Denim heads looking for a fun quarantine activity can mark their calendars for May 20—the day jeans were born.
On May 20, 1873, Levi’s received a patent for the first-ever riveted pants, then known as “waist overalls.” The pants quickly became a best-selling men’s garment and have since evolved into a fashion staple worn by all genders and demographics, serving as a literal common thread between blue-collar workers, top models and everyone in between.
In honor of 147 years of jeans, Rivet put together a denim party guide complete with jeans-themed food and drink, denim décor and crafty activities to celebrate the unifying nature of denim. And with isolation concerns surrounding COVID-19, a house “party” with your quarantine crew—and virtual guests—is a responsible way to spark creativity and fun.
Food and drink: denim delights
The party can’t start without a themed drink in hand, so we recommend mixing up Betty Crocker’s “Royal Blue Cocktail” for all of the blue bloods in the room.
Mix 1/4 cup cranberry juice, 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce curacao and 1 tablespoon lime juice in a martini glass rimmed with sugar. For a nonalcoholic version, substitute vodka and curacao with soda water and a few drops of blue food coloring.
Cookies are an essential snack for any gathering—and these skinny jeans cookie cutters from SweetPrintsInc’s Etsy shop will keep the dessert on-theme for the party. Featuring waistband and pocketing details, the baking tool is available in sizes XS-XL, depending on how big of a statement you want to make. Dust treats with Wilton Blue Sugar Sprinkles to complete the look.
Related Story
Finally, no birthday is complete without a cake. Follow the instructions of your favorite cake mix and fast forward to the fun part: decorating your edible masterpiece. Use sprinkles, colored frosting and birthday candles to jazz it up.
We recommend finishing with denim-themed cake and cupcake toppers for an added effect.
Décor
Order some classic red and blue bandana balloons to keep with the denim workwear Western and remind everyone of the fabric’s rugged origin.
Be sure to dress up the table that holds your refreshments—cover it with a denim table cloth like this one made of chambray from Wayfair, featuring thick white stripe accents along the border. Table settings like these “denim” paper plates from Zazzle and blue utensils from Posh Party Supplies coincide with the theme and make for easy cleanup.
Denim pocket silverware holders from WindmillCntryThreads’ Etsy store may be extra, but they’re sure to be a hit and can be reused for other future gatherings.
Finally, add a denim banner like this one from Ahmelie’s Etsy store. Featuring scraps of denim in an array of washes, the added detail is an easy way to make the party feel more festive.
Activities
It’s only fitting that DIY denim activities would be the focal point of a denim party—especially as DIY denim looks are trending all over social media, with people currently cooped up indoors with a closet full of unused clothes. Try your hand at the latest TikTok and Instagram sensation: half-bleached denim. Take an old pair of jeans and cover one leg with a trash bag to keep it protected. Be sure to wear gloves and clothing you don’t mind getting splashed with bleach. Then, carefully cover the exposed leg in a layer of household bleach and let sit for two hours. Rinse with cold water and air dry, watching as your old jeans become a trendy statement piece.
For those who want something simpler (or just less messy), Levi’s is offering a free denim-themed coloring book available for download on its blog. Scenes include men, women and children wearing denim in different settings—while working on a ranch, lounging on a couch and riding a bike. Set up a coloring station with copies of these printed pages for all of your guests.
And finally, set up a denim movie marathon for in-person guests (virtual guests can stream the same movies in the comfort of their own home). See Rivet’s picks for top denim movies, including “The Outsiders,” “Grease,” “Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood” and more.
Party on!