Top pick
Levi’s straight-leg jeans got a lot of love from the panelists in our testing for our guide to women’s jeans. The Levi’s Premium Wedgie Straight Fit Women’s Jeans earned the highest score in testing because we found them comfy and flattering across a wide range of body types. The 501 Original Fit jeans also tested exceptionally well with our panelists. Plus, for just under $100 a pair, these durable jeans are more than fairly priced.
Top pick
The slim, curve-hugging Gap High Rise ’90s Straight Jeans look and feel great, even though their construction isn’t as high-quality as what we’ve seen on some of our other recommendations. But they cost less than $100 and are often on sale, so they’re one of our most budget-friendly picks.
Top pick
If you like a wider-leg jean, we also have a Levi’s recommendation for that. Enter the Levi’s Premium Ribcage Wide Leg Women’s Jeans. This pair comes in three inseams, so it should work for a variety of heights, and it’s made of the same, durable material as our other Levi’s Premium picks.
If you’re interested in the barrel-jeans trend, editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson recommends the deliciously soft Gap High Rise Barrel Jeans. For Ingela, they have a forgiving fit and a not-too-exaggerated barrel shape, so they’re her perfect pair.
Best for…
For a roomy straight-leg look in a classic, beloved men’s denim cut, we recommend opting for the relaxed Levi’s Premium 505 Regular Fit Selvedge Jeans or the straight Madewell Slim Jeans. These two picks did well across the board with our testers, and they’re two of our more affordable recommendations from our guide to the best men’s jeans.
Best for…
If you really want a bargain pair of jeans, we have those, too. In our guide we recommend the Uniqlo Stretch Selvedge Slim Jeans, which are unusually comfy for selvedge jeans and have an appealing straight-leg cut. We also recommend the Wrangler Cowboy Cut Jeans, which have a unique straight-leg cut that fits over boots but are not bootcut jeans.
Jeans are tried-and-true. But maybe they seem a little tired to you, especially if you’re going for a more preppy look. In that case, we recommend writer Evan Dent’s favorite pants: the J.Crew Giant-fit Chino Pant. These wider-cut pants look refreshingly clean and relaxed, rather than comically large. They’re breathable, they break in over time, and they have big pockets.
