Levi’s 701: What Old Lady Levi’s Jeans Are Worth and How to Date Them

Levi’s historian has written that in the fall of 1934 the company introduced “the world’s first jeans made exclusively for women,” Lady Levi’s, lot 701, first for women working farms and ranches in the West and for women vacationing at dude ranches. In the 1950s Levi’s began selling the line across the United States. Long John, a denim history site collectors follow, notes that Marilyn Monroe wore Lady Levi’s in The Misfits in 1961 and that collectors call the 701 “The Monroe.”

How do I know if my old Levi’s are a 701?

Start with the patch, which carries the lot number when it survives, and the cut: a small waist, a high rise and a curved fit through the hip. The denim is lighter and softer than a man’s 501 of the same years. If the patch is gone, a woman’s waist size on an old big E pair with a high rise is the first clue, and the details below date it.

How do I date a Levi’s 701?

Levi’s says many women disliked the button fly on the first 701s, and the company switched them to a zipper. The 1950s originals that surface today almost always zip, and several we have seen listed carry a Conmar zipper. A big E tab and no care label put a pair before 1971. The red tab arrived in 1936, so a 701 with no tab and no torn stub can be from the first two years.

Is my 701 an original or a reissue?

Levi’s has reissued the 701 more than once, as a 1990s Japan-made 701XX and as the Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1950s 701 that Levi’s still sells. Both carry big E tabs and selvedge, so the outside can fool you. The inside cannot.

The reproduction guide covers more of the tells. A 1980s 701 Student, with a button fly, a care label and a small e tab, is neither an original 1950s pair nor a reissue; it is a later jean that kept the number.

What is a Levi’s 701 worth?

Asking prices are hopes, and we could not read sold prices, so we give you the listings and say so. Inside the range, what moves an old 701 up is age, a one-sided tab, a patch that still reads, dark denim, and a waist that someone can wear today. Unworn pairs are rare enough that a single listing can ask almost anything.

What should I not do before selling them?

• Wash them. Darkness is part of the price, and old denim can shrink.
• Hem, take in or cut them into shorts. Original length and waist matter to a buyer.
• Replace a broken zipper. The original zipper helps date the pair, even broken.
• Pull the tab or the patch. Both help prove what the jeans are.
• Price them from one high listing. Asks run well above sales.

Where can I sell Levi’s 701 jeans?

Listing them yourself on eBay or Etsy usually brings the most if you photograph the tab, zipper and inside well and answer questions about fit; the route comparison sets out each platform’s cut. Vintage shops pay less but pay at once. California Vintage Buyers buys old Levi’s 701s and other early women’s Levi’s from every state: we look at them together on a free video call, agree the price on the call, and pay through PayPal before you ship, with shipping on us. In Southern California we come to you and pay cash the same visit. If yours are worth more listed yourself, we will say so. Start with the photo guide, then call or text (949) 449-1255.