Monday, June 27, 2011

Tight jeans got their Start right here

I am sure you have noticed the increase of tight fitting jeans, better known as skinny jeans. Before skinny jean, people wore jeans as tight as they could get them. Giving life to a urban legend about death by shrinking jeans. This was busted by Mythbusters, but could not find a link to grant in pool shrinking his jeans. I would like to think that we can all thank an American artist who lived right here in Phoenix for making tight jeans a long standing pop culture icon. George QuaintanceI would like to say belated Happy Birthday to George Quaintance. What you’ve never heard of him? Your not alone. Tacshen recently released a book covering his art. In the early 1950s, he set up his own studio in Phoenix, Arizona, where he created the works of male figurative art he is best known for today.[caption id="attachment_610" align="alignright" width="195" caption="Art of George Quaintance"][/caption] Prior to AZ, he studied drawing and paint in New York, and Los Angeles, CA specializing in painting and photographing male athletes for popular physique magazines,Physique Pictorial art by George Quaintance such as Physique Pictorial edit by Bob Mizer of the famed Athletic Model Guild, or AMG. George Quaintance died of a heart attack in 1957, leaving a legacy of tight jeans and bulging muscles.

What if you wanted to dress like that today. Parr of Arizona, circa 1960One option would be Nu-Parr of Arizona. Started in the early 50’s by local architect Ralph Parachek where men and women can have custom undies, posing straps, swim suits, even jeans made just for you. Some utilizing the patterned created 50+ years ago. Those custom jeans are on my bucket list! Check their history.

Wishing George a belated Happy Birthday, and a deserved place in Phoenix and Art history.

1 comment:

  1. Parr was the best! I remember going to their store on 16th St. and the owner's wife was very kind. Great styles.

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