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Cutoff STF 501s

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Started 2 years ago by Tim
Latest reply from scotty

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Tim

member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 48
What do you guys think about cutting the legs off your ole beat up STFs and wearing em in the summer heat?

Don't see many guys into cutoffs around in California. Cutoffs used to be popular. A very practical use for cast off 501s with holes in the knees. Wear em to the beach, etc. Useful on hot humid days.

I wasn't gonna wear cutoffs this summer. But, found a ratty ole pair of cut off 501s at the bottom of my closet, and am enjoying em now. Little reaction when wearing these suckers on the street. So, if it pleases you, do it. What is the opinion of the rest of you?
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Posted 2 years ago #
ian

junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 8

hey tim,

i just cut up a pair of old 527s (those are what i used to wear before discovering stfs 4 months ago). i've gotten lots of compliments wearing them, and even though it's not that common, i don't feel weird at all wearing them in public and they are so comfortable! (it's really hot and dry where i live). the only thing that i've noticed is that after washing them, they keep getting shorter! have you noticed this?

rock the cutoffs dood!

Posted 2 years ago #
Daniel85

member
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 24

I don't really have the chicken legs of a surfer dude, so I probably wouldn't look good in cutoffs, but even so-- I think the way modern STFs wear the crotch would blow out long before the knees started to rip.

Posted 2 years ago #
Klaus

preferred member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 134

Cutoffs were quite popular around here (Austria) until the late 90ies, when the loose cargo pants started to be sold. Nowadays you won't see cutoff jeans any more, as everybody is wearing the "rag style" shorts (that's the way I call them, they come in lengths from just under the knee to just above the ankles, are almost always distressed looking, like fatigued army pants with holes, rips, frays and stuff; hey, it's cool to look like a bum. :|). I used to cut off old jeans for summer pants, too. Actually, I made shorts out of 13MWZs a few weeks ago, as I bought them too short and they looked weird.

Posted 2 years ago #
Edmund X White

senior admin
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 187

i've got two pairs that i wear in the summer sometimes. they were sizing experiments or shrinking experiments gone wrong. i usually wear pants even on hot days but i do like them as shorts.

EdmundXWhite.com

Posted 2 years ago #
Tim

member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 48

Just put my STF cutoffs in for a washing. Now I'm into some denim crappy shorts with that useless pocket of the legs. I really don't like these cargo shorts. OK, they're good for formal wear, but I can't wait for my torn off 501s to dry. The advantage of the cutoffs 501s is that they have that gr8 tight Levi fit. If L/S made 501/ 527/ 514 shorts, I'd buy em. All the shorts I know of are loose and relaxed.

Posted 2 years ago #
Edmund X White

senior admin
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 187

my wife just published a blog post that has a pic of me in a pair of my 501xx shorts:

http://rabbitwrite.com/salute-the-shorts/

I used to wear them with the ragged edge that fringes when you chop up a pair of jeans with scissors. but then i tried them with a bit of a cuff and i really like the look.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tim

member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 48

Hey Ned, You're looking cool! What pair of STF 501s did you chop off? Not your new unwashed raw STFs, I hope.

It just gets so damn hot this time of year, a guy can't take hanging around in long jeans. You've gotta put on shorts. In my case, I picked out a surplus pair of last year's STF 501s, worn but not faded and no holes. Took the scissors to em just above the knee. Much more comfy on a hot humid day, and you're still into a snug pair of 501s. Seen other guys into cutoff jeans too, but not 501s.

My cutoffs won't get a chance to get washed and "frayed". At the end of summer, I'll get some new crisp dark blue STFs and these cutoffs will be history. A good use for old STF 501s.

Posted 2 years ago #
Edmund X White

senior admin
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 187

Yeah I agree Tim. The pair above was from when I was still figuring out what size jeans was best for me. I didn't like the fit as pants but shorts are much more forgiving. I was thinking of sewing that cuff but I think you're right that they are much more temporary and probably won't make it till next summer.

Posted 2 years ago #
Klaus

preferred member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 134

Ned, I like your "short" shorts! Shorts nowadays are knee-long, I too prefer the classic shorter inseam.

Posted 2 years ago #
Edmund X White

senior admin
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 187

I was passing some guys on the corner the other day and their shorts were so long and baggy that I thought at first they were wearing skirts!

Posted 2 years ago #
Klaus

preferred member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 134

I was passing some guys on the corner the other day and their shorts were so long and baggy that I thought at first they were wearing skirts!

LOL, I know what you mean. When I bought basketball shorts they looked exactly like a skirt, too. I asked my girlfriend to make them shorter and slimmer, now they are fine.

Posted 2 years ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

I stumbled into this section and it must be a sign! I have been wondering what to do with shorter than expected 501s after shrinking and I actually thought for a half second when I first realized they were too short about making cutoffs. Decisions, Decisions!

Posted 1 year ago #
Hank

member
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 14

I stumbled into this section and it must be a sign! I have been wondering what to do with shorter than expected 501s after shrinking and I actually thought for a half second when I first realized they were too short about making cutoffs. Decisions, Decisions!

