I love a good pair of Levi's.

Light-wash, broken-in, button-fly, booty-huggin Levi's. There's a reason they haven't really changed for 50 years. They go with everything in your closet and they get better with age.If you're not into thrifting like I am, there are still plenty of ways to find a good pair. You just need a measuring tape and a few good online shops. I'm going to give you a quick education to finding your perfect fit.

Step 1:

Find a pair of pants that fits you snugly and that sits at a higher rise on you, somewhere around your belly button. Lay them flat and measure from the crotch to the top hem. That is the "rise".

Step 2:

Laying the pants flat, measure the waist. In vintage jeans the size on the back tag does not usually correspond to your modern size you are used to wearing, because this denim was bought raw and shrunk to fit. So the tag size will usually read 1-2 sizes larger than your modern size.

Step 3:

Measure your pants from pocket to pocket, to get your hip size. Lastly, measure the inseam from the crotch to the bottom hem. It helps to do this on a pair of pants that is cropped a few inches above your ankle.

Step 4:

Find a vintage shop online that gives you the waist, rise, hips and inseam measurements. Note also that for these jeans, they will stretch a bit to fit you after a few wears, so you want to size a little bit down so that they don't bag out after time.

Here are a few of my favorites online shops for Levi's. (I know there must be so many more! Please leave me some comments below if you have a favorite I missed. )

Shop Future, Rawson, Fair Season Vintage, Courtyard LA

My top is by Miranda Bennett Studio, Mules c/o Freda Salvador + Hat (borrowed from Taylor) by Janessa Leone / Photo Location Le Marais Bakery in San Francisco

Happy Levi's Hunting ladies!

XO,

Em