The K-Style Way to Wear Levi's 501, 517 and 565: 15 Outfits, Fit by Fit

In Korea, jeans are 청바지 (cheongbaji), and with Levi's the number is the fit. Here is how K-fashion styles three of them, the straight 501, the 517 that flares below the knee, and the roomy straight 565, with five 코디 (kodi, the Korean word for a fully styled outfit) for each fit. The first photo for each fit shows a T-shirt tucked in, so you can see the silhouette first. Start by finding the fit that suits your body, then check each look against what is already in your closet. The top and shoe pairings are outfits recommended by MY OOTD.

501 Original: The Basic Fit and 4 Top Pairings

The 501 is known for a rise that sits at the waist, a regular fit through the hips and thighs, a straight hem, and a button fly. Korean styling calls a straight leg 일자 (ilja), and it is the easiest base to build on. Try it with anything from T-shirts to blazers.

Start with the fit. Tuck in a white tee and add a belt, and the straight line falling from hip to hem shows clearly (Look 1).

**Look 1** 501 basic fit · white tee tucked in + brown belt + white sneakers

With dark indigo raw denim (00501-2331), try a gray sweat zip-up over a white tee and add white sneakers. This is the 꾸안꾸 (kku-an-kku, polished without looking like you tried) side of Seoul style, easy to wear for a casual weekend market outing (Look 2).

For work, try black (00501-0165) with an Oxford shirt and a navy blazer, finished with loafers. The straight hem goes with sneakers, loafers, or boots alike (Look 3).

**Look 2** 501 dark indigo + gray sweat zip-up + white sneakers

**Look 3** 501 black + Oxford shirt + navy blazer

With a light wash, try a navy striped rugby shirt. The bold stripes and white collar suit bright denim well. Pair it with navy canvas sneakers (Look 4).

If you're in your 40s or 50s, try a gray turtleneck with a camel wool coat over deep indigo. Add Chelsea boots, and it also suits an autumn evening out (Look 5).

**Look 4** 501 light wash + striped rugby shirt + canvas sneakers

**Look 5** 501 dark indigo + gray turtleneck + camel coat + Chelsea boots

517 Bootcut: The Basic Fit and 4 Top Pairings

The 517 is a bootcut (부츠컷, bucheu-keot) that fits at the waist, is slim through the thighs, and flares slightly from below the knee. The flare isn't excessive, so it's low-pressure even if it's your first bootcut. Think of it as a gentle way to lengthen the line of your legs, and try it with boots you already own.

It shows best from the side. Slim thighs, gradually widening below the knee, and a hem that covers the top of the boots (Look 6).

**Look 6** 517 basic fit · gray tee tucked in + Chelsea boots

For a date, try medium wash (00517-0291) with a white tee and a tan suede trucker jacket, and wear Chelsea boots. The hem falls over the boots, which is a good way to go for a leg-lengthening effect (Look 7).

For a weekend stroll along a fortress-wall path (성곽길, seonggwak-gil), pair an olive field jacket with a checked flannel shirt and work boots (Look 8).

**Look 7** 517 medium wash + suede trucker jacket + Chelsea boots

**Look 8** 517 + olive field jacket + checked flannel shirt + work boots

With a dark wash, pair a black rider jacket, a white tee, and black boots. A combination that works well for an evening out (Look 9).

If you're in your 40s or 50s, try an ivory cable knit with a light-blue shirt collar showing, and suede loafers. The bootcut looks a bit neater (Look 10).

**Look 9** 517 dark wash + black rider jacket + black boots

**Look 10** 517 + ivory cable knit + shirt collar + suede loafers

565 Loose Straight: The Basic Fit and 4 Top Pairings

The 565 is a straight fit worn at the waist with extra room through the hips and thighs. Levi's official description is "a fit that is roomy but not baggy." If you like comfort but not an oversized look, check this one against your own build first.

Tuck in a black tee and you can see at a glance the roomy hips and thighs and the straight hem that never tapers (Look 11).

**Look 11** 565 basic fit · black tee tucked in + white sneakers

With the gray-toned wash (A7221-0006), try a cream hoodie and chunky white sneakers. Easy to wear for a relaxed weekend, like a walk by the sea (Look 12).

If your office allows casual dress, try a white shirt with a charcoal cardigan and derby shoes. It isn't as extreme as a baggy (배기, baegi) cut, so it also suits a work look (Look 13).

**Look 12** 565 gray wash + cream hoodie + white sneakers

**Look 13** 565 + white shirt + charcoal cardigan + derby shoes

With a light wash, wear a blue checked shirt open over a gray tee, and add a ball cap and running shoes. Comfortable for a walk in the park or a bike ride (Look 14).

If you're in your 40s or 50s, try a dark wash with a navy half-zip knit and suede sneakers. A tidy knit with roomy pants looks neat even on weekends (Look 15).

**Look 14** 565 light wash + checked shirt + ball cap + running shoes

**Look 15** 565 dark wash + navy half-zip knit + suede sneakers

Good to Know Before You Buy

Before you add anything new, try these looks with the tops and shoes you already own.