May 28, 2013 by Ryan Willms 
01
02
—01. Copper rivets.
—02. 100% cotton.
The 5-pocket 519 from LVC features a pre-shrunk cotton with copper rivets, zipper-fly and the big E label. The colour is great for the spring, or fall, and offers a slightly tapered fit through the leg.
August 24, 2012 by Ryan Willms 
01
—01. 100% cotton.
It's somewhat surprising to me that one of the best products in the LVC offering is consistently their t-shirts. However, it is the case and there are some nice plain and striped options this fall.
Levi's Vintage Clothing August 9, 2012 by Simon Roe 
01
02
—01. Pirate Black.
—02. Castor Grey.
A classic, easy to wear piece from the Fall-Winter '12 Levi's Vintage Clothing collection, these shirts have just arrived at Haven, along with a selection of other items from the brand. Simplicity is the key with these, as well as good fabric and colour choices, and the use of shell buttons to add some contrast.
February 11, 2012 by Ryan Willms 
01
02
—01. Blue.
—02. More blue.
The tees shirts in the Levi's Vintage Clothing rage continue to be their second best items after the denim. While they aren't cheap, these striped 60s tees look great, and I like the blues and soft look of the cotton, definitely ideal for the spring season ahead.
October 8, 2011 by Ryan Willms 
01
02
—01. Tan.
—02. Burgundy.
I like corduroy and I like western shirts, why not put them together? LVC have produced a couple of great looking, simple westerns in some nice shades of this great fall fabric. I particularly like the tan color as it would look great with some washed denim.
LVC, Levi's Vintage Clothing August 24, 2011 by Max King 
01
—01. Terry cotton.
A fall/winter staple, the Levi's crew is taken from a pattern done in the 1950s which is composed of all the classic elements, ribbed cuffs, saddle sleeves and v-shaped insert. Made with a grey melange cotton and a more relaxed fit, for $160, this sweat is priced well for its overall fit and quality.
May 17, 2010 by Ryan Willms 
01
02
03
—01. White 50s tee.
—02. Great labels.
—03. Washed out green.
The pocket tee is one of the most simple and iconic items when it comes to summer. Paired up with denim or chinos, it's hard to go wrong. Yet so many people go wrong making pocket tees. Levi's continue to make a few things well, besides the LVC denim, the tees are probably their next strong point.
March 16, 2010 by Ryan Willms 
You may have noticed that we've just added some LVC denim to the Stockroom. We've selected the three styles that we consider the strongest in the line and we're really excited to be working with such an iconic brand. For the first issue of the magazine I wrote a short piece about LVC and it really sums up why we've chosen to work with them. I think it also provides some helpful background on sizing, shrinkage and washing. With that in mind and by way of an introduction, I've included an except here, alongside some photos of LVC jeans I've worn from raw.
For the last 10 years, whenever I've needed a pair of jeans, I've only bought raw denim from the Levi's Vintage Clothing collection. It's not the most premium option, many Japanese brands potentially offer something better, but my connection to Levi's is stronger. I suppose it comes down to heritage; that's the brand that resonates most with me, so that's what I wear. Vintage pieces may be the ideal option, but prices can be prohibitive and you rarely get to start from scratch. LVC's reproductions provide access to an aesthetic - a middle ground between vintage and modern. I don't want to collect things and keep them hidden away. I want to wear the things I love, and at the very least be able to buy a replacement faithful to the original. LVC gives me that opportunity, I'm grateful for that, and I doubt I'll ever wear anything else.
—
In London, and Europe in general, these jeans are a staple and have been for some time but I remember buying a pair for the first time - there seemed so much to consider.
I know a lot of people are confused by the seemingly random numbers used to describe each jean. The three digit number refers to the style, but when it comes to 501s, there's been so many versions, most people use the year to be more specific. It's a style that didn't stand still, changing regularly in response to demand, fashion and even law; each new edition defined by subtle differences in shape and detail. If you hear someone using a two digit number in relation to a pair of Levi's, it will almost always refer to the year, and in turn the features, of a particular 501.
Something else that seems to concern people is the sizing. If there's one thing you're guaranteed from all LVC raw denim (except the 505) it's shrinkage - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you wash them, they will shrink. Levi's suggest a little more shrinkage on the waist than I've experienced, but it's a good guideline and buying a size up is definitely worthwhile. They may seem big to begin with, but they'll always end up the right size. It's hard to be exact as it depends how you wash them, but at 40 degrees they usually shrink an inch on the waist and 3 in the length. The only way to avoid this is not to wash them at all, and if that's what you plan on doing, buy your actual size.
Personally, I think machine washing never hurts; over time it creates a much stronger contrast, but I wouldn't do it right away. The one thing I'd do before anything else is soak them. Levi's suggest 10 minutes, but to me that isn't long enough. Turn them inside out and lay them in a bath of cold water for about 3 hours. That causes a decent amount of shrinkage and leg twist. Then spin them in the washing machine to get rid of any excess water, put them on while they're still damp and wear them until they're dry, setting in all the creases. After that, just wear them a lot and be patient. The longer you leave the first machine wash, the better they'll look down the line. When they do need washing, turn them inside out, do them on their own and don't use fabric conditioner.
Other people may have a different approach, but that's what I've always done and it's worked for me. That said, there's no right or wrong. Certain things are worth considering to begin with, but once you've started wearing them, the less you worry about a set of rules the better. —
Available at the Inventory Stockroom
LVC, Levi's Vintage Clothing
Subscribe to the Inventory newsletter and receive
exclusive shop news, announcements and updates.
INVENTORY MAGAZINE