Similar to 513, the waist is a little looser; and I could probably size down to 28 in this cut, though if I were going for a looser fit, I’d consider these. I don’t hate the look, though, especially if they were hemmed up an inch or two and they are much more comfy than the 510s. However, 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.” 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 To 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

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". FitThis 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 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. 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 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 This 170-year-old denim manufacturer has more customers now than ever before, which is why they offer so many different styles of jeans.

This pair has a noticeably more narrow leg opening than 511 (makes 511 seem like a slim-straight leg). Levi’s 512 Slim Taper Jeans 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. They feel much roomier through the hips and thigh (hence “athletic”), and are pretty similar to 513 but with more room in the hips and seat. They are actually really comfy; comfier than 513. Levi’s 531 Athletic Slim Jeans While not ideal for me, these jeans would be my top recommendation for bigger guys looking for fitted but comfy Levi’s. Levi’s 501 OriginalThese 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. 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 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

All jeans are listed according to the actual waist measurement, NOT the tag size. We always take our own detailed measurements to ensure a good fit. Expertise: Ryan has loved writing since an early age, and in college began contributing to and editing for university publications. After college, he began freelance writing and editing. He’s written from blogs and magazines such as Real Men Real Style, Life in the Finger Lakes, and Gentleman Within.Levi’s 501s have a long and storied history. This old-school fit has these jeans sitting at your waist, roomy in the thigh, and with a straight leg. Levi’s 501 Original When they're just numbers on paper, it can be difficult to imagine how these measurements fit on your body. We recommend measuring a few of your favorite pairs of jeans and jotting down your ideal measurements. Use your referencesheet— and a measuring tape, if you're shopping IRL—the next time you go jeans shopping. Rise These are probably my number one overall choice, all things considered (style, comfort, etc.). Levi’s 512 Slim Taper 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.