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Your jeans don't fit perfectly? With these 5 tricks you can make them tighter

10.9.2024

Translation: machine translated

There are many reasons for jeans that are too wide - either way, it's annoying. It's a good thing that there are at least these five easy tricks to get your cotton trousers back into shape.

First of all, let's clarify:

Why do jeans widen at all?

Apart from the options that you have gone wrong with your size or your body has changed, there is a very plausible reason why jeans lose their shape over time: Their fibres wear out. This may sound obvious. But the interesting thing is that it depends on the composition of your jeans.

If they are made of 100 per cent cotton (denim), the risk of stretching is low and will hardly be noticeable when worn. On the contrary, the fibres of pure cotton jeans tend to shrink if they are washed too often or too hot. Jeans professionals (e.g. from denim giant Levi's) therefore recommend washing your trousers as rarely as possible, at the earliest after every tenth wear, and never too hot. This way you can enjoy the original shape and colour for a particularly long time.

Fresh after washing, 100 per cent cotton jeans can feel tight and stiff, which is why many wearers probably find them uncomfortable and restrictive - and prefer to wear models with stretch.

Which brings me to the second category: Jeans whose cotton is mixed with a second component, elastane. This material mix may be more pliable and therefore more comfortable and may seem to fit better at first glance - after all, thanks to the stretch content, the trousers hug your body like a second skin. But appearances are deceptive. Because these supposedly stretchy fibres lose their elasticity over time due to movement, body heat and washing and wear out.

The higher the stretch content (and initial comfort) of your jeans, the faster and more they will lose their original shape. But don't despair - there are tips and tricks that can help.

Tip 1: Wash and dry

Although it is generally not advisable to wash your jeans too often and in hot water, heat has the desired effect in this case: the cotton fibres shrink. So wash your jeans at 60 degrees as an exception and, in very serious cases, even throw them in the tumble dryer afterwards (actually a no-go!).

Be careful: this will not only make your jeans tighter, but may also make them a little shorter.

Tip 2: Iron in spots

If you have specific, smaller problem areas such as the waistband or the buttocks and knees, you can use water (steam) and your iron to tackle the worn fibres. Moisten the affected areas with water or the steam function of your iron and iron until they are completely dry. Again, the heat will cause the fabric to shrink.

If you are mainly annoyed by trouser waistbands that just won't stay in place, the next three tips are particularly interesting for you.

Tip 3: Cheat with an elasticated waistband

You don't even need to be able to sew to use this hack. All you need is a pair of scissors, a wide elastic band and safety pins.

Carefully cut the waistband of your jeans on the inside in two places. Make sure you only get one layer of fabric and create a kind of tunnel in the waistband. Now place the elastic band on both openings and cut it a few centimetres shorter - depending on how drastically you want to reduce the circumference. Secure one end of the elastic with a safety pin next to slit number one and thread the other through the tunnel until you can pull it out of slit number two. Now secure this end with a safety pin as well. The short elastic band will now tighten your waistband like an internal belt.

Your intersections serve as a guide. The elastic band must be shorter than the distance between them.
Source: Laura Scholz

Thread the ribbon through the tunnel and secure it at both ends with a safety pin. — Your intersections serve as a guide. The elastic band must be shorter than the distance between them.
Source: Laura Scholz

Only the slight gathering of the now tighter waistband is visible from the outside.
Source: Laura Scholz

Tip 4: Shoelaces as an invisible belt replacement

If you thread a shoelace or a similarly robust cord through the two side belt loops of your trousers, you can pull the waistband together as you wish. Now all you have to do is knot the lace and hide it in the back of your trousers.

This hack is particularly suitable under longer tops, blazers or jackets.

Pull the laces or cord through the two outermost belt loops and tie as required.
Source: Laura Scholz

Let the knotted cord disappear inconspicuously into the waistband. — Pull the laces or cord through the two outermost belt loops and tie as required.
Source: Laura Scholz

Tip 5: The wrong buttonhole

This trick went viral on Tiktok some time ago. Personally, I don't really like the look of it. But because it's child's play - and obviously popular - it still gets a chance: instead of fastening your jeans as normal, you first force the button through its neighbouring belt loop. Then it goes into its buttonhole as usual. The result is effective, albeit a little weird.

Fumbling the button through the next belt loop.
Source: Laura Scholz

Then push it through the buttonhole as usual. Not pretty, but a hit on Tiktok. — Fumbling the button through the next belt loop.
Source: Laura Scholz

If you struggle with tight jeans instead of loose ones, here are five tricks that might help you:

Guide
Jeans too tight and digging into you? Here are five nifty ways to widen them
by Laura Scholz

Header image: Cottonbro Studio via Pexels

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Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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