A previous post highlighted my first pair of Levi’s, and they’ve worked out OK for me so far. Although, when I wear them I tend to feel pretty casual and I think it has to do with bot the color (grey) and the fit.
In the comments section on that previous post and via email, a lot of guys suggested I try out the 501′s. I’ve been a strictly 7 For all Mankind guy for a long (long) time, so I took their suggestion and have now given the Levi’s 501 a shot. Here’s a few snaps followed by some additional thoughts.
The 501′s tend to be a bit more fitted in the thigh area.
Pockets seem to work OK, and don’t cause droopy butt.
Ok, before going forward let’s get on the same page. I’m a cyclist, an inline speed skater (a bit nerdy, but an amazing workout) and I do crossfit, so my legs aren’t scrawny. So, when I say the Levi’s 501′s have are more fitted in the thigh area, that doesn’t mean they are so tight that you’ll want to rip them off after 5 minutes of wearing them.
In addition, the jeans are also a bit more tapered below the knee and that’s something that’s important to me – and hopefully you as well. The tapered look creates cleaner lines and will make you look more put together, which is never really a bad thing.
The one thing I did dislike about the 501′s is the mental hit I took. See, in 7′s I wear a 31 or a 32 depending on the style I go with, but when I put on a 32 in the 501′s… lets just say it wasn’t a pretty picture. I bumped up to a 34×30 and that’s what you see in the shots above. They fit quite well, but going up roughly two sizes can be a bit tough to handle; I can only imagine how this goes over with females.
The pair of Levi’s 501′s that I put on had a slightly darker wash, but the great news is that they have a wide variety of colors to choose from. There’s a pair that has a deeper blue – sort of old school looking – and I think that will end up being my next Levi’s purchase.
One final plus. These jeans come in different lengths which means, for the most part, you can skip sending them off to the tailor for alterations.
The Levi’s 501′s that you see above were $84 (also have lower and higher price-points), which I think is extremely affordable for a quality pair of jeans. And don’t get me wrong, I still love my 7 For All Mankind jeans, but these are also a viable option. Just keep in mind that jeans can be both dressy and casual, and some brands tend to do better in each of those two areas. Click here to purchase a pair of the Levi’s 501′s.
About Ryan
