THE BREAD-AND-BUTTER STYLE OF LEVI'S SECONDHAND WITH STYLIST JARED ELLNER

In an era when everyone is posting photos and videos on social media, the stylist has become the ultimate sage. When you want to look like something out of a magazine, who better to turn to for advice than the person who styles shoots for a magazine. Jared Ellner is just that sort of sage. A rising young stylist who's quickly made a name for himself styling magazine shoots, brand campaigns, and celebrities, Ellner has that rare ability to mix high fashion, thrift store finds, and everything in between to create a truly unique look. 

Of course, like anyone with great style, Ellner loves nothing more than a great pair of vintage Levi's®. From his days studying fashion at Parsons School of Design to his successful run as fashion editor at Garage magazine, to his current work styling famous clients like YouTube star Emma Chamberlain, Ellner has always mixed in a heavy rotation of secondhand Levi's® denim. Which made him the perfect stylist to feature in our latest video on creating the perfect Levi's® Secondhandlook. We spoke with Ellner about all things vintage denim, including why it's such a versatile took in his styling arsenal. 

You do such a great job styling your clients in vintage Levi's®. Is it a big part of your own style as well? 

I wear vintage Levi's® almost every day. I don't really know what my style would be without them. I base 90 percent of what I wear off them, and every time I'm running out of the house, I grab them. They're the easiest thing and the thing I feel best in all in one. Truly, they're like the bread and butter of my personal style. 

What is your go-to look? Do you like high and low, or just sneakers, jeans, and a tee? 

It depends. I'm definitely a T-shirt and jeans person, but I didn't usually wear sneakers. I usually try to give myself something extra with the shoes. It's usually a T-shirt, jeans, and a nice, heeled boot or platform creeper. But basically, the clothing is pretty simple and casual. I really rely heavily on Secondhand Levi's® jeans a graphic tee of some kind. 

How do you style a client like Emma Chamberlain? Do you get their vibe and figure it out from there, or do you bring more of your own style into it? 

Well, with Emma, I think she might be the only person who loves Secondhand Levi's® more than I do. I don't know the last time I've seen the girl not in Levi's®. She just lives in it. When we work on her personal styling, I am going out looking for pieces that I know I can mix with staples of hers, which pretty much entails Seconhand Levi's®. We'll find unique pieces that can be mixed in with the jeans she already has to make it feel more intuitive to her own personal style. It's a great way to mix more interesting pieces into her wardrobe without it feeling inauthentic. And then for most of my personal styling with other clients, I almost always bring either Secondhand Levi's®, or we build looks based off the jeans they already have. And most times, people are using Secondhand Levi's®. I think it's quite hard to find a fresh pair of jeans that has the personality in the like a secondhand pair does. 

What is it about vintage Levi's® that makes them so versatile, and so authentic to any look? 

I think a big part of it is that it's timeless. There are very few staples that really are timeless, like a white T-shirt or a classic suit. But a secondhand jean, I don't think it will every go out of style. I don't really feel like it's specific to a place or a setting. It kind of covers all. The fact that it's so timeless means that it can be used again and again at any point, and it really just feels like a blank slate to play with. Also, there are so many styles of Secondhand Levi's®. It's not just blue jeans. You can go treasure hunting and find a million pairs and just keep playing with it. 

Are there any unexpected ways that you would style them? 

I'm actually on a project right now, and I've been using designers who work with Secondhand fabric, some specifically Secondhand Levi's®, to make custom pieces like a bustier or accessories. I feel like the next wave is taking these materials that are gorgeous and only getting better with time, and playing with it, and making it your own. Also, I feel like personalization is something that people don't think of that often, but Secondhand Levi's® leaves that door open. You don't feel like you're messing with something completely fresh that you're afraid to touch, It has a story and it's already gone through things. I've been encouraging clients, and also just friends who ask for styling advice, to feel free to make it their own. And besides that, not being afraid to take Secondhand Levi's® in evening wear, into a setting that you wouldn't really expect. They're so classic, they can go anywhere. 

Do you have a favorite pair of vintage Levi's® that are your go-to? 

I do. It's a pair of mid-wash blue jeans. It must have been folded when it was being dyed because there's a white line at the center of both front legs that I think is so cool. I love the fact that you've got all of these little imperfections that return into something unique. I also do have a pair of brown vintage Levi's® that I love. I found them in, it must have been 2017, at this little village vintage shop in London. They're just the perfect cut. They're such a pretty brown color, and I've never found another pair of brown vintage Levi's® that I like. Those ones are special to me. 

Why is vintage denim such an important thing to have in your wardrobe? 

They're just so easy, and they make you look put together instantly. Throwing on a pair of Secondhand Levi's® and a white tank top could not be a simpler outfit. But it's automatically chic. I really don't think there are many other pieces that do that. It's almost like sweatpants in my mind, but the chicest version of sweatpants possible. They're very comfortable, and I can feel relaxed and at ease, but I know they'll look good. It's something you don't really have to think about, which I feel like we all strive for in our closets. It's crazy how one brand and one style of jeans feels so natural on so many types of people.