Which wash is the original color for 501's?

[upstarter]

Hello,

I'm about to buy a new pair of 501's and was wondering what the original color was? To me, it looked like the "dark stonewash" seemed very nice at Sears (I'm comparing this wash to the shade of blue seen in Roeztel's page on jeans which features a pair of 501's). Does anyone know the original wash/color (or what might be the "best" in their opinion?)?

The colors:

http://www.us.levi.com/lsco/levi/pro...=1161905101829

Thanks for your help in advance,

Upstarter

 

[DNW]

That's easy. The original 501 wash is raw, or no wash. In modern terminology, it's 501xx, or 501 stf (shrink to fit). IMO, it's still the best wash...or nonwash.

 

[j]

The original is the shrink-to-fit dry denim, but the version of that that they sell today won't end up looking like the "original" version did after some wear, because the fabric and dye and everything else is cheaper and crappier than it used to be. That said, the STF still turns out looking reasonably good IMO.

 

[upstarter]

So you're basically saying i need to buy Shrink to fit and that i can't buy "pre-shrunk" jeans? That's a bit of a bummer. Anyway around it?

Thanks,

Upstarter

EDIT: Any tips about sizing up for shrink to fit jeans?

 

[mack11211]

Any tips about sizing up for shrink to fit jeans?

I think Levi's will tell you to add an inch in the waist and two inches in the inseam for shrinkage.

 

[acidpolice]

the "rinsed" wash would be a preshrunk STF. basically. it has no fake fading anyways, its just a very dark blue.

 

[theshonen8899]

I'm pretty sure rinsed is the closest to preshrunk 501's.

Shrink-to-fit instructions say to size up 10%.

 

[upstarter]

recommendations on where to buy the STF jeans?

EDIT: Also, i was reading up on 501's, and everyone talks about how they "fade." How much do they fade exactly? I don't want a pair of jeans that's not going to keep their nice blue color after a year or two...


Thanks,

Upstarter

 

[theshonen8899]

I have a Levi's store right over in South Coast Plaza but I remember seeing them at Macy's or Nordstrom.

 

[Brian SD]

upstarter, the reality is that no denim is going to keep its color after a year or two. Though the guys on this board are more sensitive in general to this... I think my mom considers her jeans still blue when they're so white there's barely any blue on them.

The better, higher quality (and in turn, generally more expensive) the denim is, the longer it will keep its color.

Anyway, the original 501 is the non-wash, Shrink to fit denim. To be honest I barely noticed them shrinking at all, mostly just getting rid of the original starchy rigidness. If you want a comfortable fit, however, try them on until you get one that fit's comfortably snug around the waist, then size up ONE waist size (I think Levi's even recommends two waist sizes... definitely don't listen to them. STFs barely shrink at all anymore).

 

[DNW]

JC Penney usually has cheap stf. There are still some Made in USA floating around on eBay. Like someone said before, add 1" to your waist and 2" to your inseam. If you don't want them to fade, then dry clean. You can minimize the fading by hand wash and hang dry. Start with these basic jeans first, then go for some high quality japanese repro. They'll stay blue much longer.

 

[theshonen8899]

I would recommend these LVC's or a Japanese repo if you had the money. If you just want cheap ones then the stf is fine.