DENIM help

[showbiz00ditc]

so im definately a 'denim s-noob' as abbosed to denim snob... k so im looking on ebay for good denims (jackets or jeans) mainly Levi's stuff... how do i know whats good... and whats shyt... i see that Levi's is sold at zellers and stuff... so i dont wanna buy something n think im rockin crazy denims when i could pick it up at zellers for 9.99.... ive noticed some of you talking of numbers... 501.. n like 201 or something... numbers mean alot?... also i noticed theres like red tab premium red tab orange tab ... what do i look for in that stuff? ENLIGHTEN ME PLEASE

[rhythmandsound]

might want to check all the denim-related posts from the past two months. there's been a flurry of discussion. just do a search or scan thru the topics. regarding levis, there's their highly-priced, high-quality LVC (levi's vintage clothing) reproductions of vintage 501's, which most of us on here probably regard highly. Then there are the rigid shrink-to-fit 501's that you can buy at kohl's or mervyn's for $30. I and several other people love those things, but there's other people that wouldn't go near them. like i said, scan and search thru the posts from early this year onward and you'll learn a lot.

[showbiz00ditc]

i looked up LVC on ebay ... definately saw some appealing stuff... but this stuff isnt actually from like 1800's right ... its just like... 'throwback'? ... and also do Levi's stores carry the LVC?

[rhythmandsound]

the LVC line includes reproductions of various items from levi's history...a couple of examples would be the 1947 version of the 501 and the 1955 version of the 501...both have diff't details. Some of the bigger levi's stores in major cities have an LVC section.

[showbiz00ditc]

thanks for the knowledge man

[docdoom]

lvc series basically details jeans models as historically accurately as possible. The chief suspect is the 501 throughout the ages, from the 'First Blue Jean' model from 1887 (i think) to 1966 i think. This encompasses the transition of the jean through workers pant, rock'n'roll etc, the details change with a second back pocket, a red tab and then a double sided red tab being added. belt loops came in, suspended buttons went out. Rivets were made hidden, then dispensed with altogether. There are also some 201 jeans which were a cheaper jean back in the day, with an oilcloth patch instead of leather and copper alloy rivets instead of pure copper.

Defiantley lots of other good jeans makes around though.

[Serge d Nimes]

On ebay I run run earches for "big E" and "repro, reproduction" Levi's. I also run searches for selvage. when you look up selvage these ddays you will get about a million hits of Ezra Fitch jeans; those are awful!

BTW the 1937 201 has a leather patch, and I think it's made from deer leather, and they are made with solid copper rivets. The ones Docdoom is describing sound like fakes. Also, be aware of fakes! some guy from Costa Rica sells fakes. they look like 1901 levis but have a red tab and the crotch rivet is not in the right place.

Live is too short for bad denim!

[JohnW]

the 201s docdooms on about are 1920s repros - i think the aeroleather site has them - apparently they're really good quality loose-fit denim

[Serge d Nimes]

the 1920's ones should have solid copper rivets as well. the first alloy rivets didn't come till '65. Cheers, Joel

Live is too short for bad denim!

[docdoom]

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/webapp/aeroleather/servlet/AeroViewPage?page=displayproduct&subcatid=106&prodid=1490

those are the ones on aero i was jibbin about!

[soultek]

Lookin at some 1947 Repros online. Was wondering how the fit would compare to normal shrink to fit 501's? Anyone?

[aitsuka]

you know wal-mart sells levis too? yes, levis signature series...

-don't hate, appreciate-

[ringring]

Not sure which shrink to fit 501s to compare them to, but LVC 1947s are the pretty slim fitting. If you're familiar with a Nudie Reg Ralph, then they fit like those around the hips and waist and maybe an inch slimmer through the leg.

[wild_whiskey]

Don't know about you Ring-Ring, but if my Regular Ralfs were an inch slimmer through the thigh they'd have to be stretch. Of course, I ordered a size smaller than usual as Ralfs tend to have a big waist.

[ringring]

I've laid a pair of 47s on top of some RRs. The 47s are slimmer in the thigh by 0.75inch easy. Same size waist (more or less) - although obviously, the LVCs are labled a size up (pre-shrinkage size).

Both jeans worn and washed. Dry sizes would be different.

Edited by ringring on Apr 8, 2005 at 10:13 AM

[JohnW]

to see how 1947s fit, look at the pics on these sites

http://levis.wear.jp/item.asp?item_dat_id=3231

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/super-rag/427211/565881/

obviously it depends on your body size etc. but to me, 1947s are the typical regular fit jean - not loose, not really slim, the most 'regular' fitting jeans from the lvc. probably pretty similar to modern 501xx, but it's so long since i had a pair a can't really remember.

[Geowu]

from those pictures the 1947s seem LOOSE fitting to me... not a bit slim

[ringring]

Man. the second fella's so skinny I bet even his socks are loose

Anyway, compare skinny dude's 47s and Nudie Slim Jims:

http://www.nudiejeans.com/collection/content/01%20slim_jim/picture-slim.jpg

They're similar.

Seriously though, the shrink to fit LVC 47s are pretty slim, not Joey Ramone skinny, but slim for a 501. They are slimmer cut than the LVC 33s, 44s and 55s and are similiar to the 66s.

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com have pretty good descriptions of the relative fit of the dry LVCs.

Edited by ringring on Apr 8, 2005 at 02:13 PM

[wild_whiskey]

The 1947s in those pictures are definitely slim-fitting.. At least by today's standards, what may have originally been a regular fit is now considered pretty slim, as most guys wear their jeans *way* *too* *baggy*. I consider the RR cut to be slim. Again, the size I ordered may have to do with this.

Away from this argument - the Studio D'Artisan SD-105 looks sweet :-D I want to see what a boot-cut jean looks like with a twisted seam..

[Serge d Nimes]

I have had 2 pairs of deadstock 1947s and 2 pais of distressed Heyday ones. the pre distressed ones are quite slim and nice fitting, but the DS ones are pretty loose on me. I have tried shrinking one of my DS pairs with soaks in hot water 3 times and they are still pretty loose. I guess it takes a lot of washes to shrink them down. Any advice on how to give them a really good shrink?

I'm not illiterate, I just can't type!

[Geowu]

yeah, I didn't saw the second *skinny* guy. 1947 is not too slim though.

Serge, maybe you could have them tailored?

[soultek]

Thanks guys, that helped.

I'll try on some Nudie RR's and try and compare them.

I'm not a slim dude, but not fat either. My waist is like a 35, and usually I end up having to get a 36. PRPS one wash fit me in 34. Dope & Drakkar is a little too big in a 36. Rogan is just right in a 36. I am wearing current 'cheap' 501xx's in a 35 and they fit perfect. I think I tried on APC once and it was a little too slim fitting for me.

I like some room in the crotch area. I think I probably like my jeans loose. I guess I cannot shake the baggy clothes/sagging off the ass aesthetic I used to rock in my wayward youth..

[edwin]

true story

i ordered a pair of deadstock pair levis 501xx 1947 repros (been wanting these for a while) in a size 31. will these fit like a 31 or a 33?

[IKPlus]

well, what levi's vintage are the narrowest?

i'm like a 28 waist, so slim needs to mean slim.

[ringring]

If they are dry 47's then they will fit like 31s and then shrink down a couple of inches after washing.

[hahnstch]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=52796&item=6758866916&rd=1

this pair looks interesting....