The Levi's Classic 501® Jeans Live On

Levi's 501® '81 Women's Jeans in Blue Beauty - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’81 Women’s Jeans in Blue Beauty – Medium Wash

Few denim brands are as iconic as Levi’s, and few denim styles are as iconic as the classic 501®, with the first 501® for women released in 1981. I’ve written a lot about the Levi’s 501® jeans over the years, whether showcasing the original model on myself with Denimology back in 2014 (I can’t believe it’s been so long), new revamped styles in 2015 and of course, the highly anticipated Skinny 501® in 2018. All of these posts have continued to retain hit status on my blog as some of the most visited posts, so as part of my efforts to somewhat revive this blog (slow and steady here as I can with this crazy life), I went digging to see what’s been new with the Levi’s 501® after all these years. I’m happy to say it’s still going strong (I guess that’s no real surprise), but with a lot of new designs and variations!

May 20th is Levi’s Day, marking 150 years last year in 2023. In 2022, the brand released a campaign with Hailey Bieber, Barbie Ferreira, A$AP Nast, Peggy Gou and Marcus Rashford, and released a new line of 501® shorts, which are also available on Amazon for a pretty low price! Denim shorts, or “jorts” as they were once called, began with people cutting off the legs of their Levi’s back in the ’60s, so it’s only reasonable for this style to be included in the classic 501® line, along with how Levi’s helped catapult denim shorts to fame shortly after. Levi’s also includes several other much-loved vintage fits in their 501® collection, such as the ’90s 501® and 501® ’81 (check out the 2023 campaign here), both reflecting the denim trends of their eras. The highly coveted 501® Skinny is still going strong in two styles, each with no stretch or light stretch options.

Can you imagine creating something so iconic, that remains in demand for 150 years, with no end in sight? Levi’s created the first denim patent on May 20, 1873, and although it was primarily men’s workwear at the time, it certainly has made waves in the style and fashion community since then, and beyond. As Levi’s says, the 501® is “the greatest story ever worn.” The Levi’s Classic 501® jeans live on, with several sustainable and eco-friendly styles as well (check out the Plant Based 501® below, made with organic cotton).

Here are some of my favorite styles from Levi’s current 501® collection! Much of these come in different washes/colors, or stretch levels, so click in to each of these fits to view different options.

501® Classic Original Fit Women's Jeans in Hollow Days — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Fit Women’s Jeans in Hollow Days – Light Wash

501® Skinny Women's Jeans in Pay My Way - Black — Image: Levi’s. 501® Skinny Women’s Jeans in Pay My Way – Black

501® Skinny Women's Jeans in Tango Light - Light Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Skinny Women’s Jeans in Tango Light – Light Wash

501® Original Fit Plant Based Women's Jeans in Blue From Green - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Fit Plant Based Women’s Jeans in Blue From Green – Medium Wash

501® '90s Women's Jeans in New Search - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Women’s Jeans in New Search – Medium Wash

501® '90s Lightweight Women's Jeans in Keep it Copacetic - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Lightweight Women’s Jeans in Keep it Copacetic – Medium Wash

501® '90s Ankle Women's Jeans in Smooth Operator - Black — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Ankle Women’s Jeans in Smooth Operator – Black

501® '90s Cuffed Selvedge Women's Jeans in Rinsey Rinse - Dark Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Cuffed Selvedge Women’s Jeans in Rinsey Rinse – Dark Wash

501® Original Cropped Women's Jeans in Ecru - White — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Cropped Women’s Jeans in Ecru – White

501® Original Cropped Women's Jeans in Dusty Windsor Wine - Red — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Cropped Women’s Jeans in Dusty Windsor Wine – Red

501® '90s Selvedge Women's Jeans in New Life - Dark Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Selvedge Women’s Jeans in New Life – Dark Wash

501® '90s Selvedge Women's Jeans in Piece Of History - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® ’90s Selvedge Women’s Jeans in Piece Of History – Medium Wash

501® Wax Coated Women's Jeans in Posh Party - Black — Image: Levi’s. 501® Wax Coated Women’s Jeans in Posh Party – Black

501® Original Fit Studded Women's Jeans in Glitter Bomb - Black — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Fit Studded Women’s Jeans in Glitter Bomb – Black

501® Original Fit High Rise Women's Shorts in Broken Midnight - Dark Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Fit High Rise Women’s Shorts in Broken Midnight – Dark Wash

501® Original Fit High Rise Women's Shorts in Oxnard Athens - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Original Fit High Rise Women’s Shorts in Oxnard Athens – Medium Wash

501® Mid Thigh Women's Shorts in Camp Point - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Mid Thigh Women’s Shorts in Camp Point – Medium Wash

501® Rolled Women's Shorts in Must Be Mine - Medium Wash — Image: Levi’s. 501® Rolled Women’s Shorts in Must Be Mine – Medium Wash

These pieces sell out FAST (I had to included the waxed black 501 above, even though it’s only got two sizes left at the time of me writing this, because it’s just a cool style to include), but you can view more of the Levi’s classic 501® jeans and styles here. Which are your favorites?