How To Buy Vintage Denim

Vintage Denim: Weekend Wear

We all know shopping for vintage can be trying—fabrics are different, sizing is different, and the best finds often come with shoulder pads. Shopping for jeans is also difficult—all the various styles (high-rise, low-rise, flare, flood, skinny, etc) and brands (each with their own sizing system) make me want to live in sweatpants forever. Put those two together: shopping for vintage jeans, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. But, we shall persevere, because nothing looks as rad as a pair of lived-in, one-of-a-kind, vintage dungarees.

Luckily, I’m here to help! I’ve got a list of tips and resources for all your vintage denim needs.

1. Know your decades: Denim styles from the 90’s are cut to sit lower on your hips, while denim from the 70’s and 80’s are cut to be mid or high-waisted. You won’t be able to force a high-rise pair down on your hips, or a low-rise up to your belly button. Trust me, it just looks awkward.
2. Know your brands: Levis, Wrangler, and Lee are my go-tos. These brands have classic fits that are always in, and their fabrics distress really well over the years. I’ve also found great 80’s style denim from Guess and Jordache.
3. The cuff: If your denim is on the boyfriend side of the fit spectrum, I love the look of a cuff. I suggest one roll, a few inches high, but that’s just personal preference. If they’re not long enough for a cuff, I also like a raw hem. Just snip a few centimeters off, and fray away.
4. Try the men’s section: My 2 favorite pairs of vintage jeans were found on the men’s rack. One of them even has a wallet mark worn into the back right pocket (see this pair here). Depending on the decade, you can find men’s jeans that fit like boyfriend jeans (I wonder how that style got its name ), as well as high-rise fits. Just to note: men’s jeans won’t have any stretch in them.
5. Let someone else do the work: Let a pro hunt down the best denim for you! If you’re in NYC, stop by The Vintage Twin and their Jeanius Bar. Or try the men’s rack at L Train Vintage. If you’re shopping online, try Noirohio Vintage or Dive Vintage on Etsy.

In this post I’ve styled my vintage denim for the weekend, you can see a work-appropriate look using the exact same pair here! That’s it for now. I hope you’re more willing to rock some vintage denim!

Denim: vintage, similar | Tee: vintage, similar | Jacket: Topshop ON SALE |  Shoes: custom Nike Cortez | Bandana: similar | Earrings: Shein | Tote: The Wythe Hotel | Hat: vintage, similar