HOW TO SHOP FOR VINTAGE JEANS WHEN YOU'RE PETITE & CURVY

NOTE: This blog post contains “affiliate links” (i.e. a link with a special tracking code). If you purchase something via “affiliate links” on my blog, I may earn commission.

I’ve always wanted to buy a pair of vintage jeans, but have struggled to find styles that fit me well. The biggest challenges that I’ve encountered when shopping for vintage jeans are no spandex and inconsistent sizing. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it's that when you’re going thrift/vintage shopping the number one thing you’re going to need is patience.

Here are my six tips to make the shopping process easier:

1. Find a store with a wide selection - One of my favorite places in New York to shop for vintage denim is L Train Vintage/No Relation Vintage because they have so many styles to pick from. Choosing a place with lot’s of options is one way you can improve your odds of finding a style you like.

2. Size up - I’vs often found that a vintage size 6 feels a lot smaller than size 6 you’d buy new at the store today. Therefore, I recommend trying on a size or two larger than what you typically wear. Sizing scales have evolved over time, and the size we see today has a smaller numeric number assigned to it than it did historically. Moral of the story: don't beat yourself up for needing to size up!

3. Try on lots of options - When in doubt, grab more styles than you think you need to try on. I'd recommend taking 6-10 pairs of jeans into the dressing room to try on. It sounds like a lot, but it increases the chances you’ll find something that fits you well.

4. Find your favorite fit - Once you find a fit that you love from the vintage styles you tried on, write it down! For example, I found that Levi’s 512 fit worked well for my body type. If I ever want another pair of the same jeans in a different color perhaps, I can now also shop for this style number online at re-sale websites like Ebay and Poshmark. If you are specifically looking for the Levi’s 512 jeans, I’ve seen options for sale at: Ebay, Etsy, Poshmark , Depop and Levi’s Secondhand.

5. Be open to having them altered (especially if you're petite) - It’s really hard to find new jeans that fit, let alone vintage ones! The pair of Levi’s I found at L Train Vintage, I ultimately had to get them hemmed because they were a Size 6 Long. Find a great tailor, who will preserve the integrity of the denim, but alter them just right for you.

6. Know your body measurements - While most of the tips I’ve shared so far pertain to in person shopping, I also wanted to share a tip to help with online shopping since the pandemic has changed things. Learning your body measurements (especially your inseam) is a huge help because many resellers will list the garment measurements of the jeans. You can compare your body measurements to the garment measurements to estimate if they might fit you. Want to learn how to take your body measurements? You can sign up to watch the replay of my free class here! Also during the class we cover how to compare your body measurements to garment measurements to determine if an item will fit you.

PULL UP FOR CHANGE MOVEMENT: Levi’s currently has 5% Black representation in corporate roles, under 2% in leadership roles, and 0% on the board. The level of Black representation at Levi’s is below the 10% benchmark set by Sharon Chuter the founder  of the movement. This benchmark was chosen because it represents the percentage of Black college graduates in the US.