Finding well-cut jeans for your pair of legs can be tricky enough, even taking the time to try them on in the fitting rooms of brick-and-mortar stores. But then, in thrift stores or on second-hand sites, it can quickly become mission impossible…
… Or conversely, the bargain fair, if you know a few tricks to get out of it almost every time. Especially since slightly baggy cuts with a vintage look, such as mom, boyfriend, straight or flare jeans, are well on their way to staying stylish for a long time to come, and suit many body types!
Step 1: take measurements… on another pair of jeans already at home
Where new clothing e-shops often offer guides for choosing the right size, all this becomes irrelevant when it comes to second hand clothing. Especially since a size 44 from the 1920s rarely equals the same thing in the 1990s.
Suddenly, it may seem obvious, yet we don’t always think about it: taking and knowing your basic measurements such as waist circumference, hips and leg length makes online shopping for pants much easier.
That’s the theory. But in practice, it gets more complicated. Because it’s impossible to find exactly the same numbers on an online model, and that doesn’t shed light on the leeway you might need to feel like a kid.
That is why, to be sure of orienting yourself, you can take one of your favorite pants as a point of reference. It can serve as your banner to determine waist, hip, crotch to crotch and leg measurements in which you have already experienced that you feel really comfortable. And then extrapolate consciously, with respect to what you find online.
It will become easier to imagine what an extra inch or two of waistline would look like on a model spotted online, if you’re referring to the pants you already have at home.
Step 2: Take into account the absence or presence of elastane
Even if the cut and wash pretend to be vintage, contemporary jeans often contain elastaneunlike most 20th century designs.
An important parameter to take into consideration to feel comfortable in 100% cotton trousers! When in doubt, for maximum comfort, it is better to oversize by a few centimetres.
You can always add a belt to jeans that are too baggy at the waist, or tuck the fly button into the side loop for a cheat (see the Instagram video above). But sadly there isn’t much you can do with jeans that are too tight at the waist…
On the other hand, if the model that catches your eye already contains elastane, you can stick to the measurements of your favorite reference pants.
Step 3: Consider unpicking or rolling the hem to vary the length of the leg
Finally, if you’re small, you must have a habit of rolling or re-hemming your pants. This also works for jeans, of course, as well know that cutting them with scissors creates a clean edge that frays well.
And if you’re tall, note that too you can unstitch the existing hem and thus gain a few centimeters (2 to 5 cm, on average) thanks to the extra material folded in this point. You probably won’t have enough material to redo a hem, but leaving a frayed raw edge remains a stylish option that’s up to you to take on!
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
