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It’s easy to root for everybody Black at the NAACP Image Awards, a show specifically created to honor the achievements of Black artists and entertainers of color. In the middle of an awards season riddled with controversy (we’re looking at you, Hollywood Foreign Press Association) and some incremental change (the Oscars aren’t so white this year), the 52nd NAACP Image Awards served as a refreshing celebration of the best of the best in Black excellence, as it does every year. 

“It means the world to me. It’s the only validation that matters — Black people’s validation — so I really appreciate the NAACP for honoring us,” Issa Rae said while accepting the award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Insecure during Saturday’s televised broadcast (other winners were announced throughout the week leading up to the show). This win comes after Rae and her beloved HBO series was completely shut out from nominations at the Golden Globes and snubbed in the comedy categories at the Emmys. In a virtual press conference after the NAACP awards, Rae spoke about what she hopes to see from other award shows in the future. “I just want the awards to feel like the NBA Finals, where there’s no question of who’s the best, there’s no question that the people who make it to the playoffs and the finals deserve to be there. Nobody got paid off, nobody is fluff, you know that you’re being honored because you created a great piece of work and I don’t think that’s too much to ask for,” she said over Zoom. “I just want the awards and the people behind the scenes to vote based on merit and I don’t think we’re there yet, but hopefully we’ll get there one day.” 

I just want the awards to feel like the NBA Finals, where there’s no question of who’s the best, there’s no question that the people who make it to the playoffs and the finals deserve to be there.

ISSA RAE

If the NAACP Awards were the NBA Finals, its undisputed MVP would be Viola Davis, who took home two awards during the show: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Davis accepted her NAACP awards remotely with her husband, Julius Tennon, by her side. The pair also took on the press room together after the show. “Thank God for the NAACP Image Awards,” Davis told R29 Unbothered when asked about the show’s significance. “[Without it], we would still stay in the cloak of invisibility.” The importance of the visibility that this award show gives Black creators and entertainers cannot be overstated, but the fact that it is still an outlier in the industry speaks to Hollywood’s long history of systemic racism. 

“What I will say about Hollywood is the same thing I say about Black history in that actors and artists of color, we are artists,” Davis continued. “We belong in the same conversation as everyone else. Because a lot of times we are forgotten or not held in as much esteem as our white counterparts is why we need the NAACP image awards. It’s why we need the Essence luncheon.” Davis went on to say that the narrative that has undervalued creators of color in the past is changing, thanks to the work of Black artists. “We are now harnessing all of our talent, all of our ingenuity and we are literally demanding to be seen.” 

I don’t know if I would say I look forward to the day when there’s no NAACP Image Awards… but I look forward to the day when we no longer have to teach people how to see us.

viola davis

That demand is usually directed at white institutions like the aforementioned Oscars and Golden Globes  — add the Grammys to the list too — but when there is a show like the NAACP Image Awards that does meet the call for long-overdue Black recognition, the industry needs to treat it with the same reverence it does those other shows. We can’t blast the HFPA for refusing to acknowledge Black creators and then ignore the NAACP when it does. As Rae put it, this should be the “validation that matters.” During Saturday’s broadcast, winners like Rae, Davis and Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, who won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, proved that the best and brightest in Hollywood period were rightly given their flowers. Page seemed sincerely shocked and adorably hyped to win as he gave a breathless acceptance speech about representation: “It is the highest honor, the highest honor, to represent us in the fullness of our humanity, of our beauty, of our joy, of our glamour, of our splendor, of our royalty, of our romance, of our love.”

We know that there are limits to representation and that awards shows won’t fix the deep-rooted issues in Hollywood, but for one night, the NAACP gave Black performers the joyful commemoration they deserve. Other big winners included DJ D-Nice for Entertainer Of the Year, Eddie Murphy was inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame and the late Chadwick Boseman won Outstanding Actor In a Motion Picture. Boseman’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward accepted the award on his behalf and gave an emotional plea for the Black community to get screened for colon cancer, the disease that killed her husband and disproportionately affects Black people. Ledward’s speech was one of many poignant moments throughout the show ,which had presenters appearing from various locations in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta that are historically significant to Black culture. The Anthony Anderson-hosted broadcast (which was smoother and more tightly produced than most pandemic award shows) had depth, humor and was undoubtedly Black. 

