My Favorite (New) Levi's
A love letter to the Levi's I bought for my postpartum body (and my thoughts on how much that body has changed), plus a few notes on The Idea of You
In a long-forgotten corner of my garage lives a box of vintage Levi’s from my pre-pregnancy life. I’d been collecting them for years in an attempt to find that holy grail pair, somehow amassing a small army of well-worn favorites. Some tailored, some not. Some fitted, some baggy. Light denim and dark. Creamy whites and faded blacks. Patched and re-patched—and then patched again. I remember boxing them up when I was six months pregnant with my first baby, not thinking twice about reuniting with them in the near future.
But then, after I gave birth, during that tumultuous time of trauma and grief, they stayed in storage. And when I got pregnant again six months later, the box remained untouched, collecting dust in its (possibly forever) home in the garage.
My body has stretched and reformed twice in quick succession. Now eighteen months after Ollie was born, I don’t see a path back to that box of jeans, to who I was when I wore them. Simply put, I’m a different person now, both mentally and physically. When I look at myself in the mirror, I see someone else—and that alone has been a journey, trying to accept the fact that I do not have a body that snaps back into place.
And that’s okay! At least, that’s what I tell myself. I find comfort in knowing that so many of us are on the same journey, that we’re all growing and changing as time barrels forward. And I’m truly in awe of women’s bodies—of my body—for growing life. For being my babies’ first home. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s hard. That I’m wearing three sizes up in jeans now. That I likely will never wear my old favorites again.
The silver lining in all of this fluctuation is that I needed an entirely new wardrobe. Obviously I’m not trying to contribute to overconsumption, but none of my clothes fit. And while my ultimate goal is to replenish my vintage Levi’s collection, that requires time and effort, neither of which I have much of these days.
For now, I’ve relied heavily on new Levi’s, not only because they’re the closest thing to that vintage look we all strive for, but they’re also always (ALWAYS!) well-made, well-fitting, and have a digestible price point. I do think that certain colors and styles are better at replicating this look than others, though.
I’m sharing my favorites below, all of which I’ve purchased post-birth. Note that this is not sponsored whatsoever—I bought every single one, sorry husband. But, I will include affiliate links should you wish to purchase any I’ve recommended!
Levi’s 501 Original Fit: These are beloved classics for a reason. With repeated wear, the non-stretch material moulds to your body in the most perfect way. And while it’s available in a million shades of denim, there is something particularly special about this color. The saturation gives it an elevated and timeless feel that I love.
Colorway: Shout Out Stone
Sizing Notes: I prefer my larger waist size for these (I fluctuate between two sizes) because I think 501s in general look better when sized up. It lends to that vintage feel. For length, these are the 30” inseam (I am 5’6”) and they hit about full-length on me. I also have the 28” inseam (you can find them in this newsletter) for when I’m craving a little ankle breeze.
Levi’s Circular 501 Original Fit: Every time I share these on instagram, someone either asks for an ID or if they’re vintage. The color and fit are the closest I’ve found to vintage 501s—and they get softer and softer the more you wear them. One thing to note: the description on the website is confusing because it says they’re stretch at one point and non-stretch at another. I promise they’re non-stretch, like other original fits!
Colorway: Stoneware - Medium Wash
Sizing Notes: I take my larger waist size in these, which I definitely recommend. They’re quite snug out of the wash, but soften immensely with wear (in the best way possible!). After a few wears, they’ll have that perfect, lived-in look. For length, I did 30” inseam.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit (men’s): These men’s 501s fit very differently than the two women’s versions above. For one, the sizing is bizarre (notes below). And two, the rise is much lower. But, once you figure out what size works for you, they’re kind of perfect?! Also, they’re a true white (very stark, with no yellow tones), which is honestly hard to come by.
Colorway: Optic Daisy
Sizing Notes: These are a couple sizes larger than what I take in women’s 501s (men’s 31x30 are pictured). I ordered them during pregnancy, hoping they’d fit over a bump, but the sizing was so off, I could barely get them up and over my butt. I kept them just in case they fit post-pregnancy and I’m so glad I did!
Levi’s 501 90s Selvedge: I’ve been a longtime fan of the 501 90s, but only recently came across the selvedge version thanks to Gabriella Gofis, who shared them on instagram. The color is incredible, and even though they’re similar to my Circular 501s, the fit of these are much more relaxed. Even so, I love that you can wear them higher on the waist with a belt for that classic 501 look or keep them low-rise for a more oversized feel.
