Compared to the 501s, I actually slightly prefer the 505s as they feel just a tab bit more tapered through the leg, despite Levi’s description of 505s being roomier than 501s. My Recommendations Honestly, I’m not a fan of the silhouette overall of these pants. They almost look like their boot cuts. I don’t know who these are for; as it’s not a flattering style in my opinion. Levi’s 531 Athletic Slim If you want to be on trend, of course, the 501 originals are a good choice right now, in 2023. But don’t sleep on the 505s, which actually fit a little better as far as I can tell. Common Questions About Levi’s Jeans Honestly, Levi’s jeans sizing system isn’t very intuitive. You’re best off just googling the fit for each number you come across. What is Levi’s known for?

Now, let’s move on to somewhat looser cuts with the 513. 513s sit below your waist and slim through the seat and thigh and have a straight leg. Levi’s 513 Slim Straight Jeans are way too baggy for me and have an uncomfortably impractical amount of material, leading to a heavy, cumbersome feeling. Levi’s 501 Original Jeans The leg looks better cuffed in my opinion, but are still too loose for my skinny legs. Levi’s 505 Regular

Rise refers to how high the jeans come up on your waist and hip. It is measured from the middle of the crotch seam to the top of the waistband. Leg Growing up, a lot of the men I looked up to dressed well. My dad is always clean-shaven and makes sure that he looks presentable before heading out the door, and my grandfather, who owned and operated a dairy farm, usually wore work pants with a sharp crease and a button-up work shirt.” If I wanted to experiment with looser fits, I’d try the 531 Athletic Slim and wear them cuffed for that nice clean drape.

This metric refers to how the jeans sit around your waist and/or hips. Unlike the metrics above, this one can be categorize in one of just two ways (though there is slight variation from style to style): low and regular – though Levi’s does not specifically use these terms. Instead, they opt for more complicated descriptors. For instance, low is equivalent to “hangs on the hips,” whereas regular is “worn below the waist,”“sits low on the waist,” or has no qualifying description at all. This will also determine room in the crotch area, as low rise jeans tend to have less room than regular, as they can’t be hiked up as high – though some have compensated for this with a larger seat area. This metric is certainly the most difficult to define. Leg Opening Trying on a pair of 505s I didn’t notice much difference from the 501s. If you look at 505s side-by-side with 501s, both cuffed, they’re very similar. These fit at your waist, have extra room in the thigh, and have a straight leg. Levi’s 505 Regular Jeans

Are you a 511 guy or more of a 505? We're here to help you find out.

The rise feels slightly higher and is probably the longest rise of the batch. Levi’s 505 Regular Jeans For heftier gents, I’d recommend the 541s. These have plenty of room in the hips and thighs, but still offer a nice gentle taper down through the leg. To make these jeans wearable for me, I’d probably need to size down to 28 or even 27 to get the right silhouette for my body. These items are in Grade A USED condition, but they may have minor wear and tear, such as small marks, slight fraying to hems and seams, and slight fading.

Before we get started, it’s important to know that this list encompasses all of Levi’s current standard offerings. As styles change, it’s entirely possible that some of these will end up being discontinued and new ones might be introduced. Similarly, there are sub-styles and variants that are not necessarily going to be listed independently, as they do not differ from other offerings in significant enough ways, though mention will be made in the style that most closely fits these variants. Similarly, there may be styles from the past that are not represented, as they are no longer produced. These jeans have a very roomy calf/ankle (too wide for my taste), and a rise that feels similar to 511 and 512. The waist is a little looser than other pairs I’ve tried up to this point. I could probably size down to 28. Leg opening refers to the circumference of the bottom of the pant leg. This measurement helps you determine how wide they will appear at the bottom. For example, a pair of women's skinny jeans typically have a leg opening of 10" to 12", while a pair of flared jeans measures 21" to 27". Fit I do like the shape of the leg, though, especially below the knee. If I was keeping these, I’d get them hemmed for slight or no break, and I might also size up to 30 waist For me, they have maybe even too much taper below the knee, at least before hemming. Levi’s 512 Slim TaperHowever, it wasn’t until the end of high school that Ryan began to care about how he looked. Gradually, over the next few years, he started to dress better and learn about style. “Finding clothes that fit helped me to become more confident. I find that when I try to dress well, I feel better.”

And while it’s nice to have options — slim, skinny, original, athletic taper — it can be hard to choose the best fit for your body, especially if you haven’t tried them all on for yourself. Ryan has also spent more time in a suit and tie than most guys, so he's well qualified to write about classic menswear, business casual and formalwear. I’m hoping this article and companion video saves you some time for having to try on every cut, and maybe help you narrow it down to two or three styles to test out yourself. Let’s see how each pair looks, starting with the slimmest fit and working our way up: Levi’s 510 SkinnyTo men, these are pretty similar to 531 athletic slims but have a slightly better leg shape because they have more taper from the thigh down the ankle. Levi’s 541 Athletic Taper Jeans They have more of a straight-fit leg due to less taper below the knee. 511s also look nice cuffed as they have a very clean drape and leg shape. Levi’s 511 Slim Jeans