I tried on 20 pairs of Levi's jeans — this surprising style looked best on me

Whether I'm at work or running weekend errands, you can pretty much guarantee I'm wearing jeans. They're one of the clothing items I love most, so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that I have a pretty big collection. I've splurged on premium denim from Mother and Frame (no regrets, FYI), and I love my affordable styles from J.Crew and Zara just as much. Given how often I wear jeans, I'm always on the hunt for flattering new options.

Related: Our editors have spoken! These are the 10 best jeans they recommend for men and women in 2025

I was recently reorganizing my closet for spring when I realized something: I don't own a single pair of Levi's. How could that be? The overwhelming consensus is that the brand is the industry standard and that it has something for everyone. Its jeans are so beloved that even celebs who can afford fancy designer picks choose Levi's. Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Pamela Anderson, Taylor Swift and Blake Lively all wear them.

Never one to pass up an opportunity, I decided the start of spring was the perfect time to treat myself to new denim. And they would be Levi's. My timing was impeccable because just as I began my hunt, Macy's announced a major sale that included 30% off all Levi's styles, including bestsellers like the Wedgies and the Ribcage jeans. I went to my local store and spent almost two hours trying on 20 pairs of jeans in different sizes, cuts and washes. Some I liked, some not so much, and one pair I absolutely loved so much that I got it in two washes. I've recapped the highlights — and lowlights — of my Levi's fitting-room adventure below. If you're in pursuit of new jeans too, I hope this helps.

P.S. Sizing notes! I'm 5'4" and usually wear a 26 or 27 in jeans. I carry my weight in my booty, hips and thighs, so waist gaping is almost always an issue for me.

Levi's 725 High-Rise Kick Boot Jeans

My take: Love, love, love these!

Not gonna bury the lede here, these Kick Boot jeans positively wowed me. They fit perfectly in my regular size and the length was just right — a little ankle, but not like high waters. The denim felt thick and sturdy without being overly heavy, and the jeans fit my booty and hips without a huge waist gap. There's something about the slight flare that makes these jeans feel a bit more special, more elevated. I liked them so much that I tried all three colors and came home with two. I'm looking forward to wearing the lighter pair all spring and summer with tees up top and Birkenstocks or sneakers on my feet. I'll dress up the medium-wash pair with silky tanks and heeled sandals.

Levi's 724 Straight-Leg Jeans

My take: Not sure I'd call these straight-leg, but I love them nonetheless.

I had the 724s on my must-try list, but Macy's didn't have a single pair in stock in my size. I was bummed, but not defeated. I ordered two pairs to try on at home, and I'm glad I did because I really, really like them. The cut through the leg is something in between skinny and straight. They're not skintight like jeggings, but they are cut on the slimmer side of straight. All that said, I wound up keeping both pairs I ordered because I liked them so much. They have stretch, look good with heels and sneakers alike and according to my boyfriend, "They make the butt look great." I'll take it!

Levi's 501 Original-Fit Straight-Leg Jeans

My take: Pretty good, but sizing is tricky.

It was seeing how good Pamela Anderson looked in these jeans that finally convinced me to try a pair. I liked them, but the fit was tricky. They were tight in the waist in my regular size, but a little baggy in the hips in the next size up. Unfortunately, my store only had them in the cropped length. A 26-inch inseam revealed way too much ankle for me, so I didn't wind up buying them. But I was intrigued, so I ordered the regular-length pair in two sizes to try on at home. While the 30-inch inseam looked better, the size 26 was still tight and the 27 loose. Sadly, no 501s for me.

Levi's Wedgie Straight-Leg High-Rise Cropped Jeans

My take: Meh. I don't love 'em, don't hate 'em. I can live without them.

When I was younger — and thinner — I owned a few pairs of Wedgie jeans that I loved and wore often. But as my midsection and lower half filled out, they just didn't look all that great on me. And during my most recent try-on, that fact remained — they were not flattering. I felt like they made me look short and boxy. The quality of the denim was great and my butt did look quite good in them, but those positives were not enough to convince me to add this style to my collection.

Levi's Ribcage High-Rise Straight-Ankle Jeans

My take: Nope. Maybe in full length, but the cropped is a definite no for me.

I had to go up one size for these to fit comfortably around my waist and hips. That wasn't the issue — it was the fit through the leg. Something weird happened around the knees and the length made my legs look short and stout. I debated trying a longer length, but there were none in store and my size was sold out online. Wasn't meant to be.

It's worth noting that my colleague, Yahoo Home and Garden Editor Jessica Dodell-Feder, raved about these jeans in our best denim roundup. In fact, she's the reason I wanted to try them and hoped they would work for me. I'm sad they didn't, but if there's one lesson I learned from this exercise, it's that jean shopping is all about trial and error. Try on enough pairs and you're bound to find at least one you like.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.