Is designer denim dead?

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At long last the Lanvin for Acne Studios denim collection is trickling into selected Barneys New York stores (including the Beverly Hills store) and online here. I was so inspired when I previewed the collection back in July, that we did a whole shoot for the Image section in the spirit of the cleaned-up, classically French-styled pieces. Of course now that the cold harsh reality of the recession has set in, that $890 denim shirt dress and those $730 denim trousers seem completely out of whack, pretty as they are. Come to think of it, the whole idea of high-end denim is fading about as fast as a pair of $196 ‘Rockstar Super Vixen’ True Religion jeans. I mean really, we’re talking about working man’s fabric here. What do you think? Is designer denim dead?

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Model in Lanvin top and jeans. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times