How do I stretch out my new Levi’s jeans? Squeezed to death here!

[OhGodImBloated]

Decided to splash out on jeans that would hopefully retain their shape and look fashionable. Fab young sales assistant convinced me to buy the ribcage jeans very tight round the waist “as they stretch”. Three sales assistants all said the same to me. But the jeans are not shifting! Help!! They’re so tight I have to move the crotch seam over to one side before I sit down or I’d be in trouble! I should have cottoned on that these lovely youngsters possibly wouldn’t have known about bloat/meno belly and that my waist to hip ratio at 45 will be much smaller than a young woman’s. I’m so gutted. The jeans were over £100 and after 4 wears I'm still suffocated and ready to bin them. What can I do? There must be a secret to them stretching. Tell me your secrets please!

Well this is quite an annoying way, but I have personally managed to stretch jeans by sitting in the (full) bath in them so they are all wet, and wearing them until they dried. Do lots of lunges and bending while they are drying.

We used to that with Levi jeans years ago but it was to shrink them to fit your body not stretch them.

I’m willing to try anything!

I wear ribcage and have expanded a bit lately so mine are tighter than they were before. When I first out them on after washing, I walk around a bit with the top two or three buttons undone and then brave fastening them when I leave the house. After a few hours they fit me fine as have definitely stretched out. But the crotch is never an issue like you described.

Are you long bodied? My friend tried mine on and she found them so uncomfortable, but I think it's because she has a short torso and the cut of these are just not for her. To me they are the most comfortable out of all the jeans.

I always say they should be on the slightly tighter side when trying on, but there is a difference between this and just too small. Or not the right cut for you.

Just to add. What colour did you get? I find the dark wash not quite as forgiving in the stretch compared to the light wash.

I don't know the science behind this but assume it's to do with the darker dyed denim just being a bit stiffer...

yes you are right
We got in the bath in our jeans to shrink not stretch them

Wear them lying down? Do some leg lifts and hug knees in to your chest, that sort of thing… or could you maybe stuff them with a couple of pillows- really stuff them- so the pillows stretch them for you?

I hear you, though. I recently bought the waist-high wide leg Levi’s and I love them, but last week I was thinking I’d made a terrible, expensive mistake. Either I’m less bloated this week, or they’ve given a bit now. Keep on trying with them- they must have felt good in the changing room? Do you like the look of them?

I would take them back and get the next size up. After 4 washes they are just as tight and uncomfortable as they were when you bought the size you were advised to get. They’re too expensive to risk them not shrinking down. I have 3 pairs of Levi high waisted bootcuts. None of them have shrunk at all after washing.

I mean none have stretched after washing. The thing I love is that they always stay just the same after washing and wearing until they’re next washed

Yes if this is an option, do this.

I find they shrink slightly after washing and then stretch back to original size. But they don't stretch from original size to bigger. I only wash them when visibly dirty.

Take them back and get a bigger size

They're simply too small or the wrong shape for you.

I haven’t washed them yet, I was sort of hanging on to think about exchange but it’s been too long. Must be 2+ months now.

they look great when I’m standing and the staff were pulling the belt loops and advising on the size (they were so helpful, and brought me about 12 pairs to try). This included the size up and they all said no go smaller.
They’re mid blue.

I think it’s too late to take them
back but I will try some of the ideas upthread!

I would try to take them back, saying you were advised to get this size but they’re not stretching like you were told they would. It’s not fair that you have to stump the cost because they’ve lied about them stretching.

You can’t wear jeans that ride into your crotch or that you can’t sit down in without cutting yourself in half.

My husband as a young man used to do this 😁 they did fit him beautifully in those days 💓

Don't put them in the dryer
Put them on when they are slightly damp- they will stretch

I would cut your losses and sell them on vinted for half the price. At least get £50 back rather than never wear them and loose £100. Then try on size up and see if they fit better and keep an eye out for size up on vinted or on sale if you still like them. I have done the same before. It's gutting.

I know you've said that you think it's too late to take them back OP, but I would still give it a try, particularly as you say that you tried the size up 'and they all said no go smaller' Clearly you were incorrectly advised, so go back, and make a fuss, preferably on a busy Saturday or Sunday afternoon, as shops hate it when people kick off when they're really busy. If they do refuse, then in your shoes, I'd be inclined to email the Head Office of the company who make your brand of jeans, and tell them what you've said here, and that you tried taking them back, but because you've worn them in order to try and get them to stretch, as you were assured they would, the shop won't do an exchange. Hopefully that will do the trick, if you have no luck in store. I definitely wouldn't give up having spent £100 on them!

I have a few pairs of Levi’s ribcage jeans. If you decide to wash them do it in a cold wash as they shrink! Once washed they do stretch out with wear but mine were never as tight as your sound 😬

I guess one problem is they may just say you’ve gained weight

Yeah I’m not sure I’m brave enough to return them although I agree in principle that I might have a case. The staff were convinced they’d stretch though, there’s no reason to think they wouldn’t. I’m going to try some of the ideas with water, lunges and squats and go from there. Selling and re-buying online vinted is a good shout too.
thanks all!

I remember my mum doing that lol

On the levi store it says about ribcage jeans no stretch.

Oh sorry ignore i misunderstood it means no stretch in fabric not that they wont 'give'