Denim is so ingrained into pop culture, it’s easy to take its influence for granted. Sure, it’s charming when a celebrity buys jeans we can shop ourselves—but we’re ultimately not that surprised when they do. (Don’t forget that, nearly a year ago, all it took for Meghan Markle to become the world’s most relatable royal-to-be was a pair of distressed jeans.) But denim has irreversibly altered the fashion landscape, despite its relatively brief history. (The first women’s jeans weren’t released until 1934, though denim wasn’t considered “acceptable” for women’s wardrobes until the late forties.) Still, denim broke down certain gender and class barriers other types of apparel hadn’t because of its nearly universal appeal. And its most extreme reinterpretations—like, when a public figure stepped out in a surprising take on the style—challenged conventions of what we wear and how we wear it today.

Pop culture played an important role in denim’s rise to ubiquity. Look back on the past eighty-odd years, and a handful of key moments from entertainment, politics, and fashion stand out. And there’s a reason why we still talk about them. Here, we revisit some of the most influential denim outfits from the past century.

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