FIT
RAW INDIGO CLASSICS - Trying to get the perfect fit with raw denim requires a little finesse. To make them fit perfectly, your jeans should be pretty tight at first. They will relax to your shape over time. I recommend wearing them every day for the first week to work them in.
TINA BLUES - These jeans are made with an American made 13oz washed denim which makes the denim much softer. The Tinas are designed to fit almost immediately, however I do recommend them fitting on the snug side at first as 100% cotton will always stretch out a tad.
TINA MIDNIGHTS - The MIDNIGHTS are made with a washed 12oz Japanese black/black denim.This softer and lighter weight denim means that these jeans start to relax the minute you put them on. As always, I recommend these fitting slightly on the snug side at first.
FIT TIPS (these tips work for both the raw denim and the washed denim)
If they’re not relaxing as quickly as you’d like, get in the shower while you’re wearing them to get them wet, then wear them until they dry completely. When you wear them while they’re wet it will accelerate the give of the denim. Also wearing them while they are drying will allow them to relax to your shape for a perfect fit.
If the waist is still a tad too tight for comfort, there is an easy way to open it up. Email merica@mericalee.com for instructions on how to simply alter the waist.
WASHING
Always wash your Merica Lee’s using cold water.
I like to use Clean & Cute panty wash
Lay flat to dry
Put on jeans while still damp and wear until dry
RAW INDIGO CLASSICS - I wash mine every 6 months to a year depending on their condition.
*These jeans are made with a raw denim so when you wash them they will shrink (including about an inch in length). If you have spent the time and energy to stretch them so that they fit perfectly, then you will have to stretch them out again and you may have to let out the hem. Don’t worry, the length will only shrink with the first wash.
The reasons for washing so infrequently are:
It’s better for the environment to not wash them
They shrink. I work hard to stretch them out and don’t want to have to do it often
You get waaaaay better fadez when you don’t wash them. Every time you wash them the indigo will leave the denim uniformly, but when you don’t wash them often the indigo rubs off creating those wear lines or whiskers
TINA BLUES - These jeans are made with a washed denim so wash with abandon, if that’s what you want. The prewashed denim means they will not shrink when washed. I still wash mine sparingly and spot wash when needed because of the reasons above. They will shrink back to their original size when washed, but they won’t shrink smaller than that.
TINA MIDNIGHTS - These jeans are also made with a washed denim so wash as often as you like. I recommend turning them inside out if you want to preserve the black.