Levi's 501 Shrink to Fit (STF)

[Ric2013]

Capibaro, on 24 Jul 2014 - 9:54 PM, said:

I find these really hard to fade. Haven't worn them for that reason for ages. How the hell do you guys get these to look so cool?

Fit:

 

comparison before- & after wash:

 

 

How many times did you wear them before that first wash?  What did you do in them?  Office work, or digging 6' holes   And how did you wash them?

 

BTW, your jeans don't look bad at all.  They are showing some signs of wear, but they are still youngsters is all.

 

How are your jeans looking now?  Still wearing them?

[mf051404]

Update on my selvedge STF

 

Front

Back

Right whisker

Left whisker

Crotch (in pretty good shape)

Left backpocket

Right backpocket

Combs (some creases are "moving")

Right knee

Left knee

[mf051404]

Traintracks

Hem

[Maynard Friedman]

^ they look great, how long have you been wearing them?

[mf051404]

Thanks...since July 2013 (but not daily, probably 1/3 of the time since they are in rotation, so about 4-5 months of effective wear I think) They had 1 initial very hot soak (with vinegar to "seal" the color), 1 cold machine wash, 1 unintentional beach wash, and several cold soaks (with Dettol disinfectant) thereafter.

[KrisB]

X-post from retired/ lost loved ones

 

 

 

 

I hope this isn't too long of a post, thanks for reading 

 

[Ric2013]

Some nice fades above, not too worn out, and still clean, but some serious contrast.  Might even say 'tasteful'. Good to see, thank you for sharing.

 

 

Any opinion on my new STFs?  They are pretty dirty (though only worn 150 days) and I'm tempted to wash them, but I really like the pinholes that are developing behind the knees and don't want to do anything that might hinder their progress.  What do you guys think?

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2015 by Ric2013

[Ric2013]

Thanks for the rep points! but by opinion, what I meant to ask was do you think washing at this stage will lesson my chances of cracked combs?

[HGS]

Probably, since washing will reinforce the fibers that might otherwise break apart from the buildup of dirt, grime etc.  But even if you wash them, as you continue to wear the jeans those holes will evolve.  Washing them will prolong the life of the jeans in general; small holes in the honeycombs are less of a problem than something like a crotch blowout, so you might wanna throw them in the machine, or if you wanted to keep the agitation to a minimum, a handwash in the tub.  Either way, lookign good!

[Ric2013]

Thank you HGS.  In fairness, the amount of cycling and general lifestyle I live often blows the crotch (re-inforcements added three weeks ago).  If it's not the crotch, it'll be somewhere else, as you say... and, realistically, they start to look a bit rubbish once they're this muddy anyway.

 

Think I'll push it a bit further (until the next good drying day perhaps) and then wash, taking your advice (sort of).

 

Cracked combs look amazing IMO, but I like the jeans to be intact, so little point delaying the wash un-necessarily.

 

Thank you, you have helped me see the light and make a rational decision (in the context of not washing jeans for several months being rational lol)

 

Ric

[givemefive]

15 month Levi's 501 STF. Every day wear. 6 washes. SLOW fades due to my city being unwalkable.

They are 33W 36L after 6 washes they are 16.5" across and 34" long. They stretch out to 17.5" with wear which makes them comfortable enough for sitting and coding all day.

[Ric2013]

SLOW fades due to my city being unwalkable.

 

No joke eh?  I really would give you five for perseverance.  Reckon my jeans will be little but rags with 15 months' everyday wear.

 

But your jeans are still developing the characteristic fades in the right places.  Thank you very much for sharing, and please keep posting - I will be very interested to see how your pair continues to develop.

After how long did you make each wash, out of interest?

[givemefive]

No joke eh?  I really would give you five for perseverance.  Reckon my jeans will be little but rags with 15 months' everyday wear.

 

But your jeans are still developing the characteristic fades in the right places.  Thank you very much for sharing, and please keep posting - I will be very interested to see how your pair continues to develop.

After how long did you make each wash, out of interest?

I washed or soaked about once every 2-3 months. Somehow this pair kept having incidents with food. I think they would have developed more quickly if I had more opportunity to walk every day. My last few pairs at college only took 6 months to look more developed than these.

I have a new pair now though so I won't wear these as much.

[Ric2013]

Thank you.  It's good to see that relatively more frequent washing does not ruin a pair of jeans.  Always good to know, just in case something happens that means a wash is essential...

