Advice on buying vintage Levis 550s?
Seem to be a lot of options on eBay. Looking in particular for the relaxed straight fit associated with the model (from the 90s IIRC) - seems modern 550s are slimmer and have an aggressive taper.
For anyone who's gotten some secondhand, any pointers for good search terms or how to size these? Thanks !
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Look for "Made In the USA" on the patch on the back or the internal tag and that should mean they are old enough to be the 90s style you're looking for. I add "USA" to my search terms to get them. You can also look up other ways to date more specifically--they have a date code on the tags, and the tags themselves changed over time--but you don't have to. For sizing, they will have most likely shrunk 1-3 sizes, so always make sure they either show physical measurements (ruler/tape against the waist and the inseam) or list them in the description. Measure the waist and inseam of a pair of pants you have that fit you well for comparison--don't assume the size number you're used to buying is accurate.
I just realized this says 550s, not 505s. All of the above should still apply though, I think