by Kathy Deutsch

Created on: July 29, 2009

The beauty of vintage jeans is twofold. They are pre-worn, so the fading, the wear marks, the fraying, is authentic. No mechanism can create proper use-marks on new denim. New jeans look like new jeans, no matter how the company tries to make them "worn". Vintage jeans have another advantage over new clothes-the fabric. Real denim, made of 100% cotton, is almost impossible to find in new clothing. Even the most high-end new jeans are made from partial-polyester cloth. The advent of stretch denim has wiped out the use of all-cotton fabric. Sadly, these stretch jeans wear poorly, stretch out, and look bad after just one year. These pants will never be around long enough to become vintage. It is well-worth the time to seek out vintage jeans.

First, reconcile yourself to a day of trying on clothes. Go jeans shopping in sweats, easy to slip off and on. Or consider leggings, and try on pants over the leggings. Secondly, before you go, take your measurements-honestly-and write them down. Put the measurements and the tape measure in your bag to carry into the shops. And, finally, decide how much you are willing to pay, plus how many pairs you might be looking for. You must be flexible in what you are looking for, but impulse buying is a waste of money.

Another consideration is the style of jeans you are looking for. Old wacky 1980's jeans are fascinating to try on, but will you wear them-ever? Old worn out classic denims look rugged, but will they fall apart in the first wash?

You will find vintage jeans in five places: garage/tag sales, thrift shops, resale stores, vintage/antique shops, and on-line. The cheapest place is garage and tag sales because they last only one day, so the sellers will cut prices to move the stuff out. This is the best way to get really odd stuff, including retro-trendy and weird jeans. You must make quick decisions, however, so no one buys the clothing out from under you. You must carry cash to garage sales and go early for the best selection (or late for the best prices).

Thrift shops are great for a wide selection of moderately-priced pants. Not as cheap as garage sales, but with the convenience of dressing rooms, air conditioning, and (possibly) the ability to use credit cards.

Resale shops are much more expensive than thrifts, and are for vintage pants that are barely worn. The people who put their clothes in resale shops expect money for their vintage jeans, and expect you to pay. But resale shops will have high-end vintage denim that may have never been worn, lovingly cared for before it was resold.

Vintage and antique shops will definitely have the prime denim. They owners will only take in the best, most interesting denim. But they know exactly what they have, and prices will be high. I cannot think of a better place to find precisely the right 1950's cowboy Wranglers.

On-line sources, like ebay and etsy, are my favorite places to find good denim. If I am looking for a specific type of color, denim, or brand, I go to the Internet. It saves me time. However, it is not as much fun as riffling through a thrift shop or browsing a garage sale.

Once you nab those perfect pants, the vintage denim of your dreams, treat it well. Hand-wash or machine wash on a delicate cycle, using shampoo. Do not use a dryer-let the jeans air-dry for maximum life. Older pants cannot withstand the heat and tumbling of a machine dryer. Repair all tears promptly-unless you want the rips for character. Love your jeans for the pieces of wearable art they are. Remember, they are irreplaceable. You will never find them again.

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