If you grew up during the 70’s, you HAD to remember Chemin de fer Jeans. ALL the rage! And that’s me up top, rockin’ the white button-up Chemin de fers, circa 1978. I think I got this pair at the House of Pants at Westgate, our local mall. Westgate Mall also had a JC Penny’s, Hart’s Department Store and Montgomery Wards as anchor stores. And a few other stores made up the rest of the mall – Kinney Shoes, Lotus Imports, Singer, Merle Norman, Musicland,Westgate Stationers and Leed’s to name a few.
And then I’m SOO stylin’ in my blue Ditto Jeans, probably listening to Chicago or Doobie Brothers! Don’t cha just love the 70’s decor on the wall! Yes, that IS a macrame owl hanging on the bricks. Along with a few of my moms paintings from the 70’s. And String Art. Who remembers String Art???
Suburbiakid's Blog 
Posted by Sandy on January 1, 2012 at 10:16 pm
So cute! LOVE the feathered hair! : )
Posted by Rebecca on January 18, 2012 at 2:40 am
I just googled “chemin de fer jeans” to try to come up with a picture of the sailor pants to share with the younger generation. I grew up in San Jose too. Do you remember the year that men’s button-fly 501’s were popular?
Posted by suburbiakid on January 18, 2012 at 4:12 am
Yup, I remember the 501’s – “shrink to fit” – I had quite a few of them, and I actually kept one pair! Still have them today. I think I got my first pair around 1980-81. I know I had them in ’81 because I paired them with my “Sex Wax” (surfboard wax) shirt! And who would’ve known that we’d be nostalgic for chemin de fer jeans!!!
Posted by Suzette on February 7, 2012 at 1:02 am
I can not find sailor paints like this for sale on the net! God knows, I have looked. I love your jeans I had the jean colored paints.
Posted by Sue on February 7, 2012 at 1:54 am
I seem to remember about 10 years ago some big name designer did a jean retro version of these sailor pants. A good resource might be a vintage clothing shop – not sure if there are any online, but we used to have Buffalo Trading here in San Jose, CA that had great vintage stuff. Good luck and I’ll let you know if I run across any place that has them!
Posted by Suzette on February 7, 2012 at 1:03 am
If you find these jeans, let me know!
Posted by katie on August 20, 2012 at 3:58 am
Thank you for posting this! My teen daughters are going back to high school tomorrow and I was just telling them about chemin de fer jeans. Loved showing them what mom wore in the early 80s! (They were horrified, LOL…)
Posted by Dorothy on March 15, 2013 at 6:14 am
Wow I saw this picture looking up Chemin de Fer pants and it brought me back to my younger years! Luv the hair and sailor pants! I gotta ask tho … Do you remember what that yellow pin is that you’re wearing? And what are you holding? Just curious. In this day it would be a cell phone LOL
Posted by suburbiakid on August 30, 2013 at 4:20 am
The yellow pin is a KOME pin – a local radio station back in the day. They had window decals as well. I think I’m holding a camera – one of the kodak thin ones. I’ll have to see if I can find an ad for one of those cameras …!
Posted by Vernon on September 18, 2014 at 6:06 am
Totally rad. I miss the Rag city blues zip-arounds and the Chamins. So awesome. KOME!!!! 98.5FM
Posted by al on August 11, 2016 at 2:44 pm
are you still as cute now ?
Posted by Whitnei L Barker on September 3, 2016 at 5:24 am
Bay area, right? Collins Jr. High or Cupertino High maybe? I SWEAR I recognize you – KOME, KSJO, Premiere Purses, Cherokee heels and Chemin deFer jeans!!
Posted by suburbiakid on September 4, 2016 at 11:41 pm
!Close! Rogers Jr High & Prospect High. Lived next to lynbrook high school tho.