Davis said she longs for the day “when our talent can be embraced as much as our white counterparts.” If that day comes, does that mean there will no longer be a need for the NAACP Image Awards? I think we’re always going to have to create spaces to celebrate ourselves, but I’ll let Davis have the final word: 

 “I don’t know if I would say I look forward to the day when there’s no NAACP Image Awards because, listen, we’re dope, but I look forward to the day when we no longer have to teach people how to see us.” 

Here’s a full list of the winners for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards live broadcast:

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Regé-Jean Page – “Bridgerton”

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Viola Davis – “How To Get Away With Murder”

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Issa Rae – “Insecure”

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Viola Davis – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Chadwick Boseman – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Bad Boys For Life”

Chairman’s Award

Rev. D. James Lawson

President’s Award

LeBron James

Hall of Fame Award

Eddie Murphy

Entertainer of the Year

D-Nice

Social Justice Impact

Stacey Abrams

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Golden Globes Diversity Statements Fell Short

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Why Insecure’s Emmys Shutout Hurts

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On March 28th, our moon will be full in Libra. It’s important to understand what a full moon in Libra can offer us, but it’s also valuable to think about the path the moon has taken toward fullness. This Libra full moon carries the lessons and themes of the March 13th new moon in Pisces to a kind of completion. I write “a kind of” to remind myself and you that the lessons these moon cycles offer us are never done, they just keep changing shape. 

If the most recent new moon in Pisces encouraged us toward play and flirtation, if it joined hands with Venus and pushed us to define our values so that we might recognize those who uphold the same ones, then the full moon offers us a night of Venusian appreciation for all the beauty that revealed itself on the other side of those efforts. 

Whether we’re conscious of it or not, we spend much of our days living from moon to moon, from big emotion to big emotion, from life to death and back again. There are traditional associations with these cycles and their waves, but the way each moon affects us has a lot to do with our own perception — not just of the moon, but also of our lives. 

This time, the moon opposes the Sun, and the focus on self-actualization widens. We can see that we are in company, that we have never been alone. Which is not to say that we have not suffered — not lost faith, not lost loved ones to systemic violence and intolerance. Under a Libra full moon, we can recognize what injustice has cost us, both collectively and individually. Our understanding of beauty is narrowed in a world that doesn’t recognize the sacredness of all people. Our sacredness, our ability to love each other fully, is bound up in our complicity with imperialism.  Under a Libra full moon, we can unburden our grief on the big silver scale and then look to the other side and ask: What balances this? How have I balanced this? What has anchored me to the land of the living? What can I praise?

Can we appreciate what’s beautiful without making demands of it? “Beauty is not enough,” wrote Edna (Ethereal Bisexual) St. Vincent Millay in her poem “Spring.” I think about her poem every year as April approaches, but I rarely think about when it was written, just following the first World War; just following the 1918 pandemic. “The spikes of the crocus./ The smell of the earth is good./ It is apparent that there is no death./ But what does that signify?” The poem heralds the lively color of Aries and April — but, it won’t rush to leave the grief of Pisces and March. 

Above us, the Aries Sun looks toward Aries Venus over Chiron, which has transited the constellation of Aries since the end of February 2019. When we keep our sights narrowed, we see that between the self (Sun) and the life that self admires (Venus) are the wounds (Chiron) that have fractured our efforts, our sense of our own beauty. Under the full moon in Libra, we’re encouraged to widen our periphery, to open up fully and let others help us see ourselves. Collectively, change takes a long time and power is never simply abdicated. But, Libra looks across the sky at Aries and says, when we come together with reverence, we strengthen each other as individuals. These two signs return to us every equinox and welcome us to their — to our — negotiation. They are the signs of the self and the other, of passion and strategy, fire and air.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

What Is A Venus Star Point? So Glad You Asked

It's Aries Season. Be A Little Selfish

Obsessed With Astrology? Thank TikTok — & COVID

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With people hunting for wedding guest dresses, I thought this balloon sleeve dress was a great find! The satin fabric has a hint of shine and the voluminous sleeves are right on trend. See if you can guess which dress is budget-babe approved—answer after the jump!



Continue reading "Which Balloon Sleeve Dress Costs Less?"

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Good-quality men's Levi’s are a timeless wardrobe staple. Why? Because they’re:

• Versatile
• Long-lasting
• Comfortable

The challenge is finding the right pair for you. There are at least ten different straight cut options to choose from on their site. You could spend hours browsing online or trying on different pairs in-store.

