What Jeans Looked Like the Year You Were Born

From the invention of jeans in the 1870s until now there have been quite a few changes to the overall design. The first jeans were patented by Levi Strauss in 1873, but competitors of the tough denim pants weren’t plentiful until nearly 100 later- at which point an influx of different patterns came on the market. Since the 1960s a huge array of styles, colors, cuts, and brands have been available. Have a look at what jeans looked like the year you were born below.

1936

Via/ Library of Congress

1937

Via/ Library of Congress

1938

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1930s Ladies Zipper Jacket #ridersjacket #ladylevis #1930s #1930sfashion #westerwear #denim #rawdenim #gabardine #levis #levisvintageclothing #levistrauss #selvedge #sanforized #workwear #vintageworkwear #vintagedenim #vintageads

A post shared by HARMONY HENDRICKX (@harmonyhendrickx) on Oct 11, 2018 at 5:30am PDT

1939

Via/ Library of Congress

1940

Via/ U.S. National Archives

1941

Via/ Library of Congress

1942

Via/ Library of Congress

1943

Via/ Library of Congress

1944

Via/ Flickr

1945

Via/ Flickr

1947

Via/ Flickr

1948

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1949

Via/ NYPL Digital Collections

1950

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I love these classic advertisements, don’t you ? . . . #sustainablefashion #wrangler #vintageclothing #vintagewrangler #reducereuserecycle #montana #wyoming #vintageads

A post shared by jack foster & brady (@jackfosterandbrady) on Aug 7, 2019 at 8:33am PDT

1951

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Marilyn making 501s even more iconic / #marilynmonroe #levis501 #selvedgedenim #icon #hollywood #starlet #1950slevis #1960slevis #501levis #bige #tenderloinvintage #etsyseller #truevintage #vintageclothingdealer #vintagedenim

A post shared by Tenderloin Vintage (@tenderloinvintage) on Apr 15, 2019 at 6:54am PDT

1952

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Lady Levi’s @levis.vintage.clothing @levis

A post shared by Pretty|T|Boys (@prettytboys) on Sep 20, 2018 at 6:33am PDT

1953

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1954

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Koret of California “Koradenim Smartypants” from 1954 exactly (its the only year they made them with buttons on the legs). in the etsy now, mediumish. decent pockets, too. . #vintagepants #vintagecapris #1950scapris #1950sfashion #koradenim #koretofcalifornia #1950sjeans #1950sdenim #koretigans #1950spants #1954

A post shared by house of edgertor vintage (@house_of_edgertor) on Jul 11, 2019 at 3:15pm PDT

1955

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1956

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1957

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1958

Via/ NYPL Digital Collections

1959

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1960

Via/ Vintage Pattern Wikia

1961

Via/ Vintage Pattern Wikia

1962

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#1960s #levis #ladylevis #advertising

A post shared by Denim Branded (@denimbranded) on Nov 6, 2016 at 1:38am PST

1963

Via/ eBay

1964

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Go Neat with White Levi Guys!! . . . #vintage #vintageclothing #vintagedenim #vintagelevis #vintageadvertising #vintageadvertisement #vintageposter #vintageposters #vintagelevisjeans #1960 #1960s #1960sfashion #1960slevis #whitedenim #whitelevis

A post shared by James Riley (@americanbluestrading) on Nov 14, 2018 at 6:54am PST

1965

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1966

Via/ eBay

1967

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1968

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OK… So WHERE ARE THEY NOW?!?!? Just reading a Herald Sun from 1968 . Crazy Legs: Here’s an original approach for the jeans addict this summer… pop-art designs, hand-printed on canvas. They come in 5 different designs and cost $9.95 a pair. Now they’re in Australian Stores. . . . #lovetrip #1960sfashion #1960sjeans #1960s #popart #psychedelic #hippie #1960snewspaper #vintagenewspaper #heraldsun #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #1960sclothes #popartjeans #vintagelevis #1960slevis #levis

A post shared by Strato- Streak Vintage (@stratostreakvintage) on Sep 13, 2017 at 11:53pm PDT

1969

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#thebeatles #beatles #classicrock #fabfour #thefabfourband #thefabfour #paulmccartney #johnlennon #ringostarr #georgeharrison #sgtpepperslonelyheartsclubband #sgtpepper #magicalmysterytour #yellowsubmarine #letitbe #abbeyroad #rubbersoul #1960s

A post shared by (@happiness.is.a.warm.guitar) on Aug 13, 2019 at 8:34am PDT

1970

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1971

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1972

Via/ eBay

1973

Via/ Vintage Pattern Wikia

1974

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1975

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1976

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Mood… #next #rollinout #dueces #gottilitsgone #liberation #dowhatchalike #knowyourvalue #farrahfawcett #skateboard #jordachejeans #nike #charliesangel #iconic #70s #classic #photo

A post shared by Gene Garvin (@gg_fotography) on Aug 6, 2019 at 9:09am PDT

1977

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1978

1979

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Gloria! #gloriavanderbiltjeans #murjanijeans #gloriavanderbilt #advertising #heiress #70sadvertising #colour #colourpop #vanderbilt #1979 #perfectfit #style #fit #construction #rainbow #bottomsup

A post shared by Daniel Bonsu (@bonanza_82) on Jun 18, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT

1980

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1981

Via/ eBay

1982

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1983

1984

Via/ Flickr

1985

Via/ State Archives of Florida

1986

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The original Mom jean…on a teen. #momjeans #1980sjeans #80sDenim #vintage #vintage80s #jeans #Valleygirl #highrisejeans

A post shared by Patty Vous (@patty_vous) on Apr 11, 2017 at 10:23pm PDT

1987

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Nobody was as cool as we were in our one-piece swimsuits and our Jordache jeans #tbt #80s #jordachejeans #bestfriends

A post shared by Chrissie Conover (@cardinalconover) on May 16, 2019 at 3:24pm PDT

1988

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Oh the days of hitting up the arcade with your cool 80s boyfriend in your matching all denim outfits . . #jordache #arcade #pacman #90s #80s #90skid #80skid #ilovethe90s #ilovethe80s #90sgirl #90sbaby #90slove #80stoys #90stoys #retrogaming #arcadegames #80sarcade #jordachejeans @azifvintage

A post shared by ⭐️Shop Now On Etsy!⭐️ (@azifvintage) on Mar 9, 2019 at 10:49am PST

1989

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1990

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1991

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Authentic Georges Marciano Guess Jeans Size 4 ($49) Shop link in bio! #georgesmarciano #guess #georgesmarcianodesign #guessjeans #guesslogo #vintagedenim #vintageguess #vintageseller #vintageshopping #etsyseller #etsyshop #vintagefashion #vintagecurator #vintagedenim #1980sjeans #80sfashion #fashionrehash

A post shared by Fashion Rehash (@fashionrehash) on Dec 16, 2018 at 6:43pm PST

1992

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1993

Via/ Vintage Patterns Wikia

1994

1995

Via/ eBay