Can I stretch the waist of non-stretch jeans?

[KimchiLaLa]

Yes I know the answer is in the title but mumsnet always has good solutions so wanted to give it a go...

Bought a great pair of vintage Levi 501's from eBay but the waist is slightly too tight. They fit but I am uncomfortable one meal and a few hours later - hate that feeling and may stop wearing them if I can't solve it. The legs are perfect. This is my issue with vintage jeans - waist tight, legs great.

Can I stretch them without visiting a tailor? I've done this before, they've added an inch to the waist which has been great, but I've paid double for the jeans in the end. If I need to do that with these, I probably will.

Anyone have any at-home fixes?

Could you fashion an elastic button fastening?

See a button slightly to the side of the actual button . This only works if you wear a top over the waistband but I've done it on loads of jeans as I'm curvy and often one size is too big and one size is too small .

Thanks! I can try that.

It can give you an inch depending on where you put the button but beware if you do it too far over the zip won't stay up .

In Victoria Beckham's book she said she had cut notches at the sides of the waistband and sewed bits of elastic in the gaps - would this work for you?

Yes I think it would! May look a bit weird but it would be comfy that way!

Which book was that?

It was, 'That Extra Half an Inch'.