Second-hand jeans for men: this is how you choose and combine good jeans

Secondhand jeans for men can be a strong basis, but fit and wear determine whether a pair of pants is really good. Therefore, don't just look at brand or wash. Waist, seat, crotch, knees and leg tell a lot more about how a used pair of jeans will still wear.

Start at the waist

The pants should fit comfortably without pinching. At the same time, you don't want him to fall off immediately without a leash. Take the height of the waist into account: some vintage jeans are clearly higher than modern models.

A higher waist is not a bad thing; he mainly changes the proportion of the outfit.

Check crotch and seat

These are important areas of wear on used jeans. Look for thin fabric, repairs, peeling seams and discoloration due to friction.

A small professional repair does not have to be a problem. But when the fabric around the crotch has become structurally thin, its lifespan may be limited.

Which fit do you choose?

Straight fit is widely applicable and easy to combine. Slim fit connects more strongly. Relaxed and wider vintage fits give more volume.

The best choice depends on your body type and what you wear above it. For example, a roomier vintage jacket may look more logical with straight jeans than with an extremely narrow leg.

Vintage sizing may differ

Do not blindly rely on W32, W34 or any other size label. Denim can be shrunk, flared or cut differently. Therefore, measure the waistband, inner leg and possibly upper leg and compare them with trousers that already fit well.

Watch the knees

Knees can sag or become thin when worn denim. This does not always have to be disturbing, but strong deformation affects the fit.

View the trousers both flat and worn. Only then will you see clearly whether the pipes are still straight.

Hem and leg length

Check that the bottom is not badly worn by dragging on the ground. A damaged hem can often be shortened, but this will change the overall length.

With vintage denim, also look for previous shortenings or re-stitched hems.

Combine dark jeans

Dark denim is easy to wear smart casual. Combine with a shirt, nice sweater or jacket.

Dark blue straight jeans with a white or light blue shirt and brown jacket is an easy combination.

Lighter and worn jeans

Light denim looks more informal. Wear it with knitwear, a vintage shirt, leather jacket or casual tweed jacket.

The stronger the wash or wear, the less formal the trousers usually become.

Jeans under a jacket

This is ideal when the styles match each other. A loose tweed, corduroy or structured jacket is usually easier to wear than a very formal, smooth suit jacket.

Also read Can jeans be worn under a jacket?.

Jeans with vintage shirt

Denim is a calm basis for a bold print. A 70s shirt or geometric design gets more space when the jeans remain simple.

Read more for more combinations wearing vintage shirt.

What do you look for with second-hand jeans?

• waist and closure;
• crotch and seat;
• knees;
• pocket edges;
• bottom of the legs;
• zipper or buttons;
• old repairs;
• actual dimensions.

Brand is not more important than state

Levi's, Wrangler, Lee and other well-known denim brands may be interesting, but a brand name does not automatically make up for worn-out trousers. First look at fit, fabric and construction.

Second-hand jeans at EcoGents

View our collection second hand and vintage jeans. Because sizes vary between brands and periods, actual measurements and fit are more important than just the label.

Do you want nicer pants? Then also view our trousers.