Is There a Such Thing as White Acid-Washed Skinny Jeans?

The 80s have been enjoying a resurgence in fashion, with those in the know donning over the shoulder tops, leg warmers, blue eyeliner and yes, even acid wash jeans. If youre brave enough, you could incorporate the controversial trend into a spring/summer wardrobe for the 21st century with a pair of white acid-washed skinny jeans.

History of Acid Wash

80s fashion is practically synonymous with acid wash, a technique that gives a random, patched, faded and bleached pattern to denim and was seen on everyone from Tiffany to Madonna. The technique was first patented by Italys Rifle Group. To get the look, dry denim is bleached and put into a rotating drum next to granulated pumice soaked with hypochlorite salts, which scrapes the denim to give it a rough, scratched pattern.

Acid Wash Revival

Todays acid wash jeans are a little different from those of yesteryear. They come in many different colors -- everything from purple to blue to white. White acid-washed jeans are basically blue jeans that are covered with more bleach than usual, leaving only small amounts of the original blue denim color showing through.

Make Your Own

You can either purchase ready made acid-washed jeans or make them at home with a pair of jeans you already own. First, soak pumice stones in bleach overnight. The next day, mix two parts bleach with one part water in a spray bottle and spray the jeans where you want to get the acid wash look. Take the soaked pumice stones and rub the areas that you chose. Let the jeans sit for 15 minutes, then wash them with a little bit of sodium bisulphate. Finally, dry them in the dryer.

White Acid Wash

Incorporating white acid wash jeans into a wardrobe is not for the shy, and the trend should probably be reserved for the super edgy or under 30 set. Case in point: Oprah magazine named the trend as one of six fall styles to avoid. But if youve got the guts, work in a creative industry or are part of the hipster set, a pair of white acid-washed skinny jeans would be a nice addition to your wardrobe.

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