The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Jeans: Fits, Sizes, Brands (and How to Find Yours)

The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Jeans: Fits, Sizes, Brands (and How to Find Yours)

At United Vintage, when you order a bundle or a box, it’s all about surprise: you don’t choose the pieces in advance, and that’s what we love about vintage.

But when you open your parcel and find 4, 6, or even 10 different jeans, you better know what you’ve got in your hands!

So we’ve prepared a super simple guide to help you decode the sizes, fits, and brands of vintage jeans — to sort, resell, or keep the best ones.

🧵 1. Iconic fits to know (so you know who’ll love them)

📌 Mom
High-waisted, defined hips, tapered legs. Very 90s.
→ Often W26-W30 in our lots. Young female clients love them.

📌 Straight / Regular
Classic straight cut, unisex, goes with everything.
→ The easiest to resell — everyone’s looking for this fit.

📌 Wide leg / Baggy
Very wide from top to bottom. Popular with Y2K fashion.
→ Perfect for street looks or taller body types.

📌 Flare / Bootcut
Fitted at the top, flared at the bottom. Totally 70s or early 2000s depending on the brand.
→ Always double-check length (often L34 in bundles).

📌 Tapered / Carrot
Loose at the hips, tighter at the ankles. Old-school style.
→ Great for sharp or unisex looks.

📏 2. How to read US sizes (and convert them easily)

Most jeans we send come in US sizes.
You’ll often see labels like W28 L32.

Here’s how it works:

W = Waist (around the belly)
L = Length (inseam)

📐 Quick (approximate) conversion:

US Size (W) FR Women’s Size Waist (cm)
W24 34 ~60 cm
W26 36 ~66 cm
W28 38 ~71 cm
W30 40 ~76 cm
W32 42 ~81 cm
W34 44 ~86 cm

💡 Tip: If you want to resell, always measure the waist flat (in cm) — that’s what buyers are looking for on Vinted.

🏷️ 3. Brands worth looking out for (and we love finding them)

Levi’s – The classic. 501, 505, 550, 701… Every fit has its own vibe.
→ The 501 is the cult favorite (button fly, straight cut, mid rise).
→ The 550 is looser — a gem for vintage baggy looks.
→ The 701 is the ultra-flattering mom jean from the 80s.

Lee – Less mainstream, but top quality.
→ Often more rounded at the hips, perfect for pear-shaped bodies.

Wrangler – Pure western & ranch style.
→ Straight cuts, often high-waisted. We love the stitched back pockets.

Diesel, Miss Sixty, Tommy Hilfiger – Pure Y2K gold.
→ If you want true 2000s jeans, this is it.

💡 We get these brands regularly in bundles, so don’t hesitate to order now on our site by clicking right here!

🧽 4. How to care for your vintage jeans (and keep them for 10 years)

Wash cold or at 30°C, inside out. No tumble dryer.

No need to wash them often — denim wears better when it’s washed less.

If you want it faded or broken-in: let it live (or leave it in the sun).

For a stiff jean at first → wear it 2–3 days, it will soften naturally.

👀 In summary:

✔️ You don’t choose your jeans, but you can learn how to understand and value them
✔️ Knowing the sizes, fits and brands is key to reselling
✔️ Even if it doesn’t fit you, it might make someone else happy — and help you earn enough to order another bundle 💸

All good? Got everything? You can now head to our site to place your order or join us on Insta to learn more! Click here.

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