How to Get the Vintage Denim Look Without Vintage Jeans

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Unearthing that perfect pair of vintage jeans is the sartorial equivalent of a pot of gold. It's rigid in material, it sits high on the waist, its wash is neither too dark nor too light, and it boasts a silhouette that's straight, with a slim fit. Oh, and it makes your butt look really, really good. But when you don't have the time or the patience to sift through stacks of denim in search for this elusive unicorn of a pair, then it all seems like a lost cause. Factor in confusing vintage sizing and the sheer volume of stuff in thrift stores, and it's enough to weaken anyone's resolve.

Luckily, denim brands know this. They see the demand, they understand how frustrating the process can be, and they've blessed us with a solution: non-vintage vintage jeans. Even Re/Done, the label famous for deconstructing and reconstructing vintage Levi's, has launched its modern take on vintage denim. And Levi's, the maker of the Holy Grail of vintage denim, continues to roll out classic 501s and 505s, but rendered in modern-day sizing and fits (the most recent? a skinny version of the 501s).

Scroll through to shop your dream vintage jeans—without having to step foot in a vintage store.

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FRAME

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$295 Frame Denim available at frame-store.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

Frame brought back 11 classics from its archives all reconstructed in a new, specially developed denim for its vintage-inspired Rigid Re-Release Collection.

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Rebecca Taylor

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$195 Rebecca Taylor available at rebeccataylor.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

High-waist with a straight leg, this one looks like a vintage style, but with a touch of modern-day stretch for comfort.

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LEVI'S

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$98 Levi's available at levi.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

The Holy Grail of vintage denim? Levi's 501s and 505s, of course. And the brand is taking advantage of that with the roll-out of modern version of the classics, like the 501 skinny (shown here), or the 505C.

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re/done originals

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$287 Re/done available at matchesfashion.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

Inspired by vintage styles, Re/Done has launched an Originals line that features one-percent stretch and in-demand washes.

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GRLFRND

$228 available at revolve.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

GRLFRND draws from '90s supermodels (Cindy and Naomi, especially) and their fashion essentials, including their go-to fitted jeans. The result: High-waist, vintage-y pairs that are really well done.

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Topshop

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$70 Topshop available at topshop.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

The old-school mom jeans that all of today's street style stars would wear.

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PAIGE

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$229 Paige available at paige.com Opens a new window SHOP IT Opens a new window

Slightly slouchy, with the teensiest bit of stretch, this faded high-waist style is a part of the Paige's recently launched Vintage collection.

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How to Get the Vintage Denim Look Without Vintage Jeans