iconic denim photos

[AnOldFolkSong]

[reubensangwich]

Cowhands on the Spokane Ranch taken by John Vachon for the FSA 1935-1942

Man on the left in a nice tux, looks to be a 213 blouse. 

 

 

[CSL]

The small brimmed hats are an interesting touch. Not the stereotypical image that one tends to imagine in vintage pics like these.

[Double 0 Soul]

Someone had to ruin it..

John McEnroe & Studio54 regular Vitas Gerulaitis

Peak coke years 

Edited January 16 by Double 0 Soul

[Dr_Heech]

Nice Lee tux that John is rocking 👌 

[Double 0 Soul]

I quite liked this too.. c1983..

i've got the same 1978-83 orange label baseball shirt which John is wearing.. Vitas is wearing 78-82 pinwheel label

Both worth $$$$s nowadays!

🤓

 

[reubensangwich]

7 hours ago, CSL said:

The small brimmed hats are an interesting touch. Not the stereotypical image that one tends to imagine in vintage pics like these.

When perusing these photos I often see those fedora style hats on "cowhands." My theory is that these men probably came from cities, where shorter brims were the fashion, out to these ranches and farms looking for work during the depression. They needed appropriate work wear so they acquired Levi's and western boots, naturally, but the hat they already owned worked just fine, so why spend money on a wide brimmed hat?

I could be totally off base, but either way I love the look of them. 

[reubensangwich]

"Farmers waiting at the lumber yard office of the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative. Phoenx, Arizona" 

Photo by Russell Lee for the FSA, May 1940

Man wearing 501s with the cinch removed and a tool pocket added, a gem of a photograph. 

[CSL]

8 hours ago, reubensangwich said:

When perusing these photos I often see those fedora style hats on "cowhands." My theory is that these men probably came from cities, where shorter brims were the fashion, out to these ranches and farms looking for work during the depression. They needed appropriate work wear so they acquired Levi's and western boots, naturally, but the hat they already owned worked just fine, so why spend money on a wide brimmed hat?

I could be totally off base, but either way I love the look of them. 

That's quite possible but I notice that the hats in this particular photo are blocked in a western style, brims and crowns, rather than the a fedora shape.

[indigoeagle]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:20 PM, reubensangwich said:

When perusing these photos I often see those fedora style hats on "cowhands." My theory is that these men probably came from cities, where shorter brims were the fashion, out to these ranches and farms looking for work during the depression. They needed appropriate work wear so they acquired Levi's and western boots, naturally, but the hat they already owned worked just fine, so why spend money on a wide brimmed hat?

I could be totally off base, but either way I love the look of them. 

Wasn't there also this dude ranch phenomenon? People from the city spending time on farms to reconnect with the nature. A bit like todays yearning with people wearing hiking and exteme polar expedition clothes. But in the 30 and/or 40s, or 50s? Can't remember.

Does anyone know more about it?

[Dr_Heech]

@indigoeagle I think the Dude ranches were a phenomenon that happened as a direct result of the Great Depression (1929-33) where the Railway companies, desperate for paying passengers got together with Western ranches, who were on their knees financially to offer real working holidays for well heeled Easterners, who want that Cowboy lifestyle experience,  as a kind of badge of honour at the time?

Adding to this, Lady Levis came out in 1934, with suspender buttons, as well as exposed rivets, lot 401 to accommodate this new craze. Shortly replaced in 1935 by the 701 model which didn't have suspender buttons. 

Edited June 27 by Dr_Heech
To edit

[Double 0 Soul]

[Dr_Heech]

Been awhile.

If it's not already iconic, it should be - late 1930's photo of a cowboy wearing a Lee 101J.

 

 

Edited March 14 by Dr_Heech
To clarify

[Double 0 Soul]

 

[PBTony]

Dean marketing for Giant. Assume he's wearing Lee jeans (1955)

Warhol in some paint splattered, leg twisted 501s late 70s

Dennis Hopper in The American Friend (1977)

 

[Maynard Friedman]

Perhaps not iconic, but Johnny Marr in an Iron Heart jacket

[PBTony]

Heard Misfits was being re-released this week

[Dr_Heech]

A few photos of 501XX nicked from TheWorkwearyears on lg

1937 model

 

This 1937 pair look to have a double tab judging by the 'tab shadow' on the back left pocket?

 

Youth's 501XX 1937 model, look fresh out of the box..

 

 

Edited July 6 by Dr_Heech
To add stuff

[TripicalMidbooster]

First Pride March, 1970

[Dr_Heech]

On 1/4/2024 at 4:55 PM, Dr_Heech said:

 

 

Posted this a while ago but now someone has taken a deep dive into the image to give us this -

 

Zoomed in to show -

^ 501XXC model, the earliest 1937 model, before the 1937 first pocket flasher was introduced informing customers of Levi's new Patent and their concealed rivets.

C is supposed to stand for Concealed or Covered (?)

Edited September 5 by Dr_Heech

[Dr_Heech]

Another shot of Marilyn Monroe taking a break on the set of The Misfits. The three things l always wanted to know about her Stormrider: How old is it? Always tried to see the lining in the movie but never seen a clear enough shot of it. The other two questions are answered here: Corduroy collar: l can see the corduroy collar lies perpendicular to the collar edge rather than running across the collar (like my old one) and being a 1960 film, does it have an R after Lee or not? Well we can see that the black Lee tag from the left pocket flap has been removed completely so we have a conclusion if no answer.  Click twice for clarity. 

 

 

[PBTony]

Watching Misfits. 

Clark Gabel's character gets a great view of Monroe's off-cenre loop

 

 

[Double 0 Soul]

[frank]

On 9/3/2026 at 3:54 PM, PBTony said:

Watching Misfits. 

Clark Gabel's character gets a great view of Monroe's off-cenre loop

 

 

Only reason I have three Lee Westerner suits is because of Clark Gable here and Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field. 

[Dr_Heech]

3 hours ago, frank said:

Only reason I have three Lee Westerner suits is because of Clark Gable here and Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field. 

Fwiw Paul Newman in the film 'Hud' also wears a full Lee Westerner tux, at least in a couple of scenes.

[frank]

1 hour ago, Dr_Heech said:

Fwiw Paul Newman in the film 'Hud' also wears a full Lee Westerner tux, at least in a couple of scenes.

Elvis in Kissin' Cousins too! But his didnt fit nearly as nice as Gable's and Poitier's imo 

[PBTony]

Keith Haring