The wrong pair will make you feel uncomfortable and look shapeless. The perfect pair of jeans will be one of the most comfortable, great-looking trousers you ever own. They will feel like a broken-in leather jacket.

That's why I've put together all the key information you need in one place. Quickly find the perfect Levi's, regardless of the men's body shape you have or the stretch you need, with this ultimate guide.

 

Click here to watch – The Ultimate Buying Guide To Levi's Jeans (501, 502, 510, 511, 541)

All the essentials are here. First, I explain the terminology Levi's uses. Then, I cover every pair of men's jeans from the slimmest to the loosest. I share the fit, materials and the most popular color options (with extra information when the name doesn’t tell you much!). Plus, my own personal color recommendations and how to pair these jeans.

Without further ado, here are the ‘lot numbers' of every pair of men's Levi's in order of fit from slim to loose. If you already know what pair you're looking for, you can click to go right to it.

Skinny

• Levi's 510
• Levi's 512

Slim

• Levi's 502
• Levi's 511
• Levi's 513
• Levi's 531

Straight

• Levi's 501
• Levi's 505
• Levi's 514
• Levi's 551

Bootcut

• Levi's 517
• Levi's 527

Relaxed

• Levi's 541
• Levi's 550
• Levi's 559
• Levi's 569

First up, the terminology you need to make the all-important purchase decision:

Crash Course In Levi's Terminology – Your Guide To Jeans

Water<Less: The vast majority of clothes sold today are pre-washed and jeans are no exception. This uses a lot of water and harmful chemicals. Levi’s has developed a more efficient and environmentally-friendly washing method and can be found on roughly 60% of jeans they make.

Elastane: This is the synthetic fiber that gives jeans stretch. Levi's adds 1% or 2% in the waistband of their jeans to give you room for adjustment.

TENCEL lyocell: The brand name of a soft, plant-based hypoallergenic fiber with moisture management properties. Normally used in athleisure, Levi’s has woven it into some pairs of jeans to make exercise and outdoor activities more comfortable.

Flex: A material unique to Levi's woven into the horizontal weft threads of jeans. Flex jeans have extra give and flexibility without jeans losing their shape. If you cycle to work this could be for you.

Stonewashed: The name comes from the original method of pre-washing jeans with large rocks in the washer to give them the broken-in appearance many men look for. Expect white fading on the knees and maybe ‘whisker’ patterns further up on the thigh.

Leg opening: The width of the cuff at the bottom of a pair of jeans tells you how tight-fitting or roomy they will be around your calves and ankles. A smaller, tight-fitting leg opening like 13.5” will be a better choice for a young, slim man looking to wear smart leather brogues or sneakers. A larger leg opening like 18.5” will be more comfortable for an older, muscular or larger man and will also allow more room for the high top of boots.

Now we know how Levi's describes their jeans, let's start with the slimmest pair on offer!

 

Levi's 510 (True Skinny Jeans)

Levi’s says the 510s look like a skinny jean without feeling like one. If you have a thin build, this is a great option which will help you avoid the ‘boxy’ look straighter jeans can sometimes give you.

There is no mistaking this as anything other than a skinny jean but they are right in that the stretch materials woven into these jeans make them much more comfortable than first appearances may suggest.

Colors

• Boat Load – Dark Wash
• Moto Cross – Dark Wash
• Paros Pebbles – Medium Wash
• Hard Hitter – Medium Wash (pale blue with large paler fades)
• McFrosty – Light Wash (very pale blue)

Materials

• 70% Cotton
• 28% TENCEL lyocell
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits at the waist
• Skinny in the seat and thigh with an extra-skinny leg
• Skintight leg opening: 13”

The Best Color

I’m going to suggest McFrosty because it’s a brilliant name. Just kidding, this is a really clean-looking option where the lack of knee fades compensates for the casual nature of the pale color. Great for warmer weather!

Pairing Recommendation
Pair these with a navy polo and suede Chukka boots for a look which skews casual but elevates you above anyone wearing a T-shirt and sneakers.

Levi's 512 (Slim-Taper Fit)

This is a great option for a slimmer man who wants jeans that skew skinny but doesn’t want to go all in on skintight jeans.

The 512s give you a noticeable taper without being too constrictive.

