How Denim Empowered These Women
3 Inspiring Stories That Prove Denim Is the Most Empowering Piece in Your Closet
Our love for denim knows no bounds. We wear it through childhood and into adulthood, to work and on the weekend, and alongside every imaginable fashion trend, season after season. But it's not just about denim's versatility and accessibility. It's about how it makes us feel: confident, strong, and capable. For many women, denim is more than just a piece of clothing. It plays a pivotal role in our wardrobe — and our identity.
This is especially true for three POPSUGAR staffers whose love affair with their jeans extends beyond the sartorial. These ladies transformed denim into a tool of empowerment, helping them remain bold, creative, and fearless during challenging times. It's inspiring stories like these that prove the transformative power of our favorite fabric, which is all the more reason to keep your tried-and-true pairs close at hand.
Denim helped Hannah jump-start her new adult life
Relocating from a small town to a bustling metropolitan is incredibly daunting, especially right out of college. Luckily, Hannah's favorite denim skirt was along for the ride to help her feel comfortable and confident, and to make the move in style.
"Right after college, I took a big risk and moved from a smaller town in North Carolina to Brooklyn on a whim. In school, I was used to living with my best friends and didn't completely understand how it felt to be on my own. My decision to relocate to New York and move in with random roommates has not only allowed me to step outside my comfort zone but has also helped me grow into a more independent and creative person.
"Denim has been and always will be a staple in my wardrobe because of its versatility and confidence-boosting power, so it's always my go-to choice. Wearing my trusty denim during my big move gave me the stability I needed throughout that new, scary, and exciting period of my life. Since then, I've come to love Brooklyn with my entire heart and soul. I've learned that it's the risks you take, the adventures you have, and the people you surround yourself with that truly matter the most." — Hannah Packer, creative intern
"Wearing my trusty denim during my big move gave me the stability I needed throughout that new, scary, and exciting period of my life."
Meki's favorite jeans allowed her to express herself during an important time
Voting is a major rite of passage for many citizens and signifies something different for each individual. For Meki, the 2012 election was her chance to get involved, voice her opinions, and put her mark on the world, and she couldn't have done it without her good-luck charm: a pair of comfortable jeans that allowed her to express herself and her style.
"I was in college, and it was my first time being old enough to vote in an election. I had never cared much about politics, but at this point of my life, I was coming into my own and figuring out what I really cared about, what I stood for, who I was. I was really feeling empowered, but I was also terrified because I was going to vote for the first time, and I really wanted it to matter, wanted to make a difference. My good-luck jeans made me feel 110 percent comfortable, like I'm in my element and nothing can bother me because I feel and look pretty damn good. And I went to vote for my president.
The experience of voting made me take a step back and really think about how involved I am in the politics that I never really paid attention to until I had to. It was the first step of my journey in understanding who I am as an American citizen and what I find important enough to fight for. And now you can't stop me from doing just that, especially when I'm in a good pair of jeans!" — Mekishana Pierre, associate social media strategist
"I was going to vote for the first time, and I really wanted it to matter, wanted to make a difference. So I put on my good-luck jeans that make me feel 110 percent comfortable, like I'm in my element and nothing can bother me because I feel and look pretty damn good."
Denim gave Shanna the confidence boost she needed in a new environment
For Shanna, a volunteer trip abroad was a once-in-a-lifetime experience she couldn't turn down. It was the perfect opportunity to give back while immersing herself in a different country and culture. While it's intimidating being on your own in a foreign land, she had her go-to figure-flattering jeans on hand to help her feel at ease.
"I spent some time in Peru volunteering at an orphanage to teach English to school-age children. I, along with the other volunteers (none of whom I knew), would accompany the kids while they did chores and had playtime, even helping some who were sick. I'm shy by nature around strangers, and one way I was able to feel comfortable and confident when meeting new people during my trip was by wearing my favorite jeans. That confidence allowed me to fully immerse myself in the culture and interact with the children, my host family, and my fellow volunteers, despite the language barrier. What I have taken away from the entire experience is that everyone, across all cultures, just wants the same thing: to feel loved and a part of something." — Shanna Greenberg, art director
"I'm shy by nature around strangers, and one way I was able to feel comfortable and confident when meeting new people during my trip was by wearing my favorite jeans."
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