Style police: Teach us!

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

... I’m not suppose to wash my denim? Holy crap I’m leaning a lot.

Well stand up straight. Square your shoulders, it helps.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by blankall

For unsanforized denim, you soak it first then let it shrink to fit. You get the best fit this way, as the denim literally shrinks around your body and creates a perfect fit.

During the soaking you do your best not to disturb the materials, so that the dye loss is minimized.

For sanforized pairs, the idea is to wait as long as you can before the first wash, to get the best possible contrast in the fade. Yes that can be gross.

Wait.... So you put on a pair of wet jeans and walk around all day until they shrink to your body?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Wait.... So you put on a pair of wet jeans and walk around all day until they shrink to your body?

You don't have to wear them all day....Believe it or not, before the 1960s or so, this was standard practice for denim.

[peter12]

Blue dong. I've done this before.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by blankall

You don't have to wear them all day....Believe it or not, before the 1960s or so, this was standard practice for denim.

Amazing. I didn't know this. Will definitely try this next pair I buy.

[VladtheImpaler]

You guys are a treasure trove of information. Thanks.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

... I’m not suppose to wash my denim? Holy crap I’m leaning a lot.

You are 100% supposed to wash your denim. How much? Different question, but I'd say less than once a week and more than once a year, for sure.

Not washing your denim for extended periods of time is meant to achieve a specific look, but eventually it harms the structure of the denim as oils and bacteria break down the fibres and weaken the jeans, leading to rips. This can also occur with over-washing and (especially) tumble drying.

I usually wash my jeans if they get especially dirty or start to feel a little too stretched out. Maybe once every few months on average? I've done the "no wash" thing before. It's unnecessary, but do it if you want. I find the "sick fadez" often look a little too bro-ey for me.

Generally speaking, I would just be very wary of taking advice from jean culture nerds and applying it across the board.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You are 100% supposed to wash your denim. How much? Different question, but I'd say less than once a week and more than once a year, for sure.

Not washing your denim for extended periods of time is meant to achieve a specific look, but eventually it harms the structure of the denim as oils and bacteria break down the fibres and weaken the jeans, leading to rips. This can also occur with over-washing and (especially) tumble drying.

I usually wash my jeans if they get especially dirty or start to feel a little too stretched out. Maybe once every few months on average? I've done the "no wash" thing before. It's unnecessary, but do it if you want. I find the "sick fadez" often look a little too bro-ey for me.

Generally speaking, I would just be very wary of taking advice from jean culture nerds and applying it across the board.

It's just the "dry" denim you don't wash. It's so the dye sets in and you get the best "fades". Once you wash a pair dry jeans, you lose dye and the dye sets into the denim.

It's really just that first wash that is the most important to prolong. After the first wash, the fades are more or less set and the only thing you lose on rewashing is the contrast, as the colour overall fades.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You are 100% supposed to wash your denim. How much? Different question, but I'd say less than once a week and more than once a year, for sure.

Not washing your denim for extended periods of time is meant to achieve a specific look, but eventually it harms the structure of the denim as oils and bacteria break down the fibres and weaken the jeans, leading to rips. This can also occur with over-washing and (especially) tumble drying.

I usually wash my jeans if they get especially dirty or start to feel a little too stretched out. Maybe once every few months on average? I've done the "no wash" thing before. It's unnecessary, but do it if you want. I find the "sick fadez" often look a little too bro-ey for me.

Generally speaking, I would just be very wary of taking advice from jean culture nerds and applying it across the board.

I see. That’s what I do now, maybe once a month... but not 12 times a year. Usually for the same reason you mentioned, to tighten them up again.
Hang to dry.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I see. That’s what I do now, maybe once a month... but not 12 times a year. Usually for the same reason you mentioned, to tighten them up again.
Hang to dry.

Isn't once a month 12 times a year?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Isn't once a month 12 times a year?

Intent: Maybe = sometimes

[agulati]

Originally Posted by peter12

Well stand up straight. Square your shoulders, it helps.

Learning a lot in this thread, but posture police takes the cake.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by agulati

Learning a lot in this thread, but posture police takes the cake.

Posture is important for good health.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by blankall

It's just the "dry" denim you don't wash. It's so the dye sets in and you get the best "fades". Once you wash a pair dry jeans, you lose dye and the dye sets into the denim.

It's really just that first wash that is the most important to prolong. After the first wash, the fades are more or less set and the only thing you lose on rewashing is the contrast, as the colour overall fades.

Yeah, I just disagree on the importance of fades, as I think that method limits the structural lifespan of the jeans. You end up doing more damage by trying to speed the natural fading process. You're going to get fades over time with dry denim regardless of what you do in the first year, and a good pair of jeans should last you a very, very long time, so might as well be patient with them.

I'll take a pair of 10-year jeans over a 1-year pair abused to look like they've been around for 10 years.

On that note, if anyone is curious as to what the #### people are talking about when they talk about dry denim and purposeful fading, this is worth a scroll:

https://www.heddels.com/fades/fade-of-the-day/

[_Q_]

Are jeans really meant to last 10 years? And in that vein, with the changes in fashion, body composition, and with age, do you really want to be wearing a ten year old pair of jeans? Currently at age 37, I might be into a certain pair of jeans, but do I really see myself wearing those when I'm pushing 50? Probably not.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by peter12

Blue dong. I've done this before.

It took me a second to figure out if you were talking about a brand name or not.

Turns out you are not.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

Blue dong. I've done this before.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Are jeans really meant to last 10 years? And in that vein, with the changes in fashion, body composition, and with age, do you really want to be wearing a ten year old pair of jeans? Currently at age 37, I might be into a certain pair of jeans, but do I really see myself wearing those when I'm pushing 50? Probably not.

When we’re in the realm of quite expensive denim, definitely. But my point wasn’t necessarily that you should keep a pair for 10 years, but that trying to make your pair look like it within 12 months is corny, especially if you’re inventing ways not to wash them (freeze them! Vinegar! hang them inside out in the sun! Etc).

It’s kind of more of a hobby advice than practical advice for dry denim. Just treat them normally. Wash them when they need washing. They’ll last as long as you want. Don’t worry about the “rules” or all the weird little myths about dry denim. They’re just jeans.

[OMG!WTF!]

I just had to wear pants tonight for the first time since about February. It's bloody miserable. I would have just killed myself if I had spent $400 for the privilege of doing so. Stupid jeans. Gawd.

[mikephoen]

A couple of denim related things I'd like to share. I've been really happy with the selection and service at Brooklyn Clothing in Kensington. And if you need any jeans repaired, I recently had two pairs fixed at NAQP in Inglewood. I've only had them back a few weeks, but the repair seems amazing. Almost 'too good to be true' level of amazing. I always tear out the crotch/seat area of jeans and I've thrown away so many pairs over the years. Now that I know they can be repaired, I wish I had some of my favourites from years past back!