Are you dying to delve into the universe of the new trend of aged jeans, but don't want to spend a fortune on a pair of jeans from some over-the-top designer? So here's how to give a bohemian chic look even to older and out-of-fashion jeans.
Steps
Step 1. Select the right pair of jeans
Really aged jeans undergo the wear and tear of time as they are worn, with the progressive breaking of some fibers of the fabric that produces the typical tears and worn areas. So if you want to recreate a similar look on your jeans, it's better to choose a pair that is already slightly worn. Medium or light wash jeans are best suited for this type of design. If you're not willing to cut any of your jeans, try buying them at a second-hand clothing store.
Step 2. Choose which parts of the jeans you want to age
Put them on and use an erasable pencil or pen to mark where exactly you want the holes or tears to be. Mark the position and size of each hole or tear you intend to create. When you take off your jeans, you will have an overview of all the parts to be torn and aged.
Step 3. Find a solid surface to work on
Lay a piece of wood, (or any other solid surface that you don't mind ruining), inside a part of your chosen trouser or jean leg. This will make it easier to work on it and will also allow you not to damage the other side of the leg
Step 4. Choose your tools
You can use a variety of items to age your jeans; for example, you could try a grater, sandpaper, pumice stone, a serrated knife, a nail file, a razor, scissors, or any other sharp, rough object.
Step 5. Start making some frayed holes in your jeans
Instead of making a clean cut with scissors (which could create holes that are too linear and therefore not frayed), try using one of the objects listed above by rubbing vertically with enough force to make the hole form. Once the hole is obtained, the edges can be frayed with sandpaper or a nail file or even by using the edge of one of the scissors blades.
Step 6. Rub or fray the pockets, the hem of the jeans, the knees or any other part as you like
Use sandpaper or a nail file to make the scrapes (or diagonal lines of the denim fabric) less pronounced. For a stronger effect, do it on the areas where there are seams.
Step 7. Add some bleach
Bleaching some parts of your jeans will make them even more aged and give them a very interesting visual dimension. Dampen a sponge with bleach and rub it on the edges of the holes you made earlier. Then pour some bleach on the bristles of a toothbrush, then use your fingers to pull the bristles back to produce splashes that will go on the denim. You can also add some bleach with the dropper to add small dots on your jeans.
Step 8. Wash your jeans
Choose a wash cycle that makes the lint more pronounced and that helps the bleach distribute better and settle on the denim. Wash cold and choose drying for delicate items.
Step 9. Reinforce the patches
One of the tricks for aging jeans is to reinforce the holes and patches you made earlier to prevent further rips in the future. Non-reinforced holes could tear a lot after several washes and therefore your jeans may no longer be so chic. Use white or denim-colored cotton to backstitch or straight stitch around the edge of any holes you made so they don't expand any further. If your jeans have a particularly large hole, add decorative patches on top that can be applied with an iron; this will make the tear less sensitive to wear.
Step 10. Finished
Advice
- When using bleach, try to work in an open space, in order to minimize the odor and avoid getting dirty.
- Work on a less visible area of your jeans first, (e.g. the bottom hem), until you have mastered how to age them.
- Consider several substances for dyeing: paint, oil, or bleach. However don't overdo it with the stains, the too crippled.
