Fashion Girls Swear By These Vintage Jean Brands
There’s one piece of clothing every fashion girl owns. It’s not a dress from an of-the-moment brand or a designer bag or even the season’s It shoes—it’s vintage denim. Yep, you’ll find at least one pair of vintage jeans in their closets. Vintage jeans are a classic standby, but they are definitely having a moment right now. Rigid denim with a high rise and straight legs are winning out over other styles like skinny jeans with stretch that have been popular over the last decade. But where is the best place to buy them?
To find out, we turned to fashion girls to see where they buy their favorite styles. Whether you’re interested in finding true jeans from the ’90s or vintage-inspired denim, we’re bringing you the very best places to buy them.
Go on to shop the best vintage jean brands and find out exactly where fashion girls find the styles they swear by.
"When it comes to shopping IRL for vintage denim, my go-to spots in L.A. are Scout, Lot Stock and Barrel, and Collection LA. I could spend hours trying on different denim fits, which is why I prefer to shop in person for vintage denim, but if I'm shopping online, I always check out Fair Season and Reformation's vintage stock." — Michelle Scanga, managing editor
"My go-to brand for affordable, vintage-inspired jeans is definitely Topshop (specifically, its "mom jeans" section). It has the perfect variety of colors (without feeling overwhelming), and I love that the jeans come in different lengths so I can skip the tailor. Plus, with the exception of a few embroidered or limited-edition styles, they're all under $100, so it doesn't really get better than that." — Nicole Akhtarzad, market editor
"I have always loved OshKosh vintage jeans for the '90s-girl feel. I wear them with a crop top and simple heeled sandals for a funky going-out look. Something else I've been dying to try is getting my jeans painted by S|H. Basically, you send them your favorite pair of jeans, and the brand will paint them like this!" — Lauren Eggersten, associate editor
"These aren't technically vintage, but they have a well-worn look that I love. The straight-leg, high-waist silhouette is characteristic of vintage jeans, but you get the benefit of a modern fit." — Erin Fitzpatrick, news editor
"I prefer vintage jeans that have been reworked to reflect today's styles, but they can definitely get pricey. Somehow, Urban Outfitters' Urban Renewal line has lots of cool options, and they're pretty much always under $100. And it's not just Levi's—its also has Wranglers and Lees, in case you want something a little different." — Allyson Payer, editor
"When it comes to vintage jeans, I have to actually try on a pair to make sure they fit exactly how I want them to. I've always had the best luck finding authentic 501's and other great pairs at my local flea markets because the vendors travel all over in search of the best denim. Pro tip: I always go straight for the men's section because the fit and quality of men's cuts are usually better. If I do shop online, I really like what the brand B Sides is doing to make vintage-inspired jeans from super-authentic fabrics." — Anna LaPlaca, assistant editor
"Vintage-inspired denim is pretty much all I wear. Anything with a high rise, straight leg, and medium wash is my standard. I especially love reworked vintage Levi’s from Re/Done. Its Crawford style is inspired by Cindy’s favorite pair from the '90s." — Kristen Nichols, associate editor
SHOP MORE VINTAGE-INSPIRED JEANS:
We love these jeans with a simple tee and sneakers.
Our favorite outfit is vintage jeans, a white tee, black boots, and a leather jacket.
This pair of light-wash denim definitely gives us vintage vibes.
This post was published at an earlier date and has been updated.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear where she oversees luxury, runway content, and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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