Levi's Vintage Clothing

[cool_hand]

1915 repair:

[propellerbeanie]

Just a heads up to those that missed out the first time, but the book "The 501XX: A Collection Of Vintage Jeans" has been rereleased. The Real McCoy's London/Superdenim.com has them, for example, for around USD100. It's a fantastic book that you don't even need to read (if you're not much of a reader) because the pictures are denim porn-esque. Just looking at the sewing variations of the WWII jeans is enough to make you sweat.

 

Edited April 25, 2017 by propellerbeanie

[Niro]

Anyone going to buy this book? 

[Maynard Friedman]

Bought it earlier today!

[lance]

Maynard, hope to see some excerpts - looks like a cool (read geeky ) publication.

[Maynard Friedman]

I've been after it for ages, having been too slow off the mark when it was first released. @Flash was kind enough to lend me his copy for a while and I can attest that it's a great book, even at that sharp breath-inducing price!

Thanks for the heads-up @propellerbeanie

Edited April 25, 2017 by Maynard Friedman

[redragon]

It's an amazing book! 

Really like the fact that they took the time to do English translation for all sections. 

Great luck to have picked it up from a Levi's store in jp awhile back. No regret.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

thanks a lot probellerbeanie, like maynard i was after it for a long time and bought this morning.

looking very forward...

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

so the book already arrived yesterday. it is really awsome... hope this guy will do another Levi´s book including all the jeans I miss in this book.

[chewie]

Im looking to cop this book. But i didnt see it on superdenim or realmccoyslondon website. Can anyone post a link? Thanks!!

Edited May 2, 2017 by chewie

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

unfortunately it seems to be out of stock again. that´s pretty fast.

[chewie]

Ah bummer...

thanks @Sympathy-For-The-Denim

[propellerbeanie]

@chewie You may not be completely out of luck. This popped up on my Explore section on Instagram if you're still having trouble finding a copy. You might like to message them to even reserve a copy if you're a bit worried about it selling out as I'm unsure of the amount these small shops get. Best of luck!

 

[chewie]

@propellerbeanie thanks a bunch! 

I try emailing them now

[chewie]

@propellerbeanie thanks a bunch! 

I try emailing them now

[setterman]

Couple observations about the standard '76 501. Had to wash them twice last week after being out in the rain meant mud up the knees. There was no further shrinkage, so the initial wash did the trick. They start out a lighter shade of blue than the rest of the lvc 501s, and lose indigo easier. The two trips through the wash lightened them, especially  noticeable in sunlight but not as much indoors. I don't think I have 30 days of wear into them yet, but can see wear starting here and there. I think they'd be wash out pretty quickly with a high rate of wash, so if you want contrast you might want to hold out a little longer with these.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

@setterman, so the 1st wash did all shrinkage!? how hot was the initial wash then?

could you make a fotograph of your pair?

Many thanks

 

[setterman]

Yep, no shrinkage after the first wash. Not sure the water's actual temperature, but it was most likely on the cool or warm setting. I threw them in the dryer for 12 minute to help them along in finishing up drying. BTW, this denim gets fold lines along the inseam from the dryer very easily! Be careful!

will try to get some pix, not much to see yet.

[TheJPdude]

I got a little more shrinkage on my 2nd soak and dry for my 1976. 

I agree that these fade a little faster; just like the 1978, naturally. 

 

Ive got a wee bit of contrast 2 months in now. I can post a pic later on today. 

[propellerbeanie]

I thought I might contribute with my observations of the '76 501. I haven't been counting the number of days I've worn my jeans, but it's probably around four weeks.

I do retail work in these jeans, and I've been kneeling down a lot, so the knees are fading the fastest (closely followed by the seat). I am finding that these are fading faster in comparison to my '47 501s, which I've stopped wearing because they're kinda uncomfortable. I feel like I've gotten most of the shrinkage out because of the initial hot machine wash, but I've noticed that there isn't much seam puckering. @setterman and @TheJPdude, are you finding the same thing?

Also, not sure if I just got a slightly dodgy pair, but the chainstitch at the top of the waistband is unravelling in two places: above the button hole and to the left of the centre back belt loop. It's not something I'm worried about, but I may just do a hand chainstitch in the near future.

I'll add that I like that my size 31/34 has five buttons because my '47s only have four. The front and back pockets are quite generously sized, and the taper is not too dramatic, albeit noticeable. I wish there was no taper at all, but I know that that may not be historically accurate haha. For that reason, I choose not to wear boots too often with these jeans, but rather just my sneakers.

I'll see if I can post some pictures in the following week. I'll try to even take some pictures of my 1880 Triple Pleat that I've worn for a few months!

