5 Tips For Buying Vintage Levis

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or two, you are probably well aware that vintage Levis, particularly 501s, have re-emerged as a bonafide wardrobe staple. From a young age, I loved the look of 501s, especially because 1. I am from San Francisco (the city where Levis was founded) where Levis are practically a religion and 2. my dad who is my best bud and the ultimate cool guy used to wear them all the time during his teen years in the 70s and early 80s. To me, they are the classic jean and I do not think that I will ever be without them in my wardrobe. Levis' still makes 501s both for men and women, and while they retain the classic shape of the style and the heavy denim feel, I think that vintage 501s reign supreme. Despite vintage Levis being ubiquitous in the fashion discourse nowadays, they are not always the easiest items to get ahold of, so I thought that I'd give you some of my top tips on how to find the perfect vintage Levis.

Decide Whether or Not You Like the Feel of Heavy Denim ~ I think it's safe to assume that the majority of use have become accustomed to pretty stretchy and comfy jeans. However, stretchy and comfy vintage Levis are not. Because they are 100% cotton and have absolutely no elastane in them, vintage Levis have a very structured and rigid feel, which can take some getting used to if you don't wear heavy denim already. I personally do not mind at all the feeling of vintage Levis and am willing to make some concessions on comfort (not to say that they aren't comfortable at all, they just aren't as comfortable as some of my stretchier skinny jeans) for the look of that very structured denim. Before you invest in a pair, make sure you will be ok with that more rigid feel and be comfortable enough to wear them.

Know Your Budget ~ The good thing about vintage Levis is that they really can be bought at any price point. The cheapest I have found are around $45-50, but they can run up to as much as $350 a pair. The main difference in price point isn't so much based around quality (because at the end of the day they are all the same kind of jean made by the same manufacturer) as it is based on accessibility and rarity. It is very easy to get ahold of a pair of vintage Levis on Shop Re/Done, which retail for around $250 and are reworked for a more modern fit. However, if your price range is lower than that you will have to do more hunting around in vintage shops to find a pair that suits your needs. It definitely is not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of vintage Levis but if you want ease of access and an older, rarer pair you will most likely have to spend more.

Look for Vintage Stores That Specialize in Vintage Denim ~ While vintage stores will often have vintage jeans, it is even better to go to a vintage store that specializes in vintage denim and particularly vintage Levis because they know their stuff in terms of style and fit (which can be tricky and counterintuitive). My go-to store whenever I want a pair of vintage Levis is Slash Denim in Berkeley because they are practically a Levis-only vintage store and they have a higher quantity of vintage jeans than I have ever seen in any other vintage store (not to mention the fact that their staff is absolutely incredible and its a 35 year-old business).

Give It Time ~ I remember when I started my hunt for the perfect vintage Levi 501s it took me a long time to find the perfect pair and often it was a very frustrating process. If you are trying to do the same, give yourself time to find the perfect pair. It can be difficult to find vintage Levis, because they are just that: vintage, and therefore one-of-a-kind.  Not all 501s are cut the exact same (because they have been around for decades and the style has been altered throughout the years) so it can take some time to find a pair that fit your stylistic criteria. Sizing can also be an issue when it comes to vintage Levis because they do not follow the same sizing that jeans do now. For example I am usually a 27" waist and a 32" leg, however in vintage Levis I am often a 29" waist and a 30" leg. So give it time to find your perfect pair, I promise the wait will be worth it.

Don't Be Afraid to Go to the Tailor ~ Going off the topic of fit and sizing, once you find a pair of vintage Levis do not be afraid to take them to a good tailor if you need to make some adjustments to make them fit exactly the way you want. The first pair of vintage Levis I bought were a pair of 505s that I absolutely loved the fit of but they were a couple inches too long, so I took them to my tailor and had them hemmed to the exact length I needed to make them fit the way I wanted. If you do hem your jeans though make sure to tell your tailor to keep the original hem! Its almost impossible to find a pair of vintage jeans that fit the exact way you want or need them to so don't be afraid to get them hemmed, tapered, or taken in where needed, just make sure you go to a good tailor who is experienced at tailoring denim.

Happy denim shopping!

If I Could Only Own Three Glossier Products

It's no secret that I absolutely love Glossier. I love the aesthetic of the brand, I love the ethos of the brand, and don't even get me started on their Instagram feed *insert heart-eye emoji*. If you rummaged through my beauty stash you would find that I own nearly every product in the Glossier range, and I can easily say that I love every product that I have bought and they have become some of my workhorse beauty products. But as I don't want to bore you with going over every single Glossier product I own, I thought it would be much more useful to narrow down my top three products that I could not live without from the Glossier range.

Milky Jelly Cleanser ~ The hype was definitely real with the launch of the Milky Jelly Cleanser. In making it, Glossier took in hundreds of comments from their audience to formulate the perfect cleanser. I love how multi-tasking the cleanser it, as it both removes non-waterproof makeup effectively and cleanses the skin. The jelly texture is also really nice because it cleanses the skin without it feeling stripped or like there is still a residue (like some balm cleansers tend to do). I use this cleanser both morning and night and I don't see myself straying any time soon.

