In this episode of Too Young To Be Old, Diane Gilman, the iconic queen of denim fashion, takes us on a fascinating journey through the history, cultural significance, and timeless appeal of the beloved jean jacket. Diane’s love for fashion, especially denim, shines through as she shares personal anecdotes and historical insights that have shaped her iconic career.

A Heritage Classic: The Mighty Jean Jacket

Diane opens the episode by discussing what she refers to as the “heritage classic” — the jean jacket. She dispels the myth that denim ever went out of style, emphasizing that it has been a fashion staple for over 140 years. From its humble beginnings as workwear for men, denim evolved into a symbol of rebellion, creativity, and timeless fashion for both men and women.

The History of Denim and Indigo Dye

Diane delves into the fascinating origins of denim and the use of indigo dye, a practice that dates back over 4,000 years. Listeners learn about how Levi Strauss brought denim to America, making it a fashion mainstay. She explains that jean jackets were initially called “trucker jackets” in the early 19th century, and recalls her early days of shopping for denim in hardware stores, as there were no women’s denim options available.

Personal Anecdotes: The Jean Jacket Odyssey

Diane shares an incredible story of her early career in fashion, recounting how she designed and hand-painted jean jackets for rock and roll legends such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Rod Stewart. A standout moment involves Diane gifting a custom jean jacket to Janis Joplin at a show on the Sunset Strip, which sparked her journey into creating bespoke denim pieces for music royalty.

Jean Jackets Through the Decades

Throughout the episode, Diane highlights how the jean jacket has adapted to different eras and personalities. From John Wayne in the 1940s to Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s, she illustrates how this versatile piece of clothing became synonymous with American culture. Diane also mentions how the 2000s saw a resurgence in jean jacket fashion, with stars like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake sporting denim couture on the red carpet.

Timeless Fashion for Every Woman

Diane explains why the jean jacket is a must-have item for women over 50. She provides styling tips for how to incorporate the jacket into your wardrobe, whether you prefer a fitted look or an oversized style. Diane emphasizes that the jean jacket is a perfect transitional piece from summer to fall and encourages listeners to get creative with their styling by adding embellishments or pairing the jacket with flowing skirts or fitted jeans.

A Fashion Canvas: Diane’s Love for Customizing Denim

For Diane, the jean jacket is more than just a piece of clothing — it’s a blank canvas for self-expression. She reminisces about her early days of painting and decorating jackets and encourages listeners to do the same by adding personal touches, such as brooches, patterns, or embellishments, to their own jackets.

Shop Diane’s Favorites

Diane has opened her own Amazon Storefront, where all these fabulous finds are listed. Be sure to check it out and shop her curated collection.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/dianegilm…

Connect with Diane

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedianegilman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDianeGilman/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thedianegilman/?hl=en

Stay up-to-date on upcoming announcements by signing up for our mailing list at: www.TheDianeGilman.com

You can get a copy of my book on Amazon:

www.amazon.com/Too-Young-Be-Old-Vibrant/dp/1637554532

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Diane Gilman Too Young To Be Old with Diane Gilman

A fashion rule-breaker with millions of loyal fans, the charismatic pearl-haired, “Queen of Jeans,” Diane Gilman is 78 years young and embracing aging instead of fighting it. An inspiration for women embracing their third act, Diane is The top Tele-retailing brand globally who is just getting started, and not unlike many women’s stories, recognition for Diane came later in life with the launch of her DG2 Jeans line on HSN which has become the top tele-retailing brand globally, over $100 million dollars a year in retail sales domestically, could be seen on QVC UK, Italy, France, Australia & Canada. Her latest book, “Too Young to be Old,” is another compelling take on conquering life’s challenges and harnessing one’s own power to live a “third act” filled with dream-catching and fulfillment.

After 30 years of experience in front of the camera connecting with the baby boomer audience on television, Diane has set out to become a proaging advocate and a "Silver-haired Influencer". Through social media, YouTube and the launch of her podcast, Too Young To Be Old, Diane's goal is to educate and inspire the 50+ community in a range of lifestyle topics such as nutrition, health & wellness, fashion, beauty & skincare, and any other topics covering aging solutions.