11 Pairs Of The Best Tapered Jeans That Every Guy Needs In His Closet (If You Wanna Look Sharp)

Let’s keep this brief: You’re looking for the best tapered jeans you can find. You want them to be dark denim, to fit well, and to be affordable, ideally. And if that works out, you want them in every wash of denim possible. Right?

I hear ya. If you have a smart casual style, one that often calls for jeans, an OCBD, brogues, and a sportcoat, then having a sharp pair of tapered jeans are your best bet.

So in case you’re on here wondering, “Why tapered jeans, specifically?”, here’s why:

Instead of having the same shape all the way down the leg, tapered jeans get narrower from the knee down to the ankle, resulting in a cleaner look, smaller leg opening, and less fabric bunching at the bottom.

Owning at least one pair of tapered dark denim jeans is important. You can wear it with everything from a T-shirt and sneakers to brogues and a sportcoat!

Tapered jeans are like regular straight leg jeans, but they get gradually narrower from the knee to the ankle. This style has a clean and more modern look.

My Recommendations for Tapered Jeans

Recommendation #1: Levi’s 531 and 541

One brand I always recommend (and wear 99% of the time) is Levi’s. They’re ubiquitous, affordable, and have a ton of different models that fit every body type.

For years, my favorite jeans for athletic guys was the Levi’s 541 Athletic Taper. Still a great pair, by the way. I wear the 541 model exclusively, because I’m not slim, and I have bigger legs (relative to my waist size).

A few years ago, Levi’s added a new model, the Levi’s 531 Athletic Slim Taper. I LOVE this pair for the slimmer yet still muscular-legged dudes.

Still made with a comfortable rise (no hiking up your pants), with an athletic fit in the hips, butt, and quads, but slimmer from the knee down just a touch.

Also they seem to improve the sizing in the waist. I buy my actual size now (32×30), whereas with the 541, I had to size down one to two whole sizes.

Recommendation #2: Bonobos Athletic Fit

Another brand I love and find myself recommending often is Bonobos.

They have 5 different fits and a multitude of sizes to choose from. And the sizing is standard across all Bonobos’ bottoms, so you only have to figure out your favorite fit and size once.

From there, you can buy chinos, jeans, shorts, doesn’t matter… they’ll always fit perfectly.

Here’s the one problem with Bonobos, however: The pants have a lower rise.

I feel like I need to keep hiking my pants up or my b-hole will be exposed. I tried several versions (slim, athletic, etc.) and I always had the same urge to pull up my pants.

It could just be my particular body proportions or build, so I suggest trying at least the Athletic fit for yourself.

Runners Up: Other Men’s Tapered Denim Recommendations

Two other options for standard tapered jeans are the Levi’s 502 and Levi’s 512. I’ve tried these on, and to me, they’re pretty slim. Uncomfortably so.

But, if you find Levi’s 541 too oversized for you, and you’re looking for something more slim but still tapered, I’d check out the 502.

The Problem(s) With Levi’s Denim

I have two gripes about Levi’s, however.

For one, their sizing and fit is inconsistent. So if you have three pairs of Levi’s 541 in a 32×30—the exact same size and model—there’s a good chance they’ll fit differently.

Second, they seem to change model numbers often. So don’t be surprised if Levi’s discontinues your favorite model the second you discover it.

(It’s also possible they have a similar fit, they just changed the naming convention)

The first pair of tapered Levi’s jeans I bought years ago was the 508. It’s been phased out since (the 541 is the closest replacement). And this isn’t the only example of Levi’s changing model numbers. I’m sure if you Google it, you’ll find plenty of stories.

Levi’s has solidified their offering of tapered models. however:

• the 541 Athletic Taper
• the 531 Athletic Slim Taper
• the 502 Regular Taper
• the 512 Slim Taper

All of these models have stretch denim fabric options. Typically it’s a 98/2 cotton/elastane blend, which is ridiculously comfortable. I always recommend at least 98/2 blend nowadays.

For the denim purists, there are rigid, non-stretch versions as well.

Other Recommendations

As of 2023, there are plenty of other brands offering tapered or athletic fit denim jeans. This is great for us guys, because now we have options that aren’t just Levi’s.

Here’s a list of other great tapered fit denim jeans worth your consideration, at a variety of price points.

What Are The Best Tapered Jeans For Your Body Type?

• Have a bit more to spend, and want something unique from a storied brand? Go with 3Sixteen’s CT-100x.
• Don’t have much to spend, but still want something unique and well-made that’ll set you apart from the typical Levi’s variety? Go with The Unbranded Brand.
• On a budget? The tapered denim from Target’s Goodfellow & Co is a great option

A Summary of Levi’s specific recommendations

• Normally wear Levi’s 513 or 514? Try the Levi’s 502 regular taper
• Typically wear Levi’s 510 or 511? Try the Levi’s 512 slim taper
• Usually wear Levi’s 501 or 505? Are you a bigger or more athletic guy? Go for the Levi’s 541 athletic taper or the 531 Taper, if you can find it

That’s it! Happy jeans shopping.