One of the most frustrating things is trying on jeans that you thought were your size, only to put them on and discover that they barely button. How could this happen?! You wear size 32’s all the time! Well, it turns out there’s an answer for this.
Denim is a very interesting fabric and has been used for hundreds of years, most popularly dating back to the gold rush of California where Levi Strauss discovered the incredible demand for denim jeans in the 1850’s. But with all that bending over during the gold rush, surely they weren’t wearing skinny jeans that limit their mobility. So, let’s discover how men’s jeans stretch.
So, do men’s jeans stretch more over time? Yes. Depending on the fabric of the jeans, a typical denim jean will stretch out over time over the course of 2 or 3 days. If you are wearing a synthetic fabric such as a cotton/elastane blend, they will not stretch out over time, but will fit to the wearer’s body almost immediately.
But the main question is why? Why do jeans stretch out as time progresses?
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Why Does Denim Stretch?
The reason that denim stretches out over time is due to the fact that it is simply stretching. There is no rhyme or reason to why your jeans will stretch out over time. However, there is a reason why your denim will constrict when it’s placed into a dryer.
When the fabric comes in contact with heat, the fibers will naturally constrict and tighten, giving you that uncomfortable feeling like you might have had one too many cookies last night. This is especially more common if your denim is made out of 100% cotton.
When you wear your 100% cotton denim jeans, they will inevitably stretch out, which might be good news or bad news for you depending on your situation. However, if you’re looking for something more stretchy that will feel so much more comfortable, there are options out there that can provide more elasticity in the pants themselves.
Which Jeans Provide the Most Stretch?
Luckily, this isn’t the gold rush anymore, and 100% cotton jeans aren’t our only option. Let’s run down with a list of some of the most popular cotton and cotton blend jeans that will provide the most stretch.
The first jean I’d like to talk about is the standard 100% cotton jeans. These are the most common and timeless styles of jeans on the market. But they have one problem. They’re rigid and tight! These jeans are going to be your worst option if you are looking for something that will provide an incredible amount of elasticity and stretchiness.
They will be stiff and rigid after buying them from the store, or pulling them out of the wash. But, once you wear them for a few days, they’ll begin to feel like they’re part of your body, shaping to the parts of you that are needed most. So, if you have time to wait for a stretch on a standard denim jean, these are your best bet.
The other option that is now on the market is the cotton stretch style. These are denim/elastane blends that provide immediate stretch once you put them on. This style is my personal favorite.
The cotton blends look and feel almost like 100% cotton, but they’re not. The stretchiness provides enough rigidness with just the right amount of stretch. This is why my favorite jeans are the Lucky Brand jeans Athletic Fit style. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to another brand again.
How Long Does It Take For Denim Jeans to Stretch?
If you have just purchased your 100% denim jeans right off the rack, you might notice that they’re rigid and tight. You might not even be sure you entirely like the way they fit on you. But, always be reminded that your jeans will stretch out over time. But how long will it take?
From my personal experience, I won’t get an authentic viewpoint of how they’ll fit in the long run until I’ve worn them for about a week, washed them, and worn them again. I always try to avoid washing my jeans as much as I can, but once I get the first wash in, I know how they’ll fit for the rest of their lifespan.
So, once you buy your jeans, they’ll gradually stretch out over the next 2-3 days. After that, the stretch will begin to plateau. If you’re looking for an authentic viewpoint of how they’ll be fitting for the rest of their lifespan, I would recommend giving them about 2 weeks with a wash in between.
How Can I Avoid My Jeans Shrinking In The Laundry?
This is one of the most timeless questions that we get over and over. The answer really is quite simple: Wash them on delicate/cold and hang them to dry. By doing this, you are not going to make the fibers constrict as much as they normally would.
When you wash your clothes in hot water and then throw them in a hot dryer, your jeans are going to shrink immensely. This is mostly true for 100% cotton jeans, not for cotton blends. It’s best to avoid this all together.
Plus, when you wash your jeans on a hot cycle, you’re damaging the fibers in the jeans themselves. By washing on a delicate or cold cycle, you’ll be actively extending the life of your jeans.
In conclusion, the standard men’s jeans will stretch over time. If you are interested in getting the most accurate representation of how much they will stretch, it is best to wear them for about two weeks with a wash in between so that you can accurately depict how they will fit for the rest of the time that you own them.
If you are more interested in not having to break in your jeans, there are fantastic options out on the market that will provide immediate stretch. These are called cotton blends or cotton stretch jeans. These types of jeans are available at most fashion retailers because they’re popularity has skyrocketed over the past few years. But, who could blame them? They’re so comfortable!
I, personally, have started to move toward these cotton stretch jeans as well. They stretch right off the bat and they’re almost as soft as pajamas, but look incredible.