skirts and evening attire.

As is evident on the streets and in the 'hoods from Boston to Oakland, from Detroit to Atlanta, denim is as popular as ever with stylish Brothers and Sisters who love the fabric's durability, comfort, easy care and seasonless charm. Jeans are favorites with hip-hoppers but also are the preferred casual wear for college students and career professionals...