Comfy and versatile with a classic, stylish silhouette, Wedgie jeans possess an almost magical, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants–type ability to fit and flatter a wide array of body shapes and sizes. To nail down our favorite pairs for the guide, we asked seven testers ranging from size 0 to size 20W to try on 10 different types of jeans; the Wedgie jeans not only worked well on all types of bodies but also received our testers’ highest overall scores for style. In short, we dubbed them “an across-the-board hit.”
Still, as any denimhead knows, finding the best fit can be a frustrating process, no matter how universally beloved a particular pair of jeans may be. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options Levi’s offers—not just in sizing but also length, stretch, and wash—the suggestions below from our style team and jeans testers can help you figure out which Wedgies are just right for you.
Top pick
These versatile jeans are comfy, booty-flattering, well made, and usually priced under $100. They’re generally available in a wide range of sizes and three inseams, but in plus sizes the wash and length options are more limited.
Measure your waist and hips before ordering online
It’s standard advice, but the best way to determine your Levi’s sizing is to consult the company’s online size guide after measuring around the smallest part of your waist and the fullest part of your hips. (Don’t wrap the tape measure too tightly, and make sure it stays horizontal.)
Using those two measurements, tester and updates writer Gabriella DePinho received a pair on her first try that instantly became her favorite pair of jeans in her closet. To help us make the picks for the guide, she tested 10 pairs of jeans in total.
Consider going up a size if you have a larger waist, or down a size if you have slender hips and thighs
Our testers found that Wedgie jeans generally run true-to-size. However, as we note in our jeans guide, “Testers with more defined waists found these jeans true-to-size; otherwise, consider sizing up.”
Senior staff writer Zoe Vanderweide, who researched and wrote the guide, says, “In my experience, they run one size small and I don’t have a particularly defined waist, but this wasn’t the experience of everyone on our testing panel.”
Ingela Ratledge Amundson, our supervising editor of style coverage, adds, “These are fairly roomy through the lower hips and thighs—if you’re slender in those areas, the cut might be too generous.” In that case, going one size down might work better for you.
Opt for ankle length for the most flattering silhouette
Most Wedgie sizes are available in a 26-, 28-, or 30-inch inseam. Because of the way Wedgie jeans are cut, with a subtle taper toward the hem, Ingela recommends choosing whichever inseam allows the jeans to hit at your ankle. (An ideal ankle length, Zoe notes, “doesn’t touch the top of low-top sneakers, but if you’re wearing ankle boots, it just goes over the tops of them.”)
Adds Ingela: “You don’t really want jeans with that shape to be breaking over shoes, and they don’t look quite right cuffed. It’s also not ideal to go any shorter than the ankle, into capri-length territory. As one of our testers noted, it starts to look a little Oliver Twist–y.”
Another benefit of ankle-length Wedgies: They look good with almost all kinds of shoes, including “sneakers, sandals, flats, booties, short/medium boots, and heels,” Ingela says. (However, Wedgies probably won’t work with tall boots: “The jeans are too wide to tuck into boots, and they wouldn’t look great with the jeans over the boot,” she notes.)
To find your ideal inseam, measure the inside of your leg from your crotch to “about 2 inches above your ankle bone,” Zoe says. As a general rule, though, petite shoppers should get the 26-inch inseam, taller shoppers should opt for the 30-inch version, and if you’re of average height, go with the 28-inch jeans.
Ingela, who is 6 feet tall and wears Wedgies in size 27 or 28, says the 30-inch inseam “is just barely ankle-length on me.” She also suggests, “If you’re 6 feet tall or over and okay with a slightly longer, leaner straight-leg cut than on the Wedgie, then Levi’s 501s might be a better bet.”
Note that plus-size Wedgies may not work for taller people
“A lot of denim brands still have a long way to go when it comes to size inclusivity,” Ingela says. And unfortunately, Levi’s Wedgie jeans are no exception.
Plus-size Wedgies (sold in sizes from 14W to 26W) come with fewer wash options and are available only in the shortest, 26-inch inseam. As a result, taller plus-size people may find that their only length option is more capri-length than ankle-cropped, which Ingela says may not look so great.
“I can’t in good conscience advise taller plus-size folks to compromise by wearing these at a shorter capri length,” she says. “There’s no fun tip or hack—like, pair them with fun socks!—because it’s just not optimal.”
Order pairs in multiple sizes and return (for free) what you don’t want
The best way to try on jeans is in person. But if you’re ordering online and you’re between sizes, or the size chart doesn’t reflect your body, “the next-best strategy when you’re unsure about your size is to order a few size options with the plan of returning what doesn’t work,” Ingela says.
This approach is especially helpful for first-time Wedgie shoppers, Ingela adds. “Since they have a few different inseam options, and you’re aiming for that just-right ankle length, you might not know which inseam translates to your height,” she explains. (See above for more advice on choosing the best ankle length.)
If you order from the Levi’s site, keep in mind that returns are free for members of the company’s Red Tab loyalty program, which is free to join. Items that you order online from Levi’s are also returnable in person at any Levi’s store for free. If you order from Amazon, select sizes and washes are eligible for free returns.
Choose no-stretch Wedgies if you value longevity over give, and consider going up a size
Wedgie jeans are available in low-stretch and no-stretch options; the former is made of a 99% cotton 1% elastane blend, while the latter is 100% cotton. We think most people are likely to prefer the low-stretch kind.
“Most people like their jeans to have a little give. It makes them more comfortable right off the bat,” Zoe says.
However, you have a few reasons to consider going all-cotton. “All-cotton jeans are typically more durable and long-lasting. They also hold their shape better because of the lack of stretch content,” Ingela says. “But the absence of stretch means the pants are stiffer since there’s no give. They don’t move with you the same way, they’re usually not considered as comfy, and there’s often a break-in period needed to soften up the denim. They’re definitely not for everyone.”
If you opt for all-cotton, Ingela suggests going one size up, as “most non-stretch jeans tend to run a bit smaller since they don’t have any give.” Zoe adds that wearing no-stretch Wedgies often but washing them infrequently is a good way to break them in more quickly.
If you want goes-with-everything jeans, the Christina wash is probably your best bet
Low-stretch Wedgie jeans are available in eight colors (or washes, as they’re called) ranging from a very light blue to a very dark black, while no-stretch Wedgies come in either black or white. We sent all of our women’s jeans testers a pair of Levi’s Wedgies in the Christina wash, which Ingela describes as “a very wearable, worn-in, medium wash.”
Since testing, Gabriella has found that the Christina wash is suitable for all kinds of styling scenarios.
“When I open my wardrobe looking for jeans, it’s the first pair I check to see if it’s clean and available,” she says. “Going to a concert? Wedgies. Going out with friends? Wedgies. Dressing more casually to come into the office? Wedgies. Casual date? Wedgies. Family barbecue? Wedgies. Traveling and want to wear a pair of pants on the plane that can also be strategically reworn during the trip? Wedgies. They are my go-to for practically any casual outing or just for daily wear.”
Zoe calls the Christina wash “a perfect medium-light blue, current but timeless, casual, unfussy-without-distracting distressing, with very subtle whiskering and fading, where it would naturally occur with wear.”
To cheat a formal-pants look, opt for the Black Sprout wash
A few months after receiving her testing Wedgies in the Christina wash, Gabriella got another pair in the darkest shade, Black Sprout, which she coordinates with a nice blouse when she needs something a tad dressier.
“I was worried they would look too informal, but they feel like an entirely different pant [than the Christina], despite having the same fit, comfort, and style,” she says. “I don’t always need to dress ‘formal’ so I don’t reach for them as often, but I feel super confident in them.”