The ultimate guide to the perfect shorts
Levi's® jean short guide
Summer is here and so is shorts season–or should we say jorts season? Either way, we want you to stay cool in style. But finding the right short for you is easier said than done, especially when there are so many different right rises, washes, and lengths to choose from. And while many of you may already be familiar with our denim selection, shorts are a whole different ballgame. That’s why we’re bringing you another one of our fantastic fit guides to help you understand the difference between our range of men's and women's shorts styles and find the one that’s right for you so you can free the knee.
Mens
412™ SLIM SHORT
Slim, but not too slim, the 412™Slim Short is designed with a skinny-but-not-too-skinny fit that plays straight man to whatever you want to pair with it. This men's slim shorts offers a mid-rise that sits comfortably at your waist while a cotton blend with TENCEL™ lyocell and elastane makes for a super soft hand feel and a stretchy, moves-with-you-not-against-you kind of fit. An extra bonus: TENCEL™ lyocell is sustainably made from plant fibers for an eco-friendly twist on a staple silhouette. This spring, we’re pairing this with a modern color-blocked t-shirt and some classic sunglasses for an upscale cool guy vibe.
8 different washes
9-inches long
Mid-rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: 512™ Slim Taper
Mens
405 STANDARD SHORTS
There’s a reason we call it the 405 Standard–this all-around reliable short literally sets the standard for a no-fuss jean short. A 99% cotton, 1% elastane denim hits the perfect balance between stretchy and structured, while our iconic 5 pocket styling and an easy zip fly keep things classic. Pair this easy go-to with a polo or button down for a fancier feel or go with an essential tee and a baseball cap for the most timeless of looks.
10 different washes
10 inches long
Mid-rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: 502™ Taper Fit
Mens
501® '93 SHORT
We always like to think of the 501® ’93 at the 501® with a slouchy skater boy twist–so why would its shorts counterpart be any different? The edgy 501® ’93 short is made with a roomier fit through the hip and thigh for a low-slung throwback feel. A raw edge hem makes it look like you crafted these cutoffs yourself when in actuality we did all the work for you. (You can thank us for that later.) We love the idea of pairing these with a graphic tee or a patterned tank then topping off the look with a bucket hat for that effortless vintage look.
7 different washes
7 inches long
Low-rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: 501® ’93 Straight Fit
The perfect pair of jeans shorts
Let Levi's guide you to the jeans shorts of your dreams. All you need to know to find the right pair of shorts and style them accordingly.
Womens
501® ORIGINAL SHORT
All the iconic energy of the 501® with the bold leggy look of a short short–that’s the 501® Original Short in a nutshell. A summer essential, our vintage-inspired high rise hugs your curves and defines your waist while a 2.5-inch inseam lets you show off what your mama gave you. We love styling the 501® short because it really does go with anything. Dress it up with a luxe linen button-down and some classic sunglasses or pair it with your favorite bikini, layers of necklaces, a bucket hat, and a tan for the ultimate summer girl look.
8 different washes
2.5-inch inseam
11-inch high rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: 501® Original
Womens
501® MID THIGH SHORT
As your fit guide writer knows as well as anyone, thick thighs and little inseams don’t always mix. Thigh size aside, sometimes you just wanna a little extra coverage. If you fall into either one of those categories–or both–the 6-inch inseam on the 501® Mid Thigh short is made for you. An iconic 501® fit, the Mid-Thigh Short is made with a 10-inch high rise, a raw cutoff hem, and some artful distressing on some of the colorways for that extra bit of edge. We love this sportier look with bold colors, dad sneakers, and athletic-inspired materials like mesh and nylon.
4 different washes
6-inch inseam
11-inch high rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: 501® Original
Womens
RIBCAGE SHORT
We all know the Ribcage jean for its hip-slimming, waist-defining, leg-lengthening magic. Crop-top-friendly high rise rings in at 12 inches. A flirty 2.5-inch inseam puts the spotlight firmly on those thighs, while a curve-hugging 99% cotton, 1% elastane stretch denim makes sure no one misses your curves, either. We recommend pairing these bold shorts with some flirty feminine tops. Think ruffles, florals, bows–all that fun stuff.
4 different washes
About a 2.5-inch inseam
12-inch high rise
FULL-LENGTH DENIM JEAN SIBLING: Ribcage Straight Jean