Which Vintage Levi's Jeans Cut Is the Most Flattering for YOUR Body?
You know your dream pair of vintage jeans are out there—the kind that would make you do a double take at your own rear, that have a perfect washed-out fade, and give off a ridiculously cool-girl vibe. But alas, sourcing them is frustratingly elusive. Since some of the best vintage pairs are made by Levi’s, we figured we’d go straight to the source to help make your quest just a bit easier. We talked to Levi’s Global Vice President of Women's Design, Jill Guenza, to find out which cut is the most flattering for different body types. This way, when searching for your own pair, you can come armed with your preferred cut in mind, say 505, which will hopefully make it simpler to weed through all the options, and locate your perfect pair. Since there are so many cuts out there, we kept it straightforward, and limited it to two easily findable Levi’s styles.
Whether you have a curvy or straight shape, scroll down to see which cut will make your body look its best.
“The 501 is the best vintage jean for a pear-shaped or hourglass-shaped body. The waist is smaller and pitched lower in the front and higher in the back, giving extra coverage in the seat. Plus, the anti-fit properties [meaning that it’s not a fitted style, and a fuller figure fills out the jeans] of the 501 make a full seat look super hot. Originally intended as the working man’s jean, the 501 is also cut with a little more room in the thigh, making this a great choice for women with fuller thighs.” - Jill Guenza, Levi’s Global Vice President of Women's Design
Shop our Levi's 501 Picks:
Levi’s Vintage Clothing 501 Jeans ($90)
Urban Renewal Washed-Out Destroyed Levi’s 501 Jeans ($89)
Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1954 501 Jeans ($165)
Related: You Won't Catch French Girls Wearing These Jeans
Levi’s 501 Original Jeans ($88)
Levi’s Moto 501 Jeans ($182)
“The 505 is great for women with fewer curves through the seat and hips and slender legs. It has a lower rise than the 501, is a bit more square on the top, and has a slim, straight fit from the thigh to the ankle. It also has a zip fly, as opposed to the button fly on the 501, which keeps everything smooth and held in. It has just the right amount of anti-fit to give flatter seats a little boost.” - Jill Guenza, Levi’s Global Vice President of Women's Design
Shop our Levi's 505 Picks:
Levi’s Vintage 505 Customised Boyfriend Jeans ($240)
Levi’s 505 Straight Fit Jeans ($45)
Levi’s Vintage Clothing Black 1967 Customised 505 Jeans ($150)
Levi’s Vintage Denim 505 Customised Boyfriend Jeans ($290)
Levi's 505 Jeans ($125)
Which Levi's style do you prefer, the 505 or 501? Let us know in the comments below!
Kat Collings has over 15 years of experience in the editorial fashion space, largely in digital publishing. She currently leads the vision for editorial content at WhoWhatWear.com as the site's editor in chief, having risen through the editorial ranks after joining the company in 2012. Collings is a Digiday Future Leader Awards nominee, was named Buzzfeed's best fashion Instagram accounts of the year, and is a member of the CFDA Awards Fashion Guild. Prior to Who What Wear, Collings worked on styling projects for brands such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, and Oliver Peoples. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in communications and calls Los Angeles home.
-
Fashion People in London, Paris and Oslo Are Already Wearing This Classy Denim Colour for Autumn
A fresh update.
By Brittany Davy
-
Amsterdam's Chicest Women Are Already Wearing This Chill Autumn Trend
Very cool.
By Erin Fitzpatrick
-
My Stylish Friends Recommend Everlane Jeans, So I Put 4 Pairs to the Test
Tried and tested.
By Florrie Alexander
-
Zoë Kravitz Just Wore the Chic Outfit Formula Fashion Editors Always Come Back to in Autumn
Everyone should have this look in their rotation.
By Natalie Munro
-
Fashion People Can’t Stop Searching for These Trending Jeans—Finally, They’re Back In Stock
Scandi-girl approved.
By Natalie Munro
-
5 "Dated" Denim Trends I'm Pushing to the Back of My Wardrobe Before Autumn Arrives
And five replacements.
By Allyson Payer
-
I’ve Studied Rochelle Humes' Wardrobe—Her 4 Jeans and Shoe Pairings Are So Easy to Copy
Time to shake things up a bit.
By Natalie Munro
-
I’m Done With Uncomfortable Denim—15 Paris Of Stretch Jeans I'm Considering For My Capsule Wardrobe
Comfy, well-fitting and classic.
By Bébhinn Campbell