Shrink to fit, wear to fade. The process is simple, and Heddels reader Casey Smits, from Michigan, has it on lock with this pair of Levi’s 501 STF that he’s been wearing for 15 months. Nothing out of the ordinary here, just classic Cone Mills-style fades on the most classic of jeans, perfect for this installment of Fade Of The Day.

Casey wears these jeans for pretty much everything, but hangs them up when he’s conducting greasy mechanical work to avoid getting them too dirty. This mean they’ve only had two cold-water washes since the initial soak, leaving the fades to come through in high contrast. What’s so interesting about these Levi’s is how the whiskers and thigh striations run all the way down to the knees, where they’re met by the frontside of those killer wrap-around honeycombs. We’ve also got a nice pocket fade and some hem roping to boot.

Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit (STF) Raw Denim Jeans

• Fabric: 100% Cotton
• Fabric weight: 12.5 Oz.
• Fabric source: Unknown
• Made in: Unknown
• Fit: Straight leg with high rise
• Additional details:
  • Levi’s signature model
  • Contrast stitching
  • Button fly
  • Unsanforized
• Available at: Levi’s for $64.00