[TerryElessar]

Need a favour guys. Can someone point me in the direction of some 36x36 or 36x34 1976 Mirror jeans for a reasonable retail price? Seems only Oi Polloi and Unionmade has them in stock but prices a bit on the high side. Thanks in advance. 

[propellerbeanie]

6 minutes ago, TerryElessar said:

Need a favour guys. Can someone point me in the direction of some 36x36 or 36x34 1976 Mirror jeans for a reasonable retail price? Seems only Oi Polloi and Unionmade has them in stock but prices a bit on the high side. Thanks in advance. 

Are you outside the EU? If so, I think the price on Oi Polloi (£300) includes VAT, so excluding it comes to £250 and at that price, I believe worldwide shipping is free. Unionmade's prices are high regardless of where you live, so it's a site I just browse. I'll have to check out my other usual sites to see what their prices are like, but you probably won't find many that are better (or if they have any left).

[TerryElessar]

Thanks PB. Located nearer to you than the EU. Am in Singapore. Man, I've been hunting high and low hoping for someone who sized wrongly or something but nothing pops up. Guess I have to bite the bullet on these an order from the UK then. Cheers.

[TheJPdude]

9 hours ago, propellerbeanie said:

I thought I might contribute with my observations of the '76 501. I haven't been counting the number of days I've worn my jeans, but it's probably around four weeks.

I do retail work in these jeans, and I've been kneeling down a lot, so the knees are fading the fastest (closely followed by the seat). I am finding that these are fading faster in comparison to my '47 501s, which I've stopped wearing because they're kinda uncomfortable. I feel like I've gotten most of the shrinkage out because of the initial hot machine wash, but I've noticed that there isn't much seam puckering. @setterman and @TheJPdude, are you finding the same thing?

Also, not sure if I just got a slightly dodgy pair, but the chainstitch at the top of the waistband is unravelling in two places: above the button hole and to the left of the centre back belt loop. It's not something I'm worried about, but I may just do a hand chainstitch in the near future.

I'll add that I like that my size 31/34 has five buttons because my '47s only have four. The front and back pockets are quite generously sized, and the taper is not too dramatic, albeit noticeable. I wish there was no taper at all, but I know that that may not be historically accurate haha. For that reason, I choose not to wear boots too often with these jeans, but rather just my sneakers.

I'll see if I can post some pictures in the following week. I'll try to even take some pictures of my 1880 Triple Pleat that I've worn for a few months!

I haven't got much puckering at all, really. Definitely nothing like my 1944/1947 do, at least. 

 

These pics might need some color balancing due to being taken in somewhat direct sunlight. But, you'd also have to look pretty hard to see the electric blue, I think. I've worn these just about every day since I first posted about them - March 8 maybe?

[setterman]

Nothing too wild with puckering along the seams. Roping at the hem is surprisingly strong. 

These are becoming my current favorite. Little bigger in the thigh than I like, but everywhere else is great. And with continued weight loss, my WH 800s are a little big in the waist with wear (gone have to wash them more often than planned) and the 76s are more comfortable since they're a little smaller.

 

[TheJPdude]

16 hours ago, setterman said:

Nothing too wild with puckering along the seams. Roping at the hem is surprisingly strong. 

These are becoming my current favorite. Little bigger in the thigh than I like, but everywhere else is great. And with continued weight loss, my WH 800s are a little big in the waist with wear (gone have to wash them more often than planned) and the 76s are more comfortable since they're a little smaller.

 

Very nice - how many washes or soaks do you have at this point? looks like you've got a lot more puckering at the yoke than I do. Also, your roping is going to look great; i can already tell. I can take a pic of mine, but it's more of the same - very little movement with a hint of electric blue. Mine have also barely touched water and never seen the inside of a wash machine or dryer.

[setterman]

Three washes, including initial. A little dryer time the first two washes, but won't be doing that anymore since they crease easily along the length of the inseam. Not really an issue on the right leg, but with the twist on the left it could make a mess.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

many thanks for sharing guys, these seem to fade pretty fast. what about the leg twist, did it accure -which i am hoping for- ?

i try to not wash as long as possible, since i like the bright silverish blue of the raw state.

[setterman]

Just the left leg twisted on my pair, but no where near as hard as on other pairs of lvc 501s.

[propellerbeanie]

@Sympathy-For-The-Denim Only the left leg has twisted for me. Visually, I'd say it's close to 45° to the right, so not dramatic at all. I would say that the right leg hasn't twisted, and it looks like it'll stay that way even after consecutive washes.

@setterman The roping and seam puckering is definitely more pronounced on your pair than mine, which is most likely due to their time in the washer/dryer. Thanks for your pics and to @TheJPdude as well for yours.