Colorway: Shape Shifter - Medium Wash
Sizing Notes: I take my larger size in these. They’re quite loose, which is what I like, but, if you’re looking for more fitted, size down. For length, these are the 30” inseam.
Levi’s 501 90s: It might be the ecru fabric, but there’s something about the material of these particular 501 90s that gives it an incredibly soft, buttery feel. They are so comfortable, even right out of the wash. The creamy undertones add to its overall softness, too. Catch me in them alllllll summer.
Colorway: Ecru - White
Sizing Notes: Same notes as the 90s above.
Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle: Stretch! If you’re surprised that these are the only stretch jeans I included in this list, well…me too! Sometimes you need a stretch jean that will suck everything in place, though. Ribcage are undoubtedly the jean for that, but don’t let the high-waist deter you—they’re extremely comfy.
Colorway: Cloud Over - White
Sizing Notes: I take my larger size in these, which I recommend, although the stretch makes them quite forgiving. For length, these are the 27” inseam.
This link will toggle to the correct colorways, if that’s easier!
Shoot me a message/comment if you’d like more fit notes. Or if you have a great pair that I must add to my collection! I’m thinking I’ll share my other favorite postpartum jeans next.
Need even more denim? I really really love this post by Joyce Lee, plus I want to wear every look she creates. Jane Herman’s denim-specific newsletter is also very helpful!
And now, let’s discuss The Idea of You. I know everyone was writing about this like two weeks ago, but the reality of having a toddler is that I rarely get anything done on time. I have a lot of thoughts though! Did you read the book and watch the film?
Before we dive in, note that there will be spoilers, so turn back now if you don’t want details about the ending.
ONE LAST WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
First of all, for those of you who read Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You, you know that the novel is categorically not a romance. It can’t be, right? There is no HEA! When I borrowed it from the library, I assumed it was romance, so the ending was a shock, to say the least. I can’t tell you how many times I rechecked the last page to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Was there an epilogue somewhere before the author’s note? Alas, no.
But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Robinne Lee’s purpose in writing this story wasn’t the romance itself, which certainly pushed the boundaries. It was her commentary on women—more specifically, on invisible womanhood, or the ways in which society overlooks, discards, and ignores women once they’ve reached a certain age.
Lee basically takes a sledgehammer to this notion with her protagonist, Solène, a 40-year-old divorced mother and art gallery owner living in Los Angeles, who has a love affair with a 20-year-old Harry Styles-like British boy bander. Solène has this covetable lifestyle where she jetsets across the world (first for her art gallery, then for the band’s tour), co-parents harmoniously (for the most part) with her ex-husband, has an enviable wardrobe and house in Bel Air, and, let’s be frank, gets to fool around with a hot and charismatic musician (who is half her age).
And yet, by the end of the novel, Solène sacrifices her relationship to protect her loved ones. She gives up her happiness—literally breaks her own heart!—because the cost outweighed the benefits.
Women. Be. Shouldering. The. Burden. It’s a great book if you don’t mind a little heartbreak!
Anyway, the film version, which recently premiered on Prime Video, took quite a different approach. For one, they aged up Hayes to 24 (which is obviously still young, but feels less icky than 20). Two, they included a “five years later” epilogue with a happily ever after!! Those sly dogs! Obviously, as a romance genre enthusiast, I preferred this ending, but it wasn’t what Robinne Lee intended for the story (read about her thoughts here).
I was so flummoxed by the film’s interpretation that I re-ordered the novel to double-check I hadn’t gone crazy. I get it, though. Movies need to recoup production cost (and Annie’s $7M—get it, girl!) so an HEA makes sense in this case.
And while the film is a diluted version of the book—a reimagining, if you will?—I still thought it was fun enough to watch if you’re in the mood for a rom com. Don’t even get me started on how incredible Anne Hathaway looks.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks for reading! Next time, we’re back to HEAs. I’m going to tell you about a five-star romantasy series I just devoured. It’s a really good one, I promise.
In case you missed it:
*I occasionally use affiliate links and will receive a small percentage of a sale linked through this newsletter. For books, I always advocate to borrow from the library (Libby!) or buy in your local bookstore. If you’d like to buy online, consider bookshop.org
Love this! Already added a few to cart lol. Where is your bw stripe top from!?
It's as if you read my vintage Levi's hunting postpartum mind. Thank you for this *perfect* breakdown - saving all of it! And I need to watch The Idea Of You!