Should I Size Up Or Down? (Nudie)

[SirSuturesALot]

I'm a size 31 for the Nudie Regular Ralf (Original Selvage wash, which AFAIK, is NOT Dry).

I've read that one should size down 1 whenever buying Dry denim. So should I buy size 30 if I'm going to buy Dry Nudie Regular Ralfs (i.e. same cut, but now using Dry denim)?

Also, I like how the Regular Ralfs fit on me right now. They were a little loose in the crotch to begin with, but I sent them through the wash and dryer (both on high temp) and they came out perfectly sized. Will they continue to fit well, or will they eventually stretch to a point where they look like they're one size too big?

Lastly, is Nudie sizing consistent across their various cuts? For example, if I'm a size 31 in Regular Ralfs, should I buy a size 31 in Slim Jim?

Thanks!

 

[zacharydschroeder]

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, but there are some people here that know a whole lot more about jeans than I do.

No brand is going to be 100% consistent with sizing, but Nudie is one of the more consistent brands.

All denim stretches. Every time. If your jeans fit perfect right out of the dryer, they will be loose after a few weeks. Maybe sooner.

Some people recommend buying Nudies 1 inch smaller than your regular jeans, others buy them true to size. If you want your jeans to fit like they just came out of the dryer, I'd recommend going down 1 inch.

Lastly, you can figure a lot of this stuff out by doing a search, and the best part about that is you will find out other helpful things that you never thought to ask along the way.

 

[SirSuturesALot]

Thanks for the reply.

I actually did do a search and read through pages and pages of material before posting this thread. Searching did clear up a lot of things, but not enough to a point where my questions were answered entirely.

Still not really sure when I should go size 31 and when I should go size 30, so any additional insight from other members would be much appreciated.

 

[whodini]

Sizing one down isn't a golden rule. It doesn't take into account the type of denim used, past public experience, how they're worn, if there's a belt involved, etc., all of which are pretty big factors. APC, for example, is vanity sized and has also been known to stretch like a rubber band.

I probably wouldn't recommend sizing down two on Ralphs if you like to wear them loose. Some here would argue that you should probably just stick to your regular size (31) but that also depends on how often you plan on washing your jeans. If you're going to wear them more often the wash them then sizing down could help account for future stretch which is ultimately inevitable; I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they stretched out two sizes but still recommend you go down 1 at most.

Nudie sizing isn't across the board at all. Sizing down one may help in some cuts, but again, it depends on how the jeans will be worn; in other cuts, the outcome isn't so great. I went down one for my SS Svenka's but stuck to my size for my Thin Finns because of the elastane invovled.

 

[spacemanvt]

i would say size down one in regular ralfs if you want a slimmer bootcut. true to size if you want baggier

they def stretch out though a bit. typically in nudie,people go down a size in raw compared to pre-washed denim.

 

[SirSuturesALot]

Originally Posted by whodini

If you're going to wear them more often the wash them then sizing down could help account for future stretch which is ultimately inevitable; I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they stretched out two sizes but still recommend you go down 1 at most.
I wash my jeans once every 2-3 weeks. I'm still a little confused about the whole washing/shrinking concept, so let's see if I have it right (this is with pre-washed jeans): 1. Brand new pair of jeans 2. Throw them in the washer and dryer to "pre-shrink" prior to hemming 3. At this stage, the jeans are now in their "true" size 4. Wearing them after stage 3 will temporarily stretch the jeans to a larger size 5. Washing/drying them after wearing will shrink them back to their "true" size (stage 3) Is this correct?

 

[nudielover]

Originally Posted by SirSuturesALot

I wash my jeans once every 2-3 weeks.

I'm still a little confused about the whole washing/shrinking concept, so let's see if I have it right (this is with pre-washed jeans):

1. Brand new pair of jeans
2. Throw them in the washer and dryer to "pre-shrink" prior to hemming
3. At this stage, the jeans are now in their "true" size
4. Wearing them after stage 3 will temporarily stretch the jeans to a larger size
5. Washing/drying them after wearing will shrink them back to their "true" size (stage 3)

Is this correct?
For Nudies:
Rule of thumb is size down one from your pre-wash size.
Don't throw them in the washer, Nudies are sanforized, thus no point for a pre-shrink wash or soak.

 

[Get Smart]

in the end if you're still at a loss, you can't go wrong sizing down 1 with Nudie

 

[Saucemaster]

I tend to buy my true size for Nudies, but I've both sized down one and sized up one before with perfectly good results. If you like the way a pair of pre-washed 31s fit you right out of the dryer, I'd go down to the 30.

Also, to expand on what nudielover said, there's no need to wash or soak your raw Nudies before wearing them unless you really want to hem them immediately. Even then, I'd just hem them about an inch long to account for the slight shrinking when they're eventually washed. The "wash before wearing" rule applies to raw denim that is unsanforized, and will thus shrink fairly drastically when it's eventually washed. Nudies (and APCs, and a few other brands that sell raw jeans) are sanforized, and at most they'll just shrink up a little bit in length.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I can only speak to the Grim Tims, but I would size down at least one. I am a true size 32. I wear size 30 in "normal" (i.e. non-raw) jeans. I bought a pair of size 30 Nudie GTs and in less than one week's (infrequent) wear, the waist has already stretched to a 33 or so. I use a belt so it's not a big deal but if you don't like belts then you would not be happy in such a situation.

I plan on getting a pair of Nudie Average Joes soon and will try to get my hands on a size 29 to avoid the above.

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

Nudies (and APCs, and a few other brands that sell raw jeans) are sanforized, and at most they'll just shrink up a little bit in length.


That's good to know. I got my GTs directly from the store and had them hemmed immediately to proper length. I was afraid "highwaters" were in my future (when I finally got around to washing them)!

Got mine in town in Philly too, btw.

 

[jessetk313]

SAuce have you ever sized up on a pair of Regular Ralfs? I was thinking about getting a 31 RRDG when I have a size 30 RRDS. My 30 RRDS has been worn on and off with a total wear of around 2.5-3 months now and still fit pretty snug and havent stretched much.

 

[Saucemaster]

Originally Posted by jessetk313

SAuce have you ever sized up on a pair of Regular Ralfs? I was thinking about getting a 31 RRDG when I have a size 30 RRDS. My 30 RRDS has been worn on and off with a total wear of around 2.5-3 months now and still fit pretty snug and havent stretched much.

I actually did exactly that--sized up to 31 on my RRDGs. Worked fine. My general issue with sizing up is that the top block, specifically the hips, tends to get all screwed up, but with Nudie that doesn't seem to happen (to me, anyway).

 

[jessetk313]

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

I actually did exactly that--sized up to 31 on my RRDGs. Worked fine. My general issue with sizing up is that the top block, specifically the hips, tends to get all screwed up, but with Nudie that doesn't seem to happen (to me, anyway).

Great sounds like good news for me. Thanks for the help.

 

[stickonatree]

sizing down 1 is usually the way to go with these jeans that you "break in" because any denim will always stretch a bit.

 

[xchen]

I've got over a month's wear on my Nudie Slim Jims. When I first put them on they were pretty tight and now they are fairly slim but not overly tight. My waist is 32" and the jeans are a size 31. I think a 32 would be too loose but the 31s do not require me to wear a belt.