Though they might’ve been initially made for farmers and ranchers in the American West, patented on May 20th, 1873 by Levi Strauss, Levi’s 501s have become one of the most recognizable garments in history. Easily spotted by their red tab and signature button fly, the jeans have been seen on the bums of some of the biggest names in pop culture over the last century — including Marilyn Monroe, Jane Birkin, Debbie Harry, Winona Ryder and, even, Kurt Cobain.
Of course, as some of these names and a 150-year-long history might suggest, the jeans haven’t always been so mainstream. Levi’s 501s have been associated with the underground, subcultures and social movements alike: edgy, biker culture in the 1950s; 60s hippies, Haight-Ashbury and the Summer of Love — the decade teens began lovingly referring to them as ‘blue jeans’; the mods, the punks and even early hip hop; San Francisco’s queer scene in the 70s; reaching cult status in Japan; overtaking 90s New York leather bars, and many more. It’s no wonder the perfect pair costs a pretty penny on Depop, and super fans scour the internet for the archival grails.
In honor of the iconic blue jeans’ iconic birthday, we look back at some of the most memorable Levi’s moments.
James Dean
The American actor brought the working pants from the mines and the fields to the silver screen in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955; the movie making James Dean, and the 501, an icon overnight.
Marilyn Monroe
Similarly, Marilyn Monroe donned a pair of Levi’s for her role in The Misfits (1961), popularizing the men’s garment among women.
Debbie Harry
The Blondie frontwoman has many iconic looks, but her love of Levi’s 505s is well documented throughout the 70s.
Bruce Springsteen
Lensed by Annie Leibowitz in 1984 for the cover of Born In The U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen made Levi’s 501s the most quintessentially American garment of all time.
Run D.M.C.
Denim infiltrated the hip hop scene, thanks to groups like The Beastie Boys and Run D.M.C. in the 80s, but the lasting impact of the style can still be felt on the genre today.
Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder became a 90s style icon for her off duty grunge looks — seen here in a leather jacket, band tee and, of course, Levi’s 501s.
Kurt Cobain
A grunge icon in his own right, naturally, Kurt Cobain leaned into the Levi’s look as well. The Nirvana frontman even wore a pair of blue jeans to the MTV Video Music Awards in 1993.
Pamela Anderson
Not many folks can pull off double denim quite like Pamela Anderson can… here the actress wears a pair of vintage Levi’s with a tattered fly at the peak of her Baywatch fame.
Steve Jobs
There’s no better uniform than a white T-shirt and jeans — or, in the case of Steve Jobs, who has one of the most recognizable uniforms, a black turtleneck and vintage Levi’s 501s.
Jennifer Lopez
To perform “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” on MTV’s TRL at the Super Bowl in 2001, J.Lo wore custom bedazzled Levi’s — the 00s icon that she is.
Emma Chamberlain
Though we love a nostalgic Levi’s look as much as the next person, the popularity of vintage and new styles alike is largely thanks to Gen Z’s thrifted wares. A fan and frequent collaborator of the brand, Emma Chamberlain has made Levi’s the go-to garment for the next generation.