Levi's Vintage Clothing

[Ahlvahroe]

what is the waist like the the 1890s, if im a 35 and get a 34 will they be big, small, just right. i did research on the rakuten sites and i got all 3 measurements. the predistressed ones seemed really small, the raw seemed just right, while the 1 wash seemed big. i know that different sites usually give different but i want to get some better insight.

[lilldavid]

what is the waist like the the 1890s, if im a 35 and get a 34 will they be big, small, just right. i did research on the rakuten sites and i got all 3 measurements. the predistressed ones seemed really small, the raw seemed just right, while the 1 wash seemed big. i know that different sites usually give different but i want to get some better insight.

My raw made in USA ones are pretty big. Tagged as w30, they measure 16" inches layed flat after a 3 hour warm soak (40~50 celsius)

[Leopold]

It's not weird at all. Stiffness does not indicate quality or "realness"

Yeah, okay, but they felt different to other LVC jeans at SOLO, in sweden here.

But these are a pair from eBay, which I think is from Cone Mills USA, and the denim probably differs a bit then.

[fre-co]

^LVC look and feel different all over the place. I have 1944's from the UK and from Japan, maybe a year or two later. The denim is totally different and the waist size, although marked the same is well over an inch different.

The leather patches are also entirely different and have aged in different ways.

I'm going to post some more pics of mine as soon as we get some decent weather here....

PS. Can I tell what year my LVC's are by the label because I totally can't remember what year I bought them.

[lilldavid]

Yeah, okay, but they felt different to other LVC jeans at SOLO, in sweden here.

But these are a pair from eBay, which I think is from Cone Mills USA, and the denim probably differs a bit then.

The denim and detailing in LVC's almost always differ from year to year, remember last year when the 505 patch said 67505? utterly horrendous. As for the quality, The older 555 (made in the old Valencia Street factory) I believe is far superior to the quality of the recent ones. Havent actually touched the ones from this year though...

I have both a pair of 555 1947's (2004) and a pair of newer 1947's (2006). It's almost ridiculus to compare them, as the difference in denim is mile wide.

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

the new 505 from summer and winter this is for exsample is made of 14,5 oz Kaihara Denim, this i japanese... so there are always differences... and man be glad, you have a 555 San Francisco Valencia Street jean!!! and maybe it is soft because it was tumble dryed after washing!?

[fre-co]

So, is it just the made in U.S.A. on the tag that tells you it is a Valencia Street made piece?

Is there a date indicator?

[Mr Black]

I believe every US based levis owned factory has its own allocated code with '555' being the old Valencia street number. You'll find the number stampred on the back of the waist button.

[fre-co]

Cheers Mr Black, I'll have a look at mine when I get home.

+rep!

[lilldavid]

Posted this link in the Tony Hige's Sorahikos thread. Realized it's much better off in this thread: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/02/BUG94K9ET51.DTL

[Charlie Delta]

oh mannnn, those overalls!!!

[TheJonesBoy]

55s are cut very much like origianl 55s 47s are very trim. My 47s were tagged 38 waist but were 37 when raw. 35 after full shrinkage. I never liked tthe 47s much really like my 55s though.

"After full shrinkage"... is that after a few washes and when shrinking had had it's way, or after one 'session'?

After a 31" waist post-shrink from some 47 Dry 501's and not sure what to pop for - will shrink in a warm bath hoping to get snug fit that isn't 'too' small.

Cheers.

[airfrogusmc]

My advice is wear the heck out of them between cold soaks. Go as long as you can without soaking them. My experience with most LVCs is it takes about 10 wet to dry cycles to get full shrinkage. Most of the shrikage happens in the first 3 or 4 but DO NOT alter the length until 10 or so.

[Ahlvahroe]

My raw made in USA ones are pretty big. Tagged as w30, they measure 16" inches layed flat after a 3 hour warm soak (40~50 celsius)

so what they say aeroleather is not correct?

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/webapp/aeroleather/servlet/AeroViewPage?page=displayproduct&subcatid=171&prodid=1804

damn, thats teh one i was going most off of

[Dick Danger]

I just got 07 55s from Cultizm and gave them a hot soak and hang dry. The inseam shrank about 3.25 inches, the waist shrank about 1 inch, maybe a bit less. Round 2, hot soak dried on high heat, inseam shrank about another .5 inches, the waist about .75 inches. On mine the inseam and waist were about 1/2-3/4 inches bigger than tagged size.

[lilldavid]

so what they say aeroleather is not correct?

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/webapp/aeroleather/servlet/AeroViewPage?page=displayproduct&subcatid=171&prodid=1804

damn, thats teh one i was going most off of

Well, mine are a bit bigger than tagged. And its definetly not the same denim. It's the same weight and the same blue line selvage but the 1890's have a different cast to them. They are a bit greyish blue while the 1886's are a very true blue.

[selaviso]

Posted this link in the Tony Hige's Sorahikos thread. Realized it's much better off in this thread: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/02/BUG94K9ET51.DTL

thats wild.

[MetalStitch]

Hi! I'm actually kinda new here and was reading thru this thread. Found it to be quite interesting, historical and worth the read. And this actually came into mind, because recently a pair of 501s were handed down to me by a relative, i haven't really seen a pair like this before and thus was hoping people around here could shed some light on it, what yr or make or even if it's real or fake. The pics i've taken are way too big so i'll just post the links to the pics. Also i didn't want to start a legit check post straight ahead if the people here could help me out! Thanks! By the way, it didn't come with any tags also.

http://i19.tinypic.com/5ycg942.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/68a268o.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/4xo04jq.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/67euf5l.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/4t6b1ac.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/4uwrp8p.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/6fu9fl5.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/638nk0i.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4xvkk9f.jpg

[lilldavid]

Hi! I'm actually kinda new here and was reading thru this thread. Found it to be quite interesting, historical and worth the read. And this actually came into mind, because recently a pair of 501s were handed down to me by a relative, i haven't really seen a pair like this before and thus was hoping people around here could shed some light on it, what yr or make or even if it's real or fake. The pics i've taken are way too big so i'll just post the links to the pics. Also i didn't want to start a legit check post straight ahead if the people here could help me out! Thanks! By the way, it didn't come with any tags also.

http://i19.tinypic.com/5ycg942.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/68a268o.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/4xo04jq.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/67euf5l.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/4t6b1ac.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/4uwrp8p.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/6fu9fl5.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/638nk0i.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4xvkk9f.jpg

Greetings from Thailand!

[MetalStitch]

so it's fake...haha thanks for the clarification! i don' think i'll be touching it for a very very long time...

[lilldavid]

Great site imo:

http://www.redcloud.co.jp/detail/rivet.htm

[Rob]

http://www.vintagemotorcyclejackets.com/index-denim.htm

Similar stuff here.

[Leopold]

LVC 505 1967 for sale. 29/34. Contact me.

[kbuzz]

My advice is wear the heck out of them between cold soaks. Go as long as you can without soaking them. My experience with most LVCs is it takes about 10 wet to dry cycles to get full shrinkage. Most of the shrikage happens in the first 3 or 4 but DO NOT alter the length until 10 or so.

Just got my LVC 33's from cultizm-wow less then 2 days to NYC !!!!!

I love the light weight denim. ITs so comfortable...IM hooked!!!

So folks i want to buy more. But the 38 is a big large in the waist. Im rally a 35 waist. Based on the above will it take another 5 wash dry cycles to shrink (not sure bout the dryer)?

I appreciate further advise. Do i buy a 36 hard washed from japan and just strech the crap out of it? and never wash or just cold soak. In this case, the leanght may be an issue

Or buy a raw 36. And never wash. Does the raw LVC stretch out a lot like the APCs...

Continue to try and shrink shrink shrink the 36s....Thanks folks, too bad lvc is tough to obtain in the states.

the 66's, and 201s are calling me...

[airfrogusmc]

Just let them take their course break'n in. Wear'm baggy in the waist till they shrink. Thats what I do. So they're a bit baggy for a while the reward when they've broken in is worth the time and lack of washing/soaking. I would recommend go as long as you can before the first soak then a cold soak when ever you can't stand them anymore.

[kbuzz]

Just let them take their course break'n in. Wear'm baggy in the waist till they shrink. Thats what I do. So they're a bit baggy for a while the reward when they've broken in is worth the time and lack of washing/soaking. I would recommend go as long as you can before the first soak then a cold soak when ever you can't stand them anymore.

Thanks so much for the reply. I guess then you mean I should stick with the tagged 38 which shrink as per the tag, then go with a true 36 and do cold soak only to avoid any shrinkage.

The other thought i had would be buy an elcheop STF in 36 tag and do a cold soak to expirment to shrink the legs but not the waist. would anyone think that would be informative or just a waist of 40 bucks becasue the denim is so differenct?

. As for this pair of 1933's with tag 38" waist I already washed n dry'd once (i know its heresy) But ill take your advice from now on with these....as for new thats a good suggestion although they are huge when new (tagged 38 for a 36 waist).

[airfrogusmc]

Mine were huge and fit GREAT now.

[airfrogusmc]

Heres a few of my LVCs taken today.

1955s

Worn all last winter. Went 4 months before the first soak. Fully shrunk at this point.

1886s

1933s 555

And the KINGS in my opinion 1920s 201 555 Blue line # 2 selvage, blackened donut buttons, white oil cloth #2 denim tag WELL WORN.

[YoungPunch]

Airfrog,

Compared to your older jeans pictures, these lvc's look so much better wearing them while washing infrequently. The fading and contrast is a lot more defined.

[ed-47]

Just got my lvc 501 47´ since I am a size w33 and lvc jeans runs 1 size small i bought w36 so the fit would be good after soaking them. But now after I gave them 2 hot soaks thay are still a bit large for me. what do you think I should do with them does it help if I give them a really really hot (70 degrees+) soak maybe.