Colors

• Dark Hollow – Dark Wash (black)
• Native Cali (black with slight knee fades)
• Goldenrod – Medium Wash (medium blue with slight knee fades)
• Sin City – Light Wash (pale with slight knee fades)
• Harvest Gold – Brown (dark sand-colored)

Materials

• 68% Cotton
• 31% Lyocell
• 1% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the waist
• Lean hip and a skinny leg
• Skinny leg opening: 12.75”

The Best Color

Levi’s offers several pairs in different sand and khaki shades and this slightly darker shade sets these apart from the rest as the most formal. 

Pairing Recommendation

For a dress-down Friday situation at work, wear these with white leather tennis shoes, a blue button-down shirt and an unstructured navy blazer.

Levi's 502 (Fitted Comfort)

These are jeans with a subtle but streamlined and tapered leg. The subtlety at work here makes this pair one of the most versatile Levi’s offers.

You can wear these to the office, wear them at the weekend, wear them anywhere!

Colors

• Black Knight – Black
• Mid Knight Rinse – Dark Wash
• Blue Ride – Dark Wash (vivid dark blue)
• Corfu Too Static – Medium Wash (medium blue with slight knee fades and whiskers)
• Dorian – Medium Wash (light blue with knee fades)
• Eat The Popcorn – Light Wash (very pale blue)

Materials

• 70% Cotton
• 28% TENCEL lyocell
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the waist
• Roomy thigh and a tapered leg
• Narrow leg opening: 14.5”

The Best Color

A versatile fit needs a versatile color and that’s ‘Blue Ride – Dark Wash’. It’s dark enough to work with a blazer and smart shirt, but the intensity of the dark blue color becomes more noticeable in casual situations.

Pairing Recommendation

Pair these with a thick flannel shirt, off-white henley and dark brown work boots for an outdoorsy combination perfect for meeting friends on the weekend or even an office with a relaxed, casual dress code.

Levi's 511 (True Slim Fit Jeans)

The 511s are where skinny meets slim. Let's say you have a thin figure and want fitted jeans. But, at the same time you need room for movement and activities without needing stretch materials. These are the men's Levi's for you.

Colors

• Native Cali (black)
• Frog Eye – Black (slightly faded black)
• Far Far Away – Black (faded black)
• Bee Eye – Black (pale black)
• Haley’s Comet – Dark Wash
• Myers Crescent Medium Wash
• Begonia – Medium Wash
• Myers Dust – Medium Wash (knee fades and rips)
• Pickles – Light Wash
• Castilleja (bright white)

Materials

• 98% Cotton
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the waist
• Lean in the hip and a narrow leg
• Narrow leg opening: 14.5”

The Best Color

Slim and skinny jeans can sometimes skew casual but the dark indigo color of ‘Myers Crescent Medium Wash’ levels-up the 511s. Slight knee fades add a little character here.

Pairing Recommendation

A navy zip-up sweater with a white collared shirt and dark brown brogues will make these slim jeans perfect for smart weekend events.

 

Levi's 513 (Slimmed-Down Men's Fit)

These are on the smarter, more tailored end of straight-cut jeans Levi’s offers. 

If you’re a thinner guy, looking to get a great fit and avoid the boxy look of classic straight-cut jeans, this is what I would recommend to you. These are office-friendly while still working for weekend activities and light exercise.

Colors

• Jet Black
• Emgee (medium wash with knee fades)
• Tree Topper – Medium Wash (whiskers and knee fades)
• Worn To Ride – Medium Wash (very pale with slight knee fades)

Materials

• 70% Cotton
• 28% TENCEL lyocell
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the natural waist
• Slim through the whole leg (giving these a smarter look to them)
• Straight leg opening: 15.75”

The Best Color

Go with jet black for a modern, youthful look.

Pairing Recommendation

Pair these with black oxfords, a white button-down shirt and a gray prince of wales check blazer for a sharp look you can wear to the office or a smart weekend event.

Levi's 531 (For Slim Athletic Builds)

Other men's Levi's will give you extra room to move but these are where Levi’s start moving with you.

531s are Flex jeans so we’re going to see lots of stretch and breathability thanks to the combination of Flex fabric, TENCEL lyocell and elastane. Made for a modern, active lifestyle with performance fabrics, 531s are a far cry from the stiff ‘waist overalls' Levi Strauss released way back in 1873.

