Levi's Vintage Clothing

[Paul T]

A nominal 32W 1947 will not stretch out to a 33 or 34 waist. These are more likely to be a 31W in the raw state, so will stretch back out to 32 at the most.

[paadekooper]

Not to beat this to death but to be clear - if I have a 32 inch waist and want to soak I would: Get the 33" -> soak so they shrink to about 31" --> wear and they stretch to 32" make sense? Thanks everyone..

[superBobo]

^^ thats pretty much what I did, but I regret not getting a 34 since 33 tagges is more like 32 anyway, atleast last season.

[Dex_star]

I am a normal 32... Natural waist, last time I checked a 34... bought 47s in a 30!

After shrinking (I dont know, how mucht they shrank) they fit, but are a little tight on the waist right now... Im hoping they loosen up just a little more... then they would fit perfect

[GeriZZald]

my sz 30 1947 501 stf stretched out to its fullest & still measures a 30" waist after being hot soaked & washed in hot water 2x. the stretching, i wouldnt count on so much.

[horriblyjollyjinx]

I think the new LVC collection sucks. The denim on ALL models is singed and it shouldn't be, not even on the 505 I think.

How the hell could I wear a pair of shiny, really tidy looking 1920's jeans? Just don't work.

[sneakeraddict]

what does singed mean?

is it sanforized?

[Paul T]

I think most of LVC has always been singed. Could be wrong. THe 1920s, 1930s and 1901 Valencia St version certainly were. The 'Capital E' reissues that came before LVC weren't, though. Don't know the story with the originals.

(for non-geeks, singeing is the process which eliminates the 'fluff' on denim - it's literally singed off - which gives a smoother look).

[horriblyjollyjinx]

I think most of LVC has always been singed. Could be wrong. THe 1920s, 1930s and 1901 Valencia St version certainly were. The 'Capital E' reissues that came before LVC weren't, though. Don't know the story with the originals.

(for non-geeks, singeing is the process which eliminates the 'fluff' on denim - it's literally singed off - which gives a smoother look).

really? I thought it was a process they started using later on, like 60s or 70s. I just saw a pair of 70s deadstock 505s on ebay and they appeared to not be singed, they had more 'hair' than either of the new LVCs do. But I'm not sure at all. I can't find anything about singing in the Levi's pdf.

[airfrogusmc]

I think the new LVC collection sucks. The denim on ALL models is singed and it shouldn't be, not even on the 505 I think.

How the hell could I wear a pair of shiny, really tidy looking 1920's jeans? Just don't work.

I donno maybe its just me these don't look to shiney to me.

[Paul T]

I'll find out, next time I chat to my Man Who Knows. He also has a pair of 50s with tags, we can check those.

What I meant in my previous post was that most previous LVC were singed. Haven't seen enough raw originals to know when singeing was first used w those.

Incidentally, altho Sanrofizing isn't the same thing as singeing, sneakeraddict, it does give a smoother, shinier look a little like singeing.

[horriblyjollyjinx]

I'll find out, next time I chat to my Man Who Knows. He also has a pair of 50s with tags, we can check those.

What I meant in my previous post was that most previous LVC were singed. Haven't seen enough raw originals to know when singeing was first used w those.

Incidentally, altho Sanrofizing isn't the same thing as singeing, sneakeraddict, it does give a smoother, shinier look a little like singeing.

Thanks, looking forward to hearing this. Singing is a very overlooked detail, obviously since Levi's themselves don't even mention it, but for me it's as important as whether the jeans are sanforized or not. It just adds something to the feel of the jeans.

From what I know most of the stuff from at least 2005 and earlier was quite hairy, including the 505. My 551zxx are really hairy.

I don't remember the 47 being so clean either, but I haven't had a pair myself so I can't say for sure.

And by the way, I found some old stock of LVC, like 2002 and 2003, including a raw 1937 201. They had a leather patch, should they really have that?

[Paul T]

I think the 37 201 is an error, airfrog has a pair too, they are nice jeans tho.

