How Much Will Raw Selvedge Denim Stretch?

[brucemlynch]

I have a pair A.P.C. New Standard Jeans that I bought from Sid Mashburn in Atlanta. This was the first pair of raw selvedge jeans that I have purchased.

When I was buying them, the sales associate told me that they should be unbearably tight so they will mold to my body when they break in. Normally I wear a 33" waist, so he suggested I try on a 30". When I put them on he asked me how tight they felt on a scale from 1 to 10. I put them at an 8 out of 10 - I was really uncomfortable. 8 wasn't high enough for him so he gave me a 29". These I ranked at an 11 out of 10 - they were so tight I could barely bend my knees. The salesman was satisfied with this and gave me the green light, so I trusted his opinion and bought them.

I know that I need to be patient and break these in, but I'm starting to think that they won't be able to physically stretch enough. I've had them for a few months now and wear them sporadically, usually once every few weeks when I feel up to the challenge. To be fair they have certainly loosened up, but they are still so tight that it's awkward to walk up stairs. They still haven't been washed at all since I bought them (they are sanforized).

Any advice? Did the salesman not know what he was talking about? Should I give this up as a lost cause?

 

[SP1259]

Hmm "11 out of 10" seems too tight to me. I'm not an expert, but I've read elsewhere that they will expand about an inch over time. I sized down one in mine and they've worked out well. Could maybe have gone down one more size further (I admit the waist is a bit loose), but I wouldn't go to the point of physical pain.

 

[gaseousclay]

The salesman is an idiot.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[LA Guy]

I have a pair A.P.C. New Standard Jeans that I bought from Sid Mashburn in Atlanta. This was the first pair of raw selvedge jeans that I have purchased.

When I was buying them, the sales associate told me that they should be unbearably tight so they will mold to my body when they break in. Normally I wear a 33" waist, so he suggested I try on a 30". When I put them on he asked me how tight they felt on a scale from 1 to 10. I put them at an 8 out of 10 - I was really uncomfortable. 8 wasn't high enough for him so he gave me a 29". These I ranked at an 11 out of 10 - they were so tight I could barely bend my knees. The salesman was satisfied with this and gave me the green light, so I trusted his opinion and bought them.

I know that I need to be patient and break these in, but I'm starting to think that they won't be able to physically stretch enough. I've had them for a few months now and wear them sporadically, usually once every few weeks when I feel up to the challenge. To be fair they have certainly loosened up, but they are still so tight that it's awkward to walk up stairs. They still haven't been washed at all since I bought them (they are sanforized).

Any advice? Did the salesman not know what he was talking about? Should I give this up as a lost cause?

Sorry, but the sales associate was just wrong. While APCs stretch more than usual, sizing down one size will give you a fairly relaxed fit after a while, and sizing down 2 will give you a slim/tight fit.

If you are typically comfortable with a size 33 in most brands, a size 32 or perhaps 31 would have been good. If you want a more relaxed fit after the breaking in perioud, the waist should be slightly snug, but button comfortably. If you want a slimmer fit, you should go just slightly more snug. Sizing down 4 is madness.

 

[Peter1]

That's bad advice. Even here in France the APC clerks advise sizing down 1. Sell them and get a 32