Colors

• Cleaner (indigo)
• Myers Crescent (dark with contrasting knee fades)
• Orinda (knee fades)
• Goth Semi Pro – Blue (blue with light knee fades)
• Wolf Gala Apples – Green (not green, a pale blue color)

Materials

• 70% Cotton made with Flex fabric
• 28% TENCEL lyocell
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the waist
• Extra room in the thigh area
• Straight leg opening: 13.5”

The Best Color

Myers Crescent gives you the formality of dark jeans with the character of fades that aren’t too faint to distract from the rest of what you’re wearing

Pairing Recommendation

Go for a brown herringbone blazer, a pale blue button-down shirt and some tan brogues for an incredibly versatile smart-casual look.

Levi's 501 (The Best Men's Vintage Jeans)

This is the denim that defined what we call jeans today. This is the closest you can get to the original jeans Levi Strauss made in 1890 when lot number ‘501' was first released.

If you want the men's Levi's classic, which works on a variety of builds and isn’t going out of style any time soon, this is the one for you. You also get a button fly for that original touch!

Colors

• Black
• Clean Rigid – Dark Wash (dark indigo)
• Rinse – Dark Wash (vibrant dark blue)
• Pomegranate – Dark Wash (slight knee fades)
• Dark Stonewash
• Unicycle – Dark Wash
• Unite – Medium Wash (knee fades)
• Medium Stonewash
• Uncanny – Medium Wash (dark with light knee fades)
• Light Stonewash (pale)
• Optic Daisy (bright white)
• Timberwolf Twill – Khaki

Materials

• 94% Cotton
• 5% Polyester
• 1% Elastane

Fit

• Sits at the natural waist
• Straight all the way through the leg
• Straight leg opening: 16” (Lots of room at the ankle)

The Best Color

You can always go with ‘Clean Rigid’ for the iconic look. To walk the path less traveled, the 501 are jeans with history so try ‘Pomegranate’ for a pair with some wear on them to match.

Pairing Recommendation

Wear a white henley and dark brown leather jacket with dark brown cap toe boots for a look that’s modern but has a tiny bit of Marlon Brando flair.

Levi's 505 (The Best Relaxed Men's Vintage Jeans)

These Levi's gets a little less love than they deserve, often overshadowed by the iconic 501s.

This pair balances a classic look with just a little extra stretch than the 514s.

Colors

• Black
• Rinse – Dark Wash
• Dark stonewash (dark but vibrant 90s shade)
• Medium stonewash (medium, flecked look)
• Fremont Drop Shot – Medium Wash (light knee fades)
• Light Stonewash
• Shooting Star – Light Wash

Materials

• 98% Cotton
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits at the natural waist
• Straight through the leg
• Straight leg opening 16”

The Best Color

Go for the ‘Rinse – Dark Wash'. These jeans give you the timeless classic without compromising on comfort.

Pairing Recommendation

Go for a green flannel shirt and some grey suede boots for a rugged but modern look.

 

Levi's 514 (Modern Men's Classic With Stretch)

These jeans are a very popular option and it’s all down to the classic look which is given a small modern touch with 2% elastene for stretch.

Not too baggy but not too slim, Levi's aims for these to hit the sweet spot if the regular fit works for your body.

Colors

• Griffin Gray
• Kale – Medium Wash
• Orinda – Medium Wash (medium blue with slight knee fades)
• Corfu – Medium Wash (very pale blue)
• Walter – Medium Wash (pale with large fades)
• Earth Khaki Brown

Materials

• 99% Cotton made with Water<Less techniques
• 1% Elastane

Fit

• Sits below the natural waist (giving these a modern look)
• Regular fit all through the jeans
• Straight leg opening: 16”

The Best Color

I would try griffin gray to make these men's Levi's even smarter than they already are by almost turning them into chinos.

Pairing Recommendation

Try light brown chelsea boots, a light blue polo shirt and a denim jacket. Normally denim-on-denim can’t be done. But, it’s possible with these because it’s such a different look to regular jeans.

Levi's 551 (Movement And Comfort Combined)

Levi’s has re-released their 1961 denim, the first ever to be pre-shrunk, but now made with sustainable techniques. What separates these jeans from the others?

These are much more casual, they are made to look worn-in (look at the fades). I would even say the 551's have a counter-culture movement and 90s streetwear feel about them so these are jeans you can wear casually. These are proof that casual does not need to mean loose or baggy.