[airfrogusmc]

the LVC 37 201s are probably from 96-97? and the LVCs have a leather tag and are made from red line cone mills denim. I don't think original 37 201s had a leather patch and I think origianls were made from #2 denim. They are some really nice LVCs though. Some of my favorites.

[sneakeraddict]

my 55s are very hairy and coarse denim.

I got them of Cotton Duck and they are my favourite jeans, because of the denim so very indigo / red, and also the size 38 x 40.

So I think that means they're some of the first LVCs made. Wish I could find some more.

wish levis still made that one. I saw the new LVC collection and now they go up to 44 waist, but no long leg anymore. Pathetic.

I had last years 47s and they were shiny in comparison, come to think of it

[hawkeye]

Are these not singed? They look a bit hairy.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

This clean, shiny look will disapear, with a wash or rinse and become hairy I guess... I remember the deadstock 1937 201s, if you look at these, they look almost like a rinsed one, maybe these were actually rinsed in the LVC factory, not hot, but cold to prevent shrinking.

[YoungPunch]

I think my 47 501 from two years ago were not singed. They appeared rather fuzzy when I first got them.

[airfrogusmc]

Don't think any of mine are/were either.

I know a guy that has a great collection of originals and we compared a pair of original 55s with the same size LVC 55s from a couple years ago and the demin was very similar The origianls were NWT as were the LVCs.

[Charlie Delta]

my 55s are very hairy and coarse denim.

I got them of Cotton Duck and they are my favourite jeans

Show us some pics already, I'm so curious to see how they are now.

[airfrogusmc]

Anyone interested heres the current line up. Only ones missing in the photo are a pair of 20s 201s from a couple years ago but theres a pair of 555s in there. I thought two pair would be redundant.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

very nice collection it´s funny to see how LVC changed the yoke and pocket position of the 37s

from season to season, I guess none of your 37s is from this year!?

[airfrogusmc]

My 37 201s are from 97 555 and the 37 501s are spring 07.

[airfrogusmc]

Just a side note hte new 47s are not as trim as the ones I had from a few years back. These measure right at 38 raw and the ones from a couple years ago were 37 raw both tagged 38.

[kbuzz]

Hi all, i see that dejan and aero are selling a sproul finish lvc. What is sproul, is it just a standard pre wash with some distressing or something else...thanks

[Guest ilikeskating]

so the current 47s run one size smaller than tagged size? i want to buy a 30x34 (my true waist is 30) but i dont know if it would be too small.

[amin]

^^ levis 47 are shrink to fits, so you need to buy a 32 or 33 waist, and give them a soak.

[Guest ilikeskating]

i was planning on stretching the waist a bit after i soaked them

[mikedbt5]

My 37 201s are from 97 555 and the 37 501s are spring 07.

Just received S1 07 37's from Cultizm (at a very reasonable price and top notch customer service ) very pleased indeed . Denim is more blue than indigo , definitley lighter than raw pair 55s (554) from approx early 2000s in my collection and 05 or 06 55's I previously had (the 2" extra leg length model). In fact lightest denim LVC model yet I have purchased (incl 1937 201 , 1947 , 1890) Also not as stiff in texture . Still I like the colour and am looking forward to breaking them in .

[kbuzz]

Hi all, i see that dejan and aero are selling a sproul finish lvc. What is sproul, is it just a standard pre wash with some distressing or something else...thanks

err anyone?

On a related note i am a 35 waist, i have previously purchased 38's STF in the LVC 33s. These are too big despite repeated hot wash/dry. My generic stf 38's fit however. I would like to obtain some 47s and or 55's. This time id like to try a 36 instead. I really dont want to wear them raw.

Is there a way to shrink the length's down and limit waist shrinkage other then sitting in the tube with them. I guess I could also soak and then wear em damp but that seems a bit uncomfortable. I have also seen the clamp method too strectch out after a shrink but i really dont want to risk shrinking ..like to avoid it n the first place...thanks all.

ahhh the pleasure of being an odd size...