Levi's Vintage Clothing

[airfrogusmc]

On 12/12/2025 at 5:20 AM, PrettyBoyTony said:

I think I'm between sizes with the 1955. 36 would likely be too loose in the waist. 34 has maybe shrunk more than I had expected or maybe was slightly undersized raw. The waist will stretch but will always be a tad slim in the top block and I'll need to stretch them out after every wash which isn't ideal as I wash regularly. You're right though the 80s might not be the right alternative for me

My experience with 1955s (My experience is only with US made cone denim ones) are they run large. The 1947s are slim. 

[PBTony]

12 hours ago, airfrogusmc said:

My experience with 1955s (My experience is only with US made cone denim ones) are they run large. The 1947s are slim. 

That's also my experience with the US ones but this Japanese pair seem to be more slimmer in the top block. Wore them last night and they were still comfortable and fit looked good just different from what I was expecting 

[airfrogusmc]

Good to know. 

I have been wearing my Japanese denim and Japanese made 1922s almost everyday for 4 months now. Only a soak when new. They are looking really good. Love the denim. These run really large. Very full in the seat and thighs. 9oz denim raw.. 

[airfrogusmc]

Here are a few shots of the current 1922 501s from Japan and Japanese denim after 4 months of pretty much every day wear. 

 

[cultpop 0217]

LVC (Levi's Vintage Clothing) 1950s Hoodie in faded black ( called either Tar or Shoe Polish) 

Please excuse the red eyes and solemn face. What I thought were just allergies turned out to be a cold. So I'm just sitting around the house feeling sick...but at least Im feeling cozy. 

This has some of the most beautiful heavyweight french terry I've ever seen. Love this fabric. 

I dont wear hoodies often and pullovers even less but this one feels like a hug when I pull it on.

Last shot is an old Spalding from the excellent reference magazine LIGHTNING Archives put out in 2018. 

 

Watch cap is Mister Freedom, Jeans are vintage Levis 568 with a button fly. 

[airfrogusmc]

Just picked up an LVC 506XX type 1 trucker. One cold soak. 

Pretty sweet repro. Listed as XXL. Tag has size 46. 

[airfrogusmc]

[airfrogusmc]

I have a 1953 type II for sale. I wore it for 1 year and a half raw but it needed a wash. So I did a cold wash and it shark to a size to small. I hate to sell it. 

PM  if you are interested and I can send photos and measurements. It is 23 inches pit to pit now. 

[airfrogusmc]

sold the 1953 507 trucker

[LazyS]

summer rotation?

[cool_hand]

Anyone have any experience with the shrinkage on the LVC (Made in Japan) 1953 Type II Jacket - what sort of shrinkage can I expect?

The size XXL is not available in the UK - largest size is a XL (measures 25 inches pit to pit). Yes, it has a T-Back!

[cool_hand]

On 5/6/2026 at 4:24 PM, airfrogusmc said:

I have a 1953 type II for sale. I wore it for 1 year and a half raw but it needed a wash. So I did a cold wash and it shark to a size to small. I hate to sell it. 

PM  if you are interested and I can send photos and measurements. It is 23 inches pit to pit now. 

what size was your 1953? was it an XL (44)?

[airfrogusmc]

Hi cool_hand,

Yeah I had one and it shrunk at least one full size. It was XL and fit a little large until I did the cold hand wash. 

I sold it (the type II) and then picked up a 1936 type 1 in XXL and did a cold soak right away and it is a PERFECT fit.

[cool_hand]

Hi airfrogusmc

I have a 1936 Type 1 in size XL (44) but it is one of the last LVC Cone MIUSA.

It has been soaked and machine washed cold and measures:

P2P: 25" / Sleeve: 25" / Shoulders: 20 / Length: 25"

I wouldn't want it any smaller.

I had some reservations regarding the 1953 Type II partly because of the T-back but the price on Sale with additional discounts made it difficult not to at least look at it. It's my first LVC MIJ and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the denim and finish. I am a little worried about the shrinkage. Can you remember what yours ended up at P2P? Mine raw measures 25".

[lemmywinks]

is there any information on which years LVC 501 is the widest cut? everywhere I've searched there is conflicting information.

[airfrogusmc]

On 7/27/2026 at 5:12 AM, cool_hand said:

Hi airfrogusmc

I have a 1936 Type 1 in size XL (44) but it is one of the last LVC Cone MIUSA.