Colors

• Black (faded black, the gray color of older jeans)
• Dark Indigo (the darker shade of blue is used to create contrast with whiskers and knee fades)
• Medium Indigo – Boot Boogie (standard color shade)
• Medium Indigo – Rubber Worm (lighter, with fades on the knees)

Materials

• 77% Cotton
• 23% Hemp – softer and requires less water plus fewer chemicals than cotton

Fit

• Sits at your natural waist
• Relaxed through the hip and thigh
• Looser cut in the seat (gives you greater freedom of movement for activities – Levi’s say they had skateboarding in mind)
• Straight leg opening: 16.25″

The Best Color

The Dark Indigo is my choice here. It’s the epitome of smart-casual: this pair can be dressed up and down.

Pairing Recommendation

Try a green M65 field jacket (the collar and shoulder straps will build up your upper body), a dark red henley and some brown Chukka boots.

Levi's 517 (The True Bootcut)

This is the authentic bootcut jean. Expect a wide leg opening to accommodate working boots.

Many pairs of Levi’s have a feeling of history. The 501s are where it all started. Nothing quite compares though with the classic Western feeling which traditional bootcut jeans give you.

Colors

• Black
• Rinse – Dark wash (classic indigo)
• Medium Stonewash

Materials

• 100% Cotton

Fit

• Sits at the waist
• Slim in the thigh with a regular leg
• Bootcut leg opening: 18.25”

The Best Color

A traditional cut calls for a traditional color. The classic indigo shade of ‘Rinse – Dark Wash’ is what will look best with your boots and the feeling of these jeans.

Pairing Recommendation

If you’re already wearing Western-style boots, these are the jeans for you. Pair your jeans and boots with a casual button-down shirt that has front pockets.

Levi's 527 (The Modern Bootcut)

This is Levi’s contemporary take on bootcut jeans. You get the wide leg opening you would expect of a bootcut while the leg and thigh stay slimmer than the classic 517.

Colors

• Durian Super Tint – Neutral (indigo with large, pale fades)
• Bamboo Subtle – Neutral (Dark blue with pale knee fades)
• Explorer – Neutral (medium blue with slight fades)

Materials

• 99% Cotton
• 1% Elastane

Fit

• Sits at the waist
• Slim in the seat and thigh with a slim leg
• Bootcut leg opening: 18.25”

The Best Color

‘Bamboo Subtle – Neutral’ offers a great contrast between dark and light shades of blue.

Pairing Recommendation

For the modern Levi’s bootcut, try white leather tennis shoes and a white collared shirt made from linen for a combination with a relaxed summer feeling.

Levi's 541 (Best Men's Jeans For Muscular Legs)

This is a pair of jeans for a man who’s exercising and building muscle. As technical fabric is built into these, they will give you a comfortable fit and make any workouts you do in these just that bit easier.

Improved comfort doesn't mean your Levi's have to be baggy though. Since these skew on the smarter end of casual, they won't look out of place on a college campus or at a weekend meet-up with friends.

Colors

• Native cali (black)
• Too hot – black (faded black, more of a gray)
• Asphal – Gray
• The Rich Blue
• Walter – Medium Wash
• Cleaner Medium Wash
• Fresh Canyon – Medium Wash (mild knee fades)
• Bass Super Light – Light Wash (palest blue, large white thigh and knee fades)
• Harvest Gold – Khaki (the color of sand chinos)
• Castilleja Medium Wash (starch white)

Materials

• 65% Cotton made using Water<Less techniques
• 33% Polyester
• 2% Elastane

Fit

• Sits at the natural waist
• Smarter, almost tapered look
• Straight leg opening: 15.75”

The Best Color

‘Native Cali Black' will emphasize your build and will get a natural fade over time which shows the way you move.

Pairing Recommendation

Go for a white flannel shirt for contrast with the black and a green bomber jacket which will give you flexibility too like the jeans.

Levi's 550 (The Most Comfortable Jeans)

This is a pair Levi’s has had in their line since 1985 and there’s a reason for that. This is arguably the most comfortable pair they offer thanks to extra room throughout the hip, seat, thigh and beyond.

Looser than the 501s and 505s, these might be the men's Levi's designed to be the most relaxing denim ever made.