Balm Dotcom ~ My lips are incredibly dry year round, no matter how much water I consume, so I am constantly in need of lip balm. While I have loved lip balms like the Dior Crème de Rose in the past, the Glossier Balm Dotcom has cemented itself as my favorite all-time lip balm. For starters it comes in both flavored (my favorite of which is the rose version pictured here) and unflavored versions, which is nice because sometimes you don't always want a scented lip balm. The lip balm is also pretty thick and sticks around on your lips, but it actually does improve the condition of your lips after it has worn off. I had cracked lips after skiing for a few days, used the balm dotcom regularly and they were healed within a matter of a day or two, which I cannot say for many other lip balms. I also love the tube packaging, because it is far more sanitary for on-the-go than a pot style lip balm.

Boy Brow ~ Oh boy brow. I honestly do not know what I did before I had boy brow in my life. Might sound a tad dramatic, but it is seriously the best brow product I have found (and believe me I've tried a lot of brow products). I like boy brow so much because it really does everything: it gives the brows a some color, definition, and keeps them in place all day long. I am also glad that Glossier decided to go with a wax-based formula as opposed to a fiber-based formula (like the Benefit Gimme Brow) because I find the wax-based formula performs better and you don't get those little flecks of product falling down your face throughout the day, which I have experienced with fiber-based formulas. I'd say if you like that very brushed up, defined yet-natural brow look, you'll love boy brow.

The Night Out Makeup Edit

Being a fourth year in college, nights out at the bars with friends are definitely more frequent than perhaps I'd like to admit. As someone who loves makeup but likes to be relatively parred down in their makeup looks, I have been able to whittle my night-out look to a few products that I absolutely love and that pack more of a punch than my normal daytime makeup.

For starters, whenever I'm going out or am in any situation where pictures might be taken I will always use the Make Up Forever HD Foundation, I still have the original formula and have yet to try the Ultra formula, but from what I hear they are very similar. I normally blend this foundation in with a Beauty Blender to give more of a natural finish. I love wearing this foundation on a night out because it makes my skin look flawless without it feeling heavy or cakey on the skin; it also has no SPF so it's completely safe for flash photography. For the rest of the face I have been loving the Hourglass Ambient Edit in Surreal Light, because it just has everything you need in one. I normally go for Surreal Glow, which is a neutral peachy-rose blush, on the cheeks, Surreal Bronze Light as a bit of a bronzer/contour hybrid, the finishing powder in Surreal Light all over to set things, and the strobing powder in Surreal Strobe Light for a highlight.

When I'm going out I like to have the focus of my makeup be on my eyes since wearing a bold lip can be a bit of a pain in the butt to maintain. I finally got my hands on the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock after probably two years of going back and forth on whether it was worth it or not. Spoiler alert: it's totally worth it. The color is a really beautiful shimmery muted purple that really makes the green in my eyes stand out. The formulation is also the best eyeshadow formula for a night out because it takes about five seconds to scribble on the lids and blend out because it is so creamy, but it also stays put through hours of dancing. I then will pile on my favorite mascara, the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, another winner for a night out because it is waterproof and does not smudge even through the aforementioned dance sessions. Sometimes I don't use anything on my lips except for a bit of lip balm because I just can't be bothered, but if I do wear a lip product it is usually the Glossier Generation G in Like, which is a really natural pink color. I love this product because its matte and looks just like a stain so I don't ever have to worry about it wearing off in weird ways.

My Current Everyday Makeup Routine

I've been pretty proud of myself recently for streamlining my everyday makeup routine. Over the past few months I've made an effort to streamline my makeup collection in general, which has made getting ready a much faster process. While my everyday makeup is quite parred down and minimal, I absolutely love all the products I use on a regular basis and I don't see any of them falling to the wayside any time soon.

For starters, most days I use the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream, which I have written a full review of here, but the long and short of it is that this is one of best bases if you want a medium coverage but still want your skin to look healthy, natural, and dewy (I also love that it has a substantial SPF for daywear since I am so fair and prone to sun burns). Under the eyes I use the Bobbi Brown Corrector, which has been a favorite of mine for probably about 4 years now. I then go in with the Glossier Boy Brow, which is the best all-in-one brow product I have come across. It keeps the brows in place all day, gives them a fair amount of color, and achieves that whole vogue brow look that I love so much.

As far as eyeshadow goes, I've been keeping things pretty neutral and minimal. I generally use MAC Grain eyeshadow in the inner corners to brighten my eyes a bit and then go in with MAC Saddle eyeshadow all over the lids. Ever since I heard Anna talk about Saddle a few months back I knew I had to get my hands on it. It is a gorgeous orange-toned brown that, when applied all over the lids, nails that whole undone and slightly grungey warm eye look. I then use the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, which has been my mascara of choice for the past six months or so and I don't foresee myself trying any other mascaras any time soon. To finish everything off I sweep a bit of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion all over the cheeks. This is easily my favorite blush during the winter months because it is so brightening and flattering on pale skin (although I think this would also look gorgeous on darker skin tones than mine).

A New Foundation Find

Now I'll fully admit, I am very much behind on the It Cosmetics bandwagon, but with the purchase of their well-talked-about their Your Skin But Better CC cream, I am well and truly on the bandwagon. For starters, I have combination skin but lean dry during the winter time and more normal/oily during the summer months, however year round I always crave a dewy, natural complexion.

Although this product is marketed as a CC cream I would say that it is actually more of a medium coverage foundation with a very impressive SPF. Because the formula is pretty thick I love blending this base in with a beautyblender, I find that a beautyblender and this foundation make for the most beautiful natural base. While my skin does tend to get a bit shiny in the T-zone, I think that this foundation always looks glowy and never greasy. I don't think I have ever found a foundation that makes my skin look so healthy. If you're in the market for an everyday foundation (especially for daywear) I'd say give this one a go.