My Ultimate Guide to Levi’s Jeans—Tested & Reviewed, with Photos

• Size I Tried: 27 x 32

According to Joe, the Ribcage style has been a constant for Levi’s throughout the years. It's the brand’s “highest high rise yet,” featuring a 14-inch rise that’s especially great for those with long torsos or anyone looking for some seriously stomach support. In fact, they were my favorite pair of the bunch for that reason, plus a few more.

Not only is it waist-defining, but it's also oh-so elongating in a streamlined way. I found the classic straight leg to really suit my frame, and the cotton-Lycra blend to be the most comfortable. In fact, the fabric is so comfy and soft that I could easily wear the jeans for hours without them pinching, thanks to the Lycra's bit of give. It even had a five-button closure rather than a zipper, which I always find to be as close to a vintage design as possible.

The Ribcage jeans are designed to sit at your ankle, but I opted for a longer leg and went with a 32-inch inseam that must be an in-store exclusive. Best of all, there’s absolutely no gaping at the waist, and I’m convinced my bum has never looked better in a pair of jeans than it does in these.

Fast Facts

• Inseam: 27, 29, 31 inches
• Materials: 99 percent cotton, 1 percent Lycra
• Size Range: 23 to 34
• Colors: 10

• Size I Tried: 26 x 31

Runner-up for favorite jeans is none other than Levi’s cinched baggy jeans. Blink, and you might miss it—this denim pair features adjusters along the back waistband, which let you tailor the fit to your liking. Joe explained to me that this bestseller is a fan favorite among customers not only for its dramatic wide-leg cut but also for its cool design. They’re also made from 100 percent cotton, giving them a classic, taut fit with no stretch, but in the best way possible.

I really enjoyed the cut of these because they have an exaggerated wide-leg that’ll suit both ballet flats and boots, and a lovely high waist that came up to my belly button, which elongated my legs. The fabric was comfortable, with a form-fitting waistband that cinched the waist, creating an hourglass dip without feeling too restrictive.

The material even cascaded off my bum rather than cupping it like the other classics—despite this, I still found it looked flattering. And if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like it when jeans feel tight along your thighs, this style is for you because there was none of that.

Fast Facts

• Inseam: 29, 31, 33 inches
• Materials: 100 percent cotton
• Size Range: 23 to 34
• Colors: 6

• Size I Tried: 27 x 30

Hot take: I am not a 501 girly. As much as I love this tried-and-true style that’s been around for decades and works so well on so many other women, I’ve found it does absolutely nothing for my body. Even Joe admitted that they are “a little bit outdated for some customers,” perhaps because of their more fitted cut, which can err on the skinny side.

I will give it impressive marks for comfort. I’d rank it among the top two for softness. While they are on the tighter side to begin with, they boast plenty of give and are designed to stretch and loosen over time, so you’ll want to make sure they fit snugly. Compared to the 501 ‘90s jeans below, I’ve found that these taper at the ankle a bit more—a great detail if you love skinny jeans or want a fitted style to tuck into knee-high boots.

This might have been the only style I tried on where I thought I’d be best off sizing down by one size, since I could tell these fit a little too loosely at my waist, which would only get worse as I broke them in. The 501 jeans have a more mid-rise fit that—on me—buttons just below my belly button. From the tapered ankle to the tight fit to the mid-rise cut, I ultimately found these the least flattering on me.

Fast Facts

• Inseam: 30, 32 inches
• Materials: 100 percent cotton
• Size Range: 23 to 34
• Colors: 22

• Size I Tried: 26 x 30

If you like the feel of the style above but prefer a cut that’s more relaxed and a little trendier, Joe recommends the 501 ‘90s jeans. Still classic and comfy, the '90s-style denim with its four-button closure is the kind I can imagine every Parisian fashionista wearing.

While I still didn’t prefer it on me to a couple of the other styles—namely the aforementioned Cinch Baggy and Ribcage jeans—I did appreciate that it has a bum-hugging silhouette and tapers straight at the ankle without veering skinny like the classic 501s. Another thing I noted was that it felt slightly tight at the waistband (though it wasn’t constricting) and could accentuate my natural belly rolls if the fit were a bit tighter. Even though these weren’t among my top three favorite pairs of Levi’s jeans, I preferred them to the 501 Originals, and I do think they will look especially flattering on petite figures.

Fast Facts

• Inseam: 30, 32, 34 inches
• Materials: 100 percent cotton
• Size Range: 23 to 34
• Colors: 11

• Size I Tried: 26 x 32

“It took a long time [for Levi’s] to adopt a low-rise jean,” Joe told me. And while the brand will always be renowned for its classics, it still manages to tackle the trends quite well. Ahem, did you hear that, Gen Z? This one is for you.

I know this polarizing style isn’t for everyone (myself included), but boy, does Levi’s certainly know how to make a low-rise fit feel unbelievably cozy. The buttery cotton fabric is softer than the Ribcage and supremely thin, unlike most cotton denim I’ve tried. Even with such second-skin-like fabric, the waistband on this style was quite tight with little to no give. That said, I can see how it might be smarter to opt for one size up if you don’t want the waistband to dig in or feel restrictive when you sit.

Fast Facts

• Inseam: 30, 32, 34 inches
• Materials: 100 percent cotton
• Size Range: 23 to 34
• Colors: 9