Fashion and Beauty 6th August 2025 by Stellar Magazine

The Story Behind Sydney Sweeney’s Thing for Blue Jeans

My jeans are blue

We’ve known for quite a while now that Sydney Sweeney has a soft spot for soft blues—evident from the dreamy palette of outfits she wore as Cassie in Euphoria, styled by Heidi Bivens in collaboration with the actress herself.

It’s also no secret that Sweeney is undeniably a jean girl, as her Instagram account often reveals her playful obsession to her fans. Even better known is the fact that Sweeney has a habit of “stealing” jeans from Cassie’s wardrobe, a perfectly understandable move, considering those jeans were custom-made to complement her figure flawlessly.

We can definitely agree that Cassie’s signature blue jeans suit Sydney Sweeney perfectly – arguably even more than those from American Eagle—the US-born streetwear brand aimed at teenagers and young adults. At least, this seems evident from the public’s reaction to the recent ad campaign featuring Sweeney.

The strong backlash from audiences wasn’t about the jeans themselves, but rather how they were presented—both visually and verbally—in the controversial advertisement.

American Eagle’s ad campaign featured a video of Sweeney lying on her back, buttoning up a pair of jeans, and speaking in a sultry voice about how “genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour.” Then came the punchline: “My jeans are blue.”

That’s where the backlash began. Viewers started reading between the lines, drawing connections to fascist propaganda that once pushed pseudoscientific beliefs about genetic purity and the supposed superiority of the Aryan race.

Sweeney—who happens to embody many traits tied to that ideal, from blue eyes and blonde hair to fair skin and a slender figure—is now facing accusations of promoting eugenics and white supremacy.

But is there truth to these claims? Does the online outrage toward her have merit—or is our hyper-aware culture digging too deep, hunting for controversy where there’s none to be found?

@metroentertainment The heat around Sydney’s latest advert continues 👀 @dojacat mocks Sydney Sweeney’s new American Eagle jeans advert on her TikTok. The advert has recieved backlash this week and has been described as ‘controversial’. #dojacat #sydneysweeney #americaneagle #celebrity #celebritynews #americaneaglejeans #americaneaglesydneysweeney ♬ original sound – Metro Entertainment

First of all, fair play to Sydney Sweeney for celebrating her beauty and her body, even if it happens to align with conventional beauty standards or, unintentionally, with what some might associate with conservative white ideals.

She was born this way—so what is she supposed to do? Destroy those features? Change herself? Stay hidden in her room just in case someone feels triggered by her appearance? Should she be cancelled for simply acknowledging that her genes contributed to her looks? Should her body type be erased from media representation just because it echoes an aesthetic once twisted and glorified by the Nazis?

Our answer is a firm no. But we can also understand—at least in part—the concerns coming from the other side. The discomfort surrounding this ad doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s tied to the broader political climate in the U.S., shaped by Donald Trump and his policies, which, as The Guardian puts it, aim “to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Back in 2022, Sweeney faced criticism after posting pictures from her mother’s birthday party, where fans quickly noticed guests wearing shirts celebrating “Blue Lives Matter”—a controversial countermovement to Black Lives Matter—and others sporting shirts that read “Make Sixty Great Again,” clearly referencing Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

 

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A post shared by Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney)

And the controversies didn’t stop there; others pointed out guests wearing MAGA hats, widely associated with policies advocating a form of soft eugenics. Responding to these accusations on Twitter, Sweeney urged everyone to stop making assumptions, emphasising it was simply an innocent celebration of her mom’s 60th birthday.

But human curiosity never stops, and assumptions continued, especially after it was revealed on Monday that Sweeney is officially registered as a Republican. This discovery unleashed another wave of backlash. But again, is this really a shocking revelation—particularly when nearly half of the U.S. population shares similar views, with 49.8 percent voting for Trump as well?

While some people are busy focusing their attention on perceived fascist propaganda, alleged promotion of eugenics, and fears of eliminating diversity, they’re missing the real problem that’s staring them directly in the face: the objectification of women’s bodies through the visuals presented in the ad.

Another American Eagle video, which was quickly removed by the brand, shows Sweeney stating, “My body composition is determined by my jeans,” as the camera slowly moves from her face downward to showcase those “great jeans” (or perhaps “great genes”). Yet suddenly, the cameraman seems distracted by her chest, focusing the shot there until Sweeney playfully remarks, “Hey, eyes up here.”

Honestly, in the 21st century—with limitless technological advancements, sophisticated equipment, and countless creative opportunities—American Eagle had every chance to craft a campaign that would have been, if not deeply meaningful, at least creatively fresh. Instead, they’ve fallen back on an outdated, primitive marketing strategy: the blatant sexualization of women’s bodies, a tactic people were already exhausted by at the end of the 20th century. Clearly, it’s high time American Eagle reconsidered their approach and perhaps hired a new content strategist.

We’ve seen this so many times before—most notably with the Calvin Klein ad featuring 15-year-old Brooke Shields and her provocative line: “Do you want to know what gets between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” It once seemed like society had recognised the issue of objectifying the female body and the harmful visibility trap it creates—a notion that makes girls believe the only way to be seen, appreciated, or powerful is through self-sexualization. And now what? Are we really moving backwards again?

@prettyarosio 1981: Brooke Shields for Calvin Klein | #brookeshields #calvinklein #fyp ♬ original sound – Arósio

Given that context, it’s no surprise that American Eagle’s campaign sparked backlash. What’s harder to believe, however, is the extreme overreaction—specifically, the accusations of promoting eugenics and fascism.

While many of us sympathise with Sydney Sweeney, who is facing a wave of online toxicity that feels largely unjustified, it’s still important to acknowledge that this American Eagle ad marks a disappointing step backward. Its hyper-sexualised tone echoes the late 20th century—an era we hoped we’d outgrown—especially considering the brand primarily targets teenage girls.

It also feels deeply retrograde when you consider all the hard work feminists have done over the years to challenge the objectification of women’s bodies and shift the cultural narrative toward empowerment and self-worth.

Words by Dana Shmyha