Levi’s Finally Made a 501 That Fits My Butt
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Levi’s 501s may forever be thebest jeans for men, but I must confess: I’ve never found a new pair that fits my body. Over the years, I’ve tried every style, from the501 shrink-to-fitsto thepremium selvedge version, and all of them have been too tight in the seat. This finally changed last week, when I first pulled on the 501 Loose. This new version combines the button fly and straight cut of the classic 501 with a higher rise and a loose fit through the thigh and leg. The result is a 501 style that fits my bubble butt just as well as my spindly legs.
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According to my tailor’s tape, the size 30 that I’ve been testing has a 12.5-inch rise that matches how these pants fitback in the 1980s— identical tomy favorite made-in-the-USA 550s. This helps the waistband sit more comfortably at my natural waist and creates a more flattering, leg-extending silhouette that pairs well with aboxy tee. The 18-inch leg opening is 2 inches wider than the Original Fit 501, and that extra width extends all the way through the leg. This means they don’t constrict my thighs whether I’m standing, sitting, or squatting. The wider hem also breaks more neatly over the tops of myloafers. I’m not personally a huge fan of “dressing up” denim, but they go as well with asuit jacketas any other jeans I’ve tried.
The evocatively named fades are quite convincing for a mass-produced garment. The subtle sepia tone of the exposed weft and lightly torn hems makes the Wild Raptor medium wash (pictured above) look more like a true vintage find than you’d expect at this price. I also liked the texture of the Big Wheels black (below), which is similarly slightly more faded on the front of the thighs and knees than the rest of the leg. I didn’t get a chance to see the In My Bronco light wash in person, but I love the name. It’s not as meticulously executed as theJapanese hand-finished stuff, but at a third of the price, it’s more than good enough.
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