I May Have Made A Terrible Mistake. Levi’s 501 1890s, Post Soak.

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So, the jeans have been in the tub and they have been hung up to dry. Now it is time to see how much they have shrunk down.
Before Soak:
Waist - 40.5 cm
Leg - 79.5 cm
Thigh - 29 cm
Knee - 24.5 cm
Hem - 23 cm
Back Rise - 44cm
After Soak:
Waist - 37 cm
Leg - 75 cm
Thigh - 27 cm
Knee - 23 cm
Hem - 21.5 cm
Back Rise - 42cm
And that is a lot! Way more than I had expected, especially in the waist.
I still think that I would have ended up with a pair of jeans that is too big if I had gone with Levi’s suggestion of buying 2 sizes bigger… Maybe one size bigger would have been ok.
After the initial pain of putting them on, I wore them out for an afternoon. The first two hours were torture, but after that things started to ease off again. I guess I got at least 2cm back in the waist.
For the length, they are the exact size if I don’t want to cuff them, and the perfect length for a higher summer cuff without the roll becoming too bulky.
There was one final step to go through, however. The exposed rivets on the back are the bain of wooden chairs, motorcycle seats, car paint and basically anything that scratches up. This is an easy fix, however. Just take a hammer to them and flatten out the protruding nub on the back pocket rivets. I also did the rivets on the conch for good measure.
There we have it. A perfectly shrunk down pair of the original blue jeans, ready to roll this summer!

[@mikesilva5085]

I forgot how much LVC jeans shrink in the waist- I soaked mine in the bath for 45 mins , squeezed the water out by rolling them up in a towel then wore them damp so the waist stretched out...a bit. It was muffin top mania for a week then they started to ease up but in all honesty I think it’s best to size up 2 or 3 inches up in the waist with LVC 501’s

[@CeeAreDee]

Yeah I agree!

[@yvesklein5414]

you don't have the cinch properly secured. the loose end should go back towards itself. it's great to take up slack if the fit is too loose. don't cut it off, it looks awful if you ever tuck in your shirt.

[@andy86i]

I have these as well, I am really giving them a hard time to try and give them that “Calico Miner” look. This involved a bit of tallow wax, and rolling around a little in a pile of ash, then beating it out.

[@CeeAreDee]

Haha... Andy, that sounds amazing... you should send some pics to the IG feed @cee.are.dee I would love to see the result

[@andy86i]

@@CeeAreDee I will do, they are looking pretty good now. Just need some daylight..

[@NikonFM2n]

I like your Ocean One Vintage Military Steinhart. I've got two Steinhart's myself. AWESOME watches.

[@xxskyla.violettexx]

In my opinion, if any of the fly buttons, they’ll eventually stretch to fit.

[@CeeAreDee]

Tried that. They didn't budge :(

[@lisam-q2696]

This was so interesting. Thank you.

[@CeeAreDee]

You’re welcome.

[@reazallykhan8614]

I got 2 different pairs of 1890 …these are a pair of them

[@jiajiongho]

Great and funny video, it would be great if you show the full fit of the jeans!

[@CeeAreDee]

Hey mate. Yeah. I am always a little reluctant to show the full fit of any jean. Getting the right fit depends on many different factors and depends on body type so much. I am "apparently" a bit of an odd case when it comes to fit. Big Scottish farmers legs I inherited from the ancestors... I wouldn't want to show a fit that works for me but might not work on someone else.

[@TubbyNinja-ti1ch]

Great video man! Never would've thought about hammering down the rivets! And my heart sunk when I thought you were going to cut off the cinch! Do you feel it when you sit? I've always wondered about that.

[@CeeAreDee]

Not so far, it's been fine... they sit quite high on my waist so I guess this makes a difference tho. Yeah, hammering down the rivets really does make a difference however.

[@domjeanmbasquiat1529]

A cinch is cool

[@holdthatblaow]

Machine wash and dry the pair of these you have that re too big. Those might work out.

[@CeeAreDee]

I was thinking about that to be honest. But I think I will tough these out.

[@user-xf9le6ix7l]

I wonder if the current 1890501 is comfortable

[@CeeAreDee]

I’d think so.

[@douglasyong6939]

I hammered in another button on the waist of my 501 STF , giving me just enough room to be comfortable

[@CeeAreDee]

And you didn't have any issue with the fly hanging open at the top?

