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A beat-down pair of Levi's 501s is an undeniable wardrobe essential. Everyone should have a pair or three. But vintage didn't become the hottest thing in fashion based on the time-worn classics alone. We are in a new era of secondhand-style, fueled by Y2K nostalgia, irresistible TikTok trends, and easier access than ever to troves of iconic vintage gear. 501s may be eternal, but every era and genre of fashion since the invention of denim has had styles and fits worth reviving. And the right pair of wild vintage denim can be the key to unlocking a new era for your personal style. We dug deep into the archives to unearth eight legendary pairs of vintage denim that go far beyond the 501, as styled and modeled by GQ fashion editor Brandon Tan. Use this guide to expand your vintage horizons.
'90s Nostalgia Done Right
Baggy Marithé + François Girbaud cargo jeans (from Procell) plus track jacket equals remixed (but not boring) ’90s nostalgia. Shop similar vintage pieces at eBay, Etsy, Grailed, and Depop.
Flares Are Lit
An attention-getting pair of ’70s Maverick flare jeans (Leisure Centre) calls for some equally bodacious colors.
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Go All-In on Overalls
I layered a humble pair of ’60s/’70s Sears hickory- stripe overalls (10ft Single by Stella Dallas) with luxe layers and The Row navy loafers.
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Hard-Hitting Workwear
Workwear deserves more workwear, so ’50s Sears Hercules farmer jeans and an OshKosh B’gosh jacket (Aloe Vera Vintage) get a shirt and tie.
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Something for the Fashion Heads
I gave Jean Paul Gaultier AW ’04 trompe l’oeil jeans (Artifact New York) a brown-tonal-wash Dries Van Noten denim jacket that hits the same notes.
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Studs on Studs on Studs
This set from the Wrangler archives only needed a white tee to ground it and some silver jewelry to pick up on that studded magic.
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The Classic Crease
With proper cuffed hems and a knife-sharp center crease, these vintage denim trousers (Golden State Vintage) prove jeans aren’t afraid to be formal.
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Patches Gone Mad
Inspired by the rebuilt chaos of these reworked ’80s seafarer jeans with vintage fabric patches (Sole in Viaggio), I added the all-natural neutral: leopard.
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