Scotty, another option is to use those shorter-than-planned-for STF's for wearing with sandals or just plain barefoot. I've found that when pants are high up enough that they start to look dorky with the sock & shoe combination (high waters), those same pants lose their comic appeal and gain a bit of casual class when worn with sandals. I think of them as beach bum jeans, summer jeans, etc. Basically they become a good pair of beaters that can get bleached as white as possible and get abused (in a good way) for some summer fun.

Granted, if they're short to the point of looking like capris, by all means hack 'em.

Posted 1 year ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

Thanks for the reply Hank. Since i wrote, I started over with a new pair of STF's and they turned out great. My other pair (the ones in this blog) are still at the bottom of my closet. They are not capri length by any means but are just above the ankle bone and may be ok for flip flop jeans as you suggest. Of course they might be more useful as shorts now instead of the bottom of my closet since I havent been wearng them anyway....

Posted 12 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

Has anyone hacked them off around knee-length? I personally am not a big fan of shorter length like the ones in Ned's pics.

Also, when you've cut them off have you let them remain ragged (like this

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Posted 12 months ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

Great commercial! If I cut mine it would be maybe knee length too. Although, Ned doesnt look too bad in those shorter ones, I just couldnt wear em that short myself.

Posted 12 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

Scotty, I feel the same way.

The rest of my comment in the last post got cut off by the video. The rest of the post was a question: does everyone leave their cut-offs ragged, sewed them up, or cuffed them like Ned's?

Posted 12 months ago #
Hank

member
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 14

I think the only real drawback to the using the jeans as cutoffs is the weight of the denim. Even though Levis has made the 501 a lighter weight denim - along with almost all of their other lines - it's still a bit too heavy for shorts (for me).

For my summers here in Indiana, if it's hot enough for shorts then it's hot enough for lightweight material. This leaves out the vast majority of denim. Perhaps if there was some summer weight denim I'd go for it. As it stands, light weight denim is usually considered of lesser quality (an assumption that is usually justified). I'm under the impression that with the newer lightweight denim Levis is using, the crotch would give out quicker than the knees(?).

I'm sure I could get some great fades with the classic raw indigo and a lot of summer sweat, but this is one area where I'd rather go for function.

For me, my summer casual shorts are lightweight Bonobos cotton (no affiliation). Bonobos shorts on sale They're currently on sale/clearance.

My summer work shorts are Carhartts. If you're going for Carhartt work shorts, look around a bit, as they have different wights. I have the 7.5 oz weight, so they're not the most rugged, but as a lightweight work short, I've found none better. The bad side is that the Carhartt fit is rather large; if it fits you in the waist, it'll be huge in the seat and thighs. I currently have two pairs of these that I put in rotation for the summer heat: Carhartt 7.5 oz work shorts

Posted 12 months ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

If I ever did cut off my 501s, I would probably leave them ragged or maybe cuff them right above the knee. I have not experienced cutoffs so I never thought about the weight issue Hank brings up. I still may make a pair to see how it feels. In this case, they would be shorts since there is really no other use for them being shrunk too short. I think that is why Ned cut his too - really to get some use out of your 501s when long jeans is not an option any more.

Posted 11 months ago #
Hank

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Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 14

...I would probably leave them ragged or maybe cuff them right above the knee.

Scotty (and others considering cut offs), you may wish to save the denim you cut off. The excess is perfect for patch jobs for future jeans. The area below the knee to the bottom is really where jeans get the least amount of wear, and should provide you with quality material if you decide to reinforce the knees and/or crotch on another pair.

Posted 11 months ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

Excellent idea! I am leaning to cutting them now since it can't hurt and they might be fun to wear. If i do I will def save the legs

Posted 11 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

For my summers here in Indiana

Not to hijack the thread (just a quick detour ), but where in Indiana are you, Hank? I'm from Indiana originally! (I'd PM you this, but I don't think there's that capability on these forums).

Posted 11 months ago #
Hank

member
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 14

...where in Indiana are you, Hank? I'm from Indiana originally!

Throwback, I'm writing this from beautiful Lafayette. Currently with the temperature just one degree above zero!

Posted 11 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

Throwback, I'm writing this from beautiful Lafayette. Currently with the temperature just one degree above zero!

No kidding! The Purdue area, huh? I considered going there at one point, but have since become a proud BSU grad!

Sorry to hijack the thread... back to cutoffs. Personally, I have good tastes and style, but I'm definitely not one who's on the "fashion" bandwagon. That said, though I don't really care what others think, I don't want to be totally out in left field... so are jean shorts a relic of the past at this point or do people still where them?

Posted 11 months ago #
scotty

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

I am seeing a few more guys wear em now than a few years ago. But I certainly do not see many guys wearing them compared to girls. I would wear them maybe for the beach.

Posted 11 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

Scotty, that's the impression I got as well.

Posted 11 months ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

So, if I go for it, should I post photos? Just above the knee or shorter like Ned?

Posted 11 months ago #
Throwback

mod
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 52

Absolutely, Scotty! In my opinion, go for somewhere in the knee-range.

Posted 11 months ago #
scotty

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 40

And since they are pretty much unused shrink to fits, the denim is pretty dark. Will that still look good as cutoffs? Most of the ones I see are faded and worn. If you have a pair Throwback, I would love to see too.

Posted 11 months ago #

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