[@mikeyc5018]

Good few days on... how are you getting on, have they stretched out any more? I had a pair of Evisu about 20 years ago that shrunk massively following soak ... prob about 1 1/2 ... I felt relieved once they were worn out as they were so uncomfortable... used to wear them with top button undone! Nightmare!

[@CeeAreDee]

They are .... hmmm... ok. The light denim is the thing I am having bother getting used to. With them being fitted, well fitted, around the waist, they tend to really pinch in at the waist as the denim is so light, the waist band doesn't really have any rigidity. The dad bod probably doent help tho 😂😂

[@wrisr001]

Hi mate, I just got the same pair. I'm a little concerned after your video in regards to the over shrinkage, especially in the leg. I got the L32 and I'm 180cm or 5'11 ish. I was wondering if you could please tell me if doing the soak in cold rather than hot water will decrease the possibility I'll end up with Capri pants. Any other pertinent expert advice would be much appreciate. Cheers

[@CeeAreDee]

Ooft. Hmmmm. That’s tough. I can’t really say for sure mate. Sorry. I’d expect about a 10% shrink in a warm soak. Cold tho. No idea.

[@wrisr001]

@@CeeAreDee Cheers for the reply, I better stop dipping my toes in and just jump in.

[@michaelcrawford5638]

Am I missing something, or did you not give us the pre and post-soak measurements?

[@CeeAreDee]

Right at the intro :)

[@VianniOG]

Those blue jeans were a good pair what jeans are those?

[@CeeAreDee]

These are Levi's Vintage Clothing 501xx. The 1890s model.

[@wowjunkie73]

This is hilarious, you realize you are supposed to be wearing them when you soak, then let them dry on you??!! Spot dry clean yourself in a dryer bag no more than every 10 wears and they'll be good for life. I'm a 29x32 and have these in 32x34 and they shrunk perfect. Selvedge denim is non-stretch...

[@CeeAreDee]

Aww. That’s cute.

[@chawenhalo0089]

Why the new channel name CRD?

[@CeeAreDee]

This is a bit of a longer story. I will do a Vlog on it at some point and explain all.

[@saulrabiela4862]

Hello from Mexico city 👖

[@CeeAreDee]

Hi Saul :)

[@torma1985]

Hello mate, Levi's 512 Made & Crafted - what size should I go for? I went for 29/32 in 512 Premium. I understand selvedge denim will shrink. The premium 512s have not been washed yet. It was tight in the waist but by now, it stretched out a bit so comfortable. What would you advise when it comes to made & crafted version? Thank you :)

[@brunonjezic6208]

I went 2 sizes in my made and crafted 80s they are a bit loose on the waist but perfect everywhere else. I giess next wash they will get right perfect. They lost insane amount of length

[@torma1985]

@@brunonjezic6208 weren't they shrink to fit?

[@brunonjezic6208]

@@torma1985 yes they were. In regular one wash old 501s from 2015 I'm 33w 34l. In new ones I seem to be 34w same as in my straight leg unbranded jean. Shrink to fit I went with 36w and 34l. I would love to go with 36l but they didn't make them in moste or the shrink to fit offerings

[@torma1985]

@@brunonjezic6208 i see! Nice! Good luck with your jeans man! 🙂

[@brunonjezic6208]

@@torma1985 thank you. I hope this helped

[@shah19831983]

Thought it was going to be a pixelated Japanese porn for a minute 😂

[@CeeAreDee]

Not sure how you got that impression, mate, 😂 I hope you were not too disapointed 😉

[@gzno3528]

Made in USA?

[@CeeAreDee]

Yip, these were some of the last ones made there.

[@Lunatic4Bizcas]

One of the reasons why Wrangler ® jeans are better, which is that the back rivets on the jeans are either flat or rounded.

[@CeeAreDee]

Very true.

[@saulrabiela4862]

If don't want send me to me, I'm Mexico.

[@CeeAreDee]

I am afraid they will go to the collection.

[@yoddythegreat]

man, whats wrong with the audio?

[@CeeAreDee]

Dunno. Sounds alright my end. Anyone else having issues?

[@cleophasgaillard3872]

Funny video lol

[@CeeAreDee]

Thank you :)

[@ChrisVallejos]

you butchered those jeans

[@CeeAreDee]

Ahh. Just started their story.