It has been soaked and machine washed cold and measures:

P2P: 25" / Sleeve: 25" / Shoulders: 20 / Length: 25"

I wouldn't want it any smaller.

I had some reservations regarding the 1953 Type II partly because of the T-back but the price on Sale with additional discounts made it difficult not to at least look at it. It's my first LVC MIJ and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the denim and finish. I am a little worried about the shrinkage. Can you remember what yours ended up at P2P? Mine raw measures 25".

My 1953 507 XL labeled 44 after cold soak was 23 pet to pit. 

[airfrogusmc]

On 7/28/2026 at 2:10 PM, lemmywinks said:

is there any information on which years LVC 501 is the widest cut? everywhere I've searched there is conflicting information.

From my experience the 1922 and 1933 are really full cut. With the 1922 being the fullest of those 2. The 1955s are also full but not as full as the 33s and 22s

[cool_hand]

On 8/1/2026 at 12:37 AM, airfrogusmc said:

My 1953 507 XL labeled 44 after cold soak was 23 pet to pit. 

Thanks. That's quite extreme shrinkage, would definitely make the jacket too small across the chest. I've never seen any XXL (46) on Levi's UK.

[airfrogusmc]

Waiper in Japan shows that they have large LVC 507 and WWII 506 jackets . 

 

https://www.waiper.co.jp/SHOP/177926/list.html

 

 

[airfrogusmc]

Japanese denim and made 1922 501 Made in 2024 after 1 year of almost daily wear and 4 cold washes and air dry. 

Edited August 16 by airfrogusmc

[airfrogusmc]

[airfrogusmc]

[airfrogusmc]

[airfrogusmc]

[airfrogusmc]

duplicate post sorry

 

Edited August 16 by airfrogusmc

[airfrogusmc]

Already sold out. Dang....

https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/clothing/men/jeans/straight/1942-501-original-mens-jeans/p/A79860048?srsltid=AfmBOorOzaJJWskTdd93g1k4LGpHiLb4Q6EcIKuU9MxU2MjhHHOsK99W

[airfrogusmc]

Did anyone here buy a pair of these 1942 501s? 

[somatoform]

Looking for advice. First 3 pics are of me wearing the MIJ LVC 1944 size 36. Fit is excellent raw. Perfect in the waist, slightly snug but very comfortable. If they were sanforised it would be a no-brainer. I've never shrank lvc mij before. I would love for the jeans to fit after shrink and stretch just as they are raw. 

Next three pics are of the size 38. I know the pics show a subtle difference, if at all, except in the side view where the difference is most prominent. However, the differences between the size 36 and 38 are subtle (front rise is same, 1/2" differences in thigh, hip), except for the waist which is a good inch and half larger on the 38. And for some reason the front shot of the 36 came out weird, on an angle. 

Since the pics don't show much, alternatively my question for mij lvc is that if I like the size 36 pre-shrink fit should I go for it, or is there simply too much shrink and not enough stretch to make it doable. I'm not into ww2 era slim straights. In that event I would just sell them. Also, I do prefer to wash, not wear raw and not bath tub shrink. Thanks.

[CSL]

It's been a long time since I bought LVC jeans, but I recall they shrank a lot (and I only line dry my jeans). I had the 1944 model by the way.

I'd anticipate a full 2 inch shrinkage in the waist. 

Then again it would be good to hear from someone who has more recent experience with the brand.

Edited September 21 by CSL

[reubensangwich]

@somatoform The cut on these is interesting to say the least, plenty of space in the waist and the seat, the thigh however can get quite slim, particularly if you've got larger legs. Your biggest concern should be how they feel through the thighs, I have a pair and the waist stretches out a good amount and fairly easily.  Also, I washed them hot and dried them, so if you run them through a cold cycle or just a soak and let them air dry you will almost certainly have different results.

I'm usually a 31 or 32 depending on brand, as most shrink to tag size now, and went for a 33 (which measured 34" raw if I recall) in these; raw fit I was swimming in them, but after shrinking (hot wash, heavy agitation, hot dry) they were good and slim (waist shrunk to about 39cm across), if I were you I'd go with the 38 to be safe, you can always wear a belt or give them frequent washes to keep the waist in check, but if you went with the 36 I'd be worried the thigh would become too slim. 

As an aside, you might be better off moving on from LVC altogether, there's the odd fit, and then there's the somewhat shoddy construction, I had the crotch stitching begin to come undone after just a couple months of wear, and subsequently placed a rivet to shore the area up.