What causes "bunchiness" of a jean?

[CarllraC]

I saw a guy yesterday, and it was remarkable how non-bunchy his jeans were. He didn't have funny knee bulges when he walked, and they fell straight over the calf all the way to the heel, with a small buckle in the front over the shoe. The thigh was similar. They were fairly loose jeans - I'd say straight leg or relaxed fit. It definitely wasn't his leg filling out the jean that caused them to be straight. He looked VERY good in those jeans.

I have these jeans - they're straight leg, mid-rise jeans from Lucky Brand, and fairly loose on me, but they look okay. Now, my jeans "bunch" up and look unkempt. Knee and butt bulges kind of retain their shape as I walk or as I get out of a sitting position, looking odd. The lower leg bunches in a funny way. I can't explain why mine are different. It's almost as if, let's say, I put some 3lb weights in the cuff of my jean - then the jean would hang very straight like that guy's. Clearly he didn't have that, though.

What causes this, and how do I fix it? Are there certain types of denim or jean that do this better?

 

[Jared]

I'm no expert, but two guesses: The jeans were well-washed and worn-in making the fabric softer. Raw denim obviously holds creases the best, I suppose acid washed would be the worst.

The denim had some lyrca or some other synthetic in it.

 

[drake]

Hem them and wash them more frequently.

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by drake

Hem them and wash them more frequently.

I agree.. This is the solution here, imo.

 

[CarllraC]

What is it about washing them that is good? Would drying work too?

Also, should I starch them lightly?

 

[PG2G]

washing them will soften them up and make them drape easier, starch will do the opposite.

 

[Double D]

I guess it's the SuFu coming out in me... but why the hell would you want your jeans to drape smoothly all the way down to the hem?

 

[jean_connoisseur23]

its the wash, the denim(raw is good),the leg opening(tapered) and the inseam(long)

 

[masqueofhastur]

Originally Posted by Double D

I guess it's the SuFu coming out in me... but why the hell would you want your jeans to drape smoothly all the way down to the hem?

So they look better.

 

[Goblin]

It might have something to do with the way you wear your jeans. I sit cross-legged on my floor at home, and I skate in my jeans, so the knees and butt of the jeans always end up looking kinda tore up after a certain point, and there's just not much I can do about it.

 

[a tailor]

cant do much about the knees. when you sit you are streching the knee area. just dont bend your knees and your jeans will not get its own knees. you could take the steam iron to this the area and flatten it out after each wearing. that guys jeans were loose, thats the solution. the closer the fit the bigger the knee pockets the same applys to dress trousers.

 

[Max]

It's the looseness and the length. Tighter jeans will bunch and stretch out in the butt and knees, while longer and tighter jeans will bunch around the ankle.

 

[BrettChaotix]

I have a pair of 7/Mankind that do this but as Jared mentioned, they have lycra in them.

I have an ooooold pair of XS jeans from Express that are my "dirty work" jeans - they've been sweated in, slept in, taken camping, stretched in all kinds of weird positions and washed dozens of times - now they are as soft as the jeans you are describing..it just took a few years ;-)

 

[lowrey]

umm I think we're missing the fact that theres thousands of different kinds of denim. its the same as saying "I have two shirts - why is the other one warm and the other one not?" because one is a light weight cotton t-shirt and the other one is a sweater

some denim will stand up on its own, some will feel almost like thin cotton pants. of course washing your jeans makes them softer, but if its heavy denim they'll still bunch up. personally I hate the look of drapy denim that falls like thin dress pants, I dont think denim is supposed to look like that, but if you want that you need to look for a pair of jeans thats made of lighter denim.