[Tempukka]

Bein new here, first of all thanks to everybody contributin this thread. It was really helpful to get info about shrinkin etc. My experience with stf raw selvedge tag size 34/32: go tts or if you want snug/more modern fit size waist 1 down. Dont size up. Dont kneel down if wearin them damp (knee bags! I think i have to soak them again) -

I took measurements, will post later

[Capibaro]

*edit*

Edited July 2, 2017 by Capibaro
posted new and better pictures

[Dom]

Anyone interested in a Levi's 501 STF contest for next year?

[Kushy]

Cheap ones or their selvage offerings?  Could it be any style raw STF 501?

[Dom]

I was thinking cheap 501s. I would be interested to see any of the Shrink-to-Fit (501, LVC) or Rigid Levi's (522,511,etc) evolve over a year if enough people are interested in a Faded Levi's contest.

[Dom]

Check this out:



I'm pretty sure the tag was accidentally placed on a pair of 501STF. I couldn't find any other Levi 501s with Elastane there. Always 100% cotton... It happens to be a size that I could fit into, though...

Anyone know when the most recent 501 fit appeared? ...The best I found is 2013:

http://designcat.typepad.com/designcat/2013/01/levis-501s-always-change.html

This is the response from LEVI's Customer Service:

Dear Dom,

 

Thank you for contacting Levi.com.

 

Regrettably, we do not have any records of any recent standard changes for the Shrink-to-Fit styles.  I apologize for that.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

The new fit (I don't know how "new" it is), but it's certainly not the 2008* style with the white tag 501 inside, deeper arcuate, and more blue than grey denim (see below):



 

Edited September 20, 2015 by Dom

[Capibaro]

Anyone interested in a Levi's 501 STF contest for next year?

yes

[Ric2013]

This is the response from LEVI's Customer Service:

Dear Dom,

 

Thank you for contacting Levi.com.

 

Regrettably, we do not have any records of any recent standard changes for the Shrink-to-Fit styles.  I apologize for that.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

A cynical person might be inclined to suggest that any company that writes such emails actually means 'we can't be bothered to give you this information because we don't think we'll lose sales out of not giving it to you' and not that records of such information are genuinely not retained.

[erockisalive]

Anyone interested in a Levi's 501 STF contest for next year?

I'm interested

[tion4->]

Anyone interested in a Levi's 501 STF contest for next year?

Next year, yup

[Dom]

Also, found more info. about the contemporary LEVI's 501 fit. This post is 2+ years ago and verifies 2013 as being the most recent cut.
 

"A related change - the cut of the 501 IS changing this month. It's slimming up. The main differences are a shorter yoke in the back and a smaller leg opening (about 3/4 to 1 inch slimmer than the 514). It's a really nice cut, but both will probably be out there for a while. I haven't seen it in the spring shrink to fits yet, but that could just be me.

Source: I work for Levi's."
source:https://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/18bb7i/whats_up_with_levi_jeans_511s_went_from_skinny_to/c8dbvty


Nice to know there's some interest for a contest next year! Cool!!
tion4->
erockisalive
Capibaro
Dom

I'm thinking it would be nice to open it up to LEVI's Rigid jeans, too... See some other fits/shades/variations.




 

Edited September 21, 2015 by Dom

[blm14]

wasn't sure whether to post in this one or the LVC...

 

http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/29/technology/google-smart-clothing/

 

Now google will be able to map your fades

[MellowYellow]

These were one of my first pairs of raw denim. For about a year, I messed around with a few pairs of 501 STF to figure out size, wash frequency, etc. with the aim of doing all my experimentation on the cheaper 501 STFs than on a selvedge pair. I got these in 2007 at the original Levi’s store in SF on vacation for USD$36. They offered a customization program there, so just for kicks, I had them remove one of the back pockets, applique a denim arc, and re-sew it onto the inside for $34. Over the years, it’s been sent off for chain stitch hemming and repairs to the crotch and back pocket… probably $60 worth.

 

[no-svg]

Does any of you know rigid 501 made in Mexico with code 501-1931? I saw two pairs in local store with this code but with different description. One was with orange paper on back pocket saying Shrink to Fit.

Second was with white paper not saying STF. Both look identical with selvedge.

Are these really STF and Cone Mills?

Some owner said shrinkage was minimal 0.5 inch on inseam. Very confusing for me.

BTW, who is responsible for such a ugly back pocket shape design in 501 year 2013-2015?

[no-svg]

Is every selvedge STF 501 from small "e" collection made from Cone Mills?

 

I had some Made in Poland and Made in Turkey selvedge STF, and I wonder where denim for those jeans comes from.

 

Do they transport selvedge denim to Poland from USA, in order to produce STF selvedge? Or does Poland have any shuttle looms in Polish Levi's factory?

Edited November 11, 2015 by no-svg

[Dom]

[bUMP]

Almost the new year...

 

I'm planning on rockin' a pair of 501STF. Whaddup.