Colors

• Black
• Rinse – Dark Wash
• Cliff – Dark Wash (very light, slight knee fades)
• Dark Stonewash
• Medium Stonewash
• Light Stonewash

Materials

• 100% Cotton made using Water<Less techniques

Fit

• Sits at the natural waist
• Levi’s say these are ‘baggy’ for comfort which is what this pair is all about
• Straight leg opening: 16.5”

The Best Color

‘Medium Stonewash' is a versatile mid-blue I think is perfect for spring and early summer.

Pairing Recommendation

Pair these with an outfit you can easily layer in spring like a henley with a sweater and some white leather tennis shoes.

Levi's 559 (The Relaxed-Straight Choice For Work)

This is a more formal Levi’s option and you can tell by the choice of colors. These come almost exclusively in dark shades of indigo.

Sitting below the natural waist keeps the 559s contemporary, these certainly aren't your grandad’s jeans. For me, the classic color choices and modern fit make this feel like a bit of a sleeper in the men's Levi's range and goes underappreciated. It's well worth checking out.

Colors

• Tumbled Rigid – Dark Wash
• Navarro – Dark Wash (dark whiskers)
• Range – Dark Wash (slight whiskers, general fade)
• Cleaner – Medium Wash

Materials

• 100% Cotton made using Water<Less techniques

Fit

• Sits below the waist, low rise
• Narrower than the 569 but still roomy all the way through
• Straight leg opening: 16”

The Best Color

‘Cleaner' is a great color if you’re planning to make these jeans part of a smart, clean-cut and uniform look for work.

Pairing Recommendation

Go for a white button-down shirt, a navy blazer and a dark brown pair of derby shoes to keep the professional look going.

Levi's 569 (The Weekend Choice)

Levi’s says these jeans are roomy without feeling baggy. That makes them especially good for working in or spending an active weekend outdoors.

Colors

• Vintage light – blue
• Kale – dark wash
• Cleaner – dark wash (closest to indigo)
• Crosstown – dark wash (slight whiskers and knee fades)
• Black

Materials

• 100% Cotton

Fit

• Sits below your natural waist
• Looser cut in the seat and thigh
• Roomy all the way down from the waist to the ankle
• Straight leg opening: 18.5”

The Best Color

For the 569's I would choose ‘Kale'. It's dark enough to look smart but also vibrant enough to be interesting, giving these the versatility to complement lighter-colored items.

Pairing Recommendation

Try a pair of brown heritage work boots, a fitted gray t-shirt and a burnt orange overshirt.

 

This is every pair of men's Levi's I recommend you take a look at. I've added all the information you need over and above what can be found on the Levi's website. I hope this makes that all-important purchase decision as easy as possible for you!

The post Men’s Levi’s Jeans | Ultimate Buying Guide | Fit, Colors, Materials & More appeared first on Real Men Real Style.

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After his vacation-gone-wrong during Texas’ deadly winter storm, Sen. Ted Cruz returned to Mexico this week to investigate the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border. “So it’s past midnight. I’m standing on the shore of the Rio Grande,” Cruz said in a video shared to Twitter. “I’m down at the Texas border along with 18 senators who made the trip to see the crisis that is playing out.” He signed the video with the hashtag #BidenBorderCrisis.

Immediately, people began joking about Cruz’s last trip to Mexico — that is, when he headed to the Ritz Carlton in Cancún during a weather crisis that left millions of Texans without power and clean water. “Can anyone point me to Cancún?” responded California Rep. Eric Swalwell. Another congressman, Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, wrote: “50% chance this is outside the Ritz Carlton Cancún.”

In a series of dispatches from the border, Cruz described the humanitarian crisis, which he said is President Joe Biden’s fault. “That’s Mexico, and you can see there’s three smugglers right there, standing on the Mexican side, looking at us. They’re shining their flashlights at us, they’re yelling at us,” Cruz said in a blurry clip. In another tweet, he decried the “influx of migrant crossings” and inhumane housing for children and families, and he claimed that he and his fellow senators were subjected to “heckling” from cartel members.

Beto O’Rourke, who ran against and lost to Cruz in the 2018 Senate race, took issue with Cruz’s assertions that he was in any kind of real danger. “You’re in a Border Patrol boat armed with machine guns. The only threat you face is unarmed children and families who are seeking asylum (as well as the occasional heckler),” he wrote. “If you’re looking for a crisis to cosplay Senator for, I’m happy to point you in the right direction.” O’Rourke went on to criticize Cruz’s failure to support gun safety measures, health insurance for his constituents, and a livable minimum wage. 

