During the Easter holidays of 2009 I visited a good friend of mine who was an exchange student at the University of Essex. We spend the weekend in London doing what boys do best: drinking beers and acting stupid. And besides the ticket to a completely sold out Bloc Party concert that we bought from a suspiciously looking geezer, the only tangible memory of the trip that I still have is the Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1936 506XX jacket which I bought in Cinch. I’ve worn it quite a lot since then.
The 506XX – or Type I – is shrink-to-fit and when I bought it I was advised to sized up, which I ignored and picked up a size small. I’m still completely satisfied with my choice. I’ve come to love the short and boxy silhouette of the jacket which matches perfectly with a classic pair of 501 jeans worn like they did back in the days.
Below are the measurements in centimeters of the new and and worn jacket, respectively. I put the shrinkage in percent to make it easier to grasp how much it has actually shrunk.
The sleeves have gotten some great yet natural honeycombs. I rinsed the jacket and wore it dry when I got it and other than that it has only been machine washed once or twice.
The pocket has been opened and closed an infinite number of times, which has worn almost all indigo off around the button hole.
This crease is a result of the arm being slightly too wide.
The jacket is made from the same Cone Mills redline selvage denim used for the 1933 501XX.
Worn by Thomas Bojer.
8 comments
Hi – great looking jacket. I’m thinking of getting one of these as STF but I’m confused about sizing versus shrinkage … I’ve heard these jackets shrink up to 2 inches in the chest and come up pretty big. I’m normally a medium (size 40 inch chest) so, do you recommend going actual size rather than sizing up? Thanks
Oliver
Hi, I have a Levi’s jacket model 506XX – Type l, and I wanted to know the year of manifacture of it. Can you help me? Attached I send you some photos that I hope useful. Thanks.
Andrea
Hi Andrea,
Great catch, where did you get it? Jackets are not my strongest suit, but this one would probably be from some time between the late 1930s and the end of the 1940s.
Are you selling the jacket?
/Thomas
Hi Thomas,
I bought it in 1966 in a market of original american used clothes, with a beautiful pair of jeans levis 501 and both still I wear with great pride. My desire is to know the year of production. I have them with me for almost 50 years and remind me of my youth, then I do not want to sell them I do not even know their value. Attached I send you some photos of the jeans 501 so maybe you can help me to define the year of their production. Thanks.
Andrea
Trwo more photos!!
Hi, Is the red LEVIS tag printed on both sides? if so, they are 1950s. This look like 50’s to me. The Jacket is 1940-1950 because of the brass buckle. Both are really nice, keep hold of them! Nice offset belt loop on back middle of the jeans! They did this to make it easier to sew them on!
Hi Marcus, thanks for dating and the red tag is printed on both sides.
I am in awe of this jacket !!