Have you ever bought jeans in just the right size, only to have the waist stretch out and become loose?
Jeans are prone to stretching as you wear them, but there are ways to deal with it!
In this article, we will cover:
- Why does the waist of jeans stretch?
- How much do they usually stretch?
- How can you shrink them?
- How to choose jeans with good stretch
and more!
If you've ever said, "It's tight, so I'll go one size up...", you should definitely check this out!
Just how much does the waist of jeans stretch?
Jeans tend to stretch the most in areas where you move the most.
Therefore, the waist, hip area, and knees are particularly prone to stretching.
(I personally end up with baggy knees on skinny jeans until they're unwearable...)
It's hard to generalize exactly how much they stretch, as it depends on how long you've worn them and the type of jeans, but some can stretch by as much as an inch (2.5 cm).
When you try them on in a shop, staff will often say, "It's just a little tight, but it will be perfect once it breaks in! They'll adjust soon!"—they emphasize this because jeans are so prone to stretching!
Expect them to stretch! You should choose tighter-fitting jeans
Since jeans stretch, one way to counter it is to deliberately buy them a size smaller than your perfect fit.
However, you must be careful about the type of jeans.
Rigid denim (raw denim that has never been washed) shrinks significantly when washed!
If you choose a size too small for rigid denim, it might shrink so much that you won't be able to wear them at all, so it's wiser not to go for a smaller size.
For those who went for a tighter fit and ended up with jeans too small to fasten the waist, a product like this might come in handy.
This seems useful for when you've eaten a bit too much or gained a little weight...
Easy fit with a waist drawstring! Painter Pants Denim Indigo Color Bobson Workers
Can washing shrink stretched-out jeans!?
The main material of jeans is cotton.
Cotton has the characteristic of shrinking when washed and stretching when worn, which is why jeans stretch as you wear them and shrink when you wash them.
The faster they dry after washing, the more they tend to shrink.
If your current jeans are a perfect fit, we recommend drying them slowly in the shade.
We previously covered the proper way to wash jeans in the following article;
if you use a tumble dryer—which is advised against there—loose jeans will shrink quite a bit.
However, this is a "forbidden move" because it damages the fabric!
I truly do not recommend putting your favorite jeans in a tumble dryer.
Additionally, washing with 40-50°C hot water can also shrink them.
However, this method also comes with the drawback of fading, so be careful.
You can also fix stretched-out jeans with alterations
When people think of jeans alterations, many likely think of the initial hemming done after purchase.
Is it okay not to hem your jeans? A former tailor explains the points
Actually, it is also possible to take in a stretched waist.
If you're taking them in by about 3-4 cm, the average price is around 3,000 yen.
Taking them in significantly requires a major alteration from three points (both sides and the back center), so it can cost over 5,000 yen, and some shops might even charge close to 10,000 yen.
If it's a pair you have a deep emotional attachment to, a major alteration is worth it, but otherwise, it might be faster to just buy a new pair.
(Note that some shops may decline major alterations, so please check in advance.)
For jeans with good stretch, polyurethane is recommended
Stretch jeans certainly do stretch, but they are exceptionally comfortable to wear!
Especially for skinny jeans that fit the body closely, if there's no stretch, they become very uncomfortable to wear.
When choosing jeans with good stretch, the material to look for is "polyurethane."
Adding just 2% polyurethane improves elasticity.
Most stretch jeans contain between 2% and 5% polyurethane.
If you want comfortable jeans with good stretch, make sure to check for "polyurethane"!
By the way, BOBSON's "High Power Stretch Skinny Jeans" enhance stretch durability by using two polyurethane threads.
Unlike poor-quality stretch fabrics that stretch out quickly, these have a core within the thread that provides moderate tension, along with excellent water absorption and moisture retention.
Designed with long-term use in mind, the uneven texture of the threads creates an elegant character the more you wear them. Being top-tier high-end denim that molds to your body, please make sure to check them out!
At the BOBSON Online Shop, we can also hem your jeans for you based on our size guide before shipping.
Please take a look at our jeans, which pursue not just great looks, but comfort as well.
