An Honest Review of the Levi’s 501 Jean Shorts Sydney Sweeney Loves

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If you’re going to buy one pair of shorts this summer, I strongly believe it should be a pair of Levi’s 501 jean shorts. Why? Cosmo editors and content creators love them, celebs have been wearing them for *decades*, and best of all, you can score them on sale on Amazon for as little as $24.

But with so many denim brands to choose from, I get it if you’re wondering if Levi’s 501s are really worth the hype. The answer is yes, yes they are—and I’ve got the outfit pics, celebrity style insights, and fashion history to prove it.

501 Original Shorts

501 Mid Thigh Shorts

While denim trends may come and go, Levi’s 501 shorts will always remain. Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson wore them in the ’90s; Selena Gomez couldn’t get enough of them in the early to mid-2010s, and nowadays, Sydney Sweeney and Olivia Rodrigo wear them on the reg (O-Rod’s *exact* shorts are only $30 on Amazon right now!). Over the years, I’ve collected them in just about every wash and length offered by the brand: classic light-wash cutoffs, ultra-distressed Daisy Dukes, and even those knee-length jorts that are blowing up on TikTok right now.

“Levi’s 501 shorts are one of those items that continue to stick around no matter how many times I clean out my closet,” says Seattle-based content creator Morgan Lillian. “There’s just something about the way the denim gets better with age—maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s the fabric quality. Whatever it may be, when summer rolls around, my 501s are in rotation. Pair them with an easy white tee or tank and mixed metal accessories, and you have my summer uniform. It’s nothing revolutionary, but somehow this formula gives It Girl no matter the era.”

As cliché as it sounds, I have to agree that Levi’s 501 shorts really do get better over time. The pairs I’ve had the longest are the pairs I love the fit and feel of most. They’ve stretched in all the right places over the years and have that perfectly lived-in look that costs upward of $100 at many Brooklyn vintage stores. Though I still stan the original style, I’ve mostly been reaching for my mid-length cutoffs this summer, so I’d recommend grabbing this almost identical pair on Amazon while they’re 50% off.

501 Original Shorts

Plus-Size 501 Original Shorts

Premium 501 Mid Thigh Shorts

Celebrity fashion sourcer Gab Waller says they’re a perennial favorite of her A-List clientele, who are gravitating toward “classic blues and vintage washes this summer.” Styling-wise, Waller is seeing clients wear Levi’s 501 shorts with “fitted styles like a tank or bra top,” and they’re particularly fond of mixing distressed denim with knit and crochet textures.

Like their full-length counterpart, Levi’s original 501 jeans, the 501 shorts feature a mid-rise fit and a traditional button-fly. The majority are made from 100 percent cotton, so they don’t have any stretch. As someone with thick thighs and a booty, I’ve always needed to size up in Levi’s 501 shorts, and the editors and creators I consulted agree. While I can squeeze into my typical jean size if I really want to, I’ve found going up a size makes them far more comfortable. (I like to cut the size tag out of my jeans anyway!)

Based on the feedback I gathered from shamelessly pestering creators and fashion industry insiders via Instagram DM and reading hundreds of reviews, 501s look A+ on basically every body type. Between the extended size range (I’m talking sizes 23 to 39) and the variety of inseam, rise and color options, it’s easy to find a combination you love—one you’ll keep coming back to summer after summer.

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