But most importantly, as O’Rourke noted, it’s hard to view Cruz’s reactions as genuine when he previously refused to criticize Donald Trump’s harmful anti-immigration policies. Under Trump, a record number of migrant children were detained in government custody and legal immigration to the U.S. declined by 49%. When Cruz was asked about Trump’s family separation policy, he shifted blame onto Barack Obama and the families seeking safety and asylum. “I visited the Obama camps that he set up to detain little boys and little girls who crossed the border illegally. Illegal immigration produces human tragedies that are wrong,” he told reporters in 2018. “I don’t think we should have any children that are brought across the border illegally, many times by drug cartels and coyotes who abuse those children, and sexually assault, physically assault those children.” 

To be clear, Obama, Trump, and Biden all bear responsibility for the inhumane conditions at the border. But, just like his unnecessary, fear-mongering language about “smugglers” and cartels, and his excuse for traveling to Cancún back in February, the reasoning behind Cruz’s sudden outrage about the crisis is all too transparent — he only cares about crises when he’s the one being affected.

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When several members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan — starting with Kendall, and then followed by Kylie and Kourtney — began wearing their string bikini tops upside down last summer, I figured that it’d be a blip as far as fashion trends go. After all, one of the big differences between famouses and the rest of us is that we actually like getting into the pool. But, like clockwork, once the weather warmed up, the DIY swimwear trend became ubiquitous, as people began tying their tops upside-down, criss-crossed, and even sideways. The Bachelor’s Chelsea Vaughn chose an upside-down bikini for a beach day in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in March, and appeared — at least in photos — to hold up during an outdoor shower. Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine wore a flipped blue bikini with a belly chain in January. And Atlanta-based blogger Frankly Frankie’s Instagram feed is full of upside bikinis, tied in myriad ways, from 180 degree flips to backwards and sideways. 

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A post shared by Kendall (@kendalljenner)

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the appeal. Essentially, by flipping your swimsuit top this way and that, you’re getting multiple bikinis for the price of one. You don’t even have to buy anything new to create the look; all it takes is digging out the string bikini that’s likely been buried at the bottom of your swimwear drawer for a few summers. Also, oftentimes, they look great in photos. But do they stay up? How practical is it for doing anything in the water other than posing next to it?

I wore one for an entire workday this week, changing the tie pattern every few hours to see what worked and what didn’t. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have access to a pool nor pool-appropriate weather, so I did not take a dive in my upside-down bikini, though I did try to wear it in the shower. Even dry, though, when the most rigorous activity I did was transition from working on my back to my side to my stomach in bed, none of the styles held up. At one point, I had to climb on the counter to reach the cereal box I keep up high for emergency snacking, and the tie around my neck completely unraveled.

In the spirit of research, here’s what I found: While the standard upside-down style is the most sturdy when compared to any other style (strapless, criss-crossing it in the front, laying it on top of your chest untied while your assistant takes fake-candid pics of you with a book you don’t plan on reading), it still isn’t actually sturdy. While it might outlast a wade in the shallow end of the pool, there’s no chance it’ll survive a single wave at the beach or a dive into the deep end. When the cinching isn’t on the bottom, the “coverage” part of a string bikini becomes a complete joke. All day long, I spent more time adjusting my swimsuit than not adjusting it. Despite doing this experiment for work, I think it made me get less work done. 

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A post shared by Chelsea Vaughn (@chelseavaughn_)

Others are equally skeptical: “It sort of works,” says Refinery29 creatives and updates editor Kate Spencer, who recently gave the trend a shot at home. “But I’d say it’s not nearly as comfortable, supportive, or practical as wearing it right side up.” And then the hot take: “…And I don’t think it’s any more stylish.” 

“The upside-down bikini is just unnecessary,” Refinery29 work and money editor Hannah Rimm says after, too, trying the trend IRL. “I don’t think it looks any better than a normal bikini and it certainly does not hold my D cups in if I move around. There’s just so much underboob!” Though she admits that string bikinis aren’t her style — preferring, instead, a sportier, scoop-neck top — she still thinks the trend is “a lot of work for a very boring pay off,” adding, “The criss-cross neck one choked me.”

Ironically, Kendall Jenner appears to no longer abide by the trend she and her sisters sparked. Most likely, she came to the same realization that we did: swimwear was designed to be worn right side up for a reason. Any way else, and you won’t be wearing it for long. 

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