Levi's® Mens

501® Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans

Men's

I've been wearing this jeans for over 30 years. I don't bother going through any special shrinking method. I just throw it in hot wash immediately after purchase (before wearing) and dry in hot dryer. While I'm at it I usually wash the new ones with the old ones for several laundry cycle so any color bleeding would just transfer to other 501s. it takes a few wash/dry cycles to completely shrink it, but once it's shrunk it fits me perfectly. I suppose since I don't take care to do any careful shrinking as recommended I do get some wrinkles along the seams sometimes and excess color rubbing off at such wrinkles, but that's the charm of this type of jeans anyway. after wash/dry they always go on a bit snug, but stretch out just enough to be comfortable. I'm female (yes. I fit in man's 501 better than woman's) and for pre-shrunk size, i wear 28-30. but for shrink-to-fit, I buy 28-32 as it shrinks in the inseams much more than the width. Once you figure out the right size to get the post-shrunk size, buying it just based on size has never failed me.

After reading numerous articles on how to properly shrink 501s, I believe I have found the correct way to ensure a good fit. First put them on without underwear, sit in a tub of hot water for 30 minutes and drink some Basil Hayden. Take your pants off (make sure to draw the blinds first, oops!) and put in wash for 2 cycles with fabric softener in rinse cycle. Put wet pants on (more Basil Hayden as needed) and sit for 1 hour. Take pants off (blinds still closed) and hang by one belt loop overnight. Pants are ready to wear next day after hangover clears.

There are a couple different ways you can approach making these jeans your own. If you want to keep the dark color and customize the fading, then buy 1 size larger in the waist and 2 to 3 in the length; soak in hot water and hang to dry a couple times to shrink; wear as long as possible without washing, then soak and hang dry. It will take some time to soften. If you want wash and wear: for a close fit buy 1 up in waist and 2 to 3 in length; for a slightly relaxed fit go up 2 in the waist. They'll still conform to you, but may take a bit longer. I live in Alaska and hang drying takes forever in the winter. I keep a couple going in each fit. I wash everything in cold and dry on medium (perm press) at the warmest. I've been wearing Levi's 501 for more than 35 years and am hooked on the buttom fly. Started buying the prewashed, but Levi's changed the fit a few years ago and the STF seem better. I'm female and these fit better and last longer than women's jeans. I HATE stretch denim.

Order your natural waist size, and about 4 inches longer in the inseam. Cuff those legs. Wear 'em dry. And when you just can't stand it any longer, give 'em a lukewarm soak in Woolite Dark for 20 minutes. Don't wash them too often after that. You want those paint and grease stains to get set, and for those really high contrast fades to come into their own. All good things with time.