I’ve decided to put on hold my search for the perfect (for me) pair of straight-leg jeans, but these Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans came pretty close. (I have a pair of ’90s Pinch High Waist Straight Leg Jeans from AGOLDE on order, but that’s it for the style until next spring.) But I wish I hadn’t sized up (the 12″ rise demands a snugger fit at the waist); I prematurely ripped off the tags after trying them on and finding them comfortable without looking in the mirror. They fit true to size, with perhaps some extra room in the waist (keeping in mind this style has a button-fly so you don’t necessarily want to size down either).
But on the whole, these jeans from Levi’s are quite affordable (<$100) and comfortable. The heavier-weight material–a mostly cotton blend with just a touch of polyester and elastane–holds shape, but has some stretch. In terms of improvements, the 27″ inseam is still too long on 5’2 me for an ankle-length style, so I plan to either DIY a raw hem or get them shortened professionally. I also wish the wash were lighter, but “worn out” is a versatile, inoffensive light(er) blue (color irl is more true to my photos than in the stock photo).
Here are some more straight-leg jean options for those of you who are still looking:
