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.
-
Okay, Noted—This Jeans-and-Jacket Combination Is the New Official Fashion-Person Uniform
Sorry, blue jeans and white tees.
-
The 6 Shoe Trends Well-Dressed People Are Wearing With Trousers and Jeans (Instead of Trainers)
Flat and heels to pair with pants and jeans.
-
Sienna Miller Just Wore 3 Key Autumn Trends That Instantly Update Basic Jeans
Your wardrobe will thank you for these additions.
-
I Can't Unsee It—Wide-Leg Jeans Always Look Their Best With this Elevated Shoe
The best part is, you probably own it.
-
If You're Going to Wear White Jeans This Autumn, These Are the Outfit Pairings That Make Them Look Best
Don't pack them away!
-
The Chic Jeans-and-Boot Combination Fashion People Wear to Look Like They Have Legs for Days
It works every time.
-
Cooler Than Your Basic Jeans—This Non-Boring Denim Trend Is Heating Up in Paris and Copenhagen
My denim collection never looked so good.
-
The Autumn 2025 Starter Pack: A Shopping Editor's Guide to the New Season
Essentials only.