Levi’s Commemorates Bob Dylan’s Style with Limited Edition Jeans

A Historic Release to Coincide with the Upcoming Biopic

Alongside the release of A Complete Unknown, the forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, Levi’s will unveil a range of vintage-inspired clothing, crafted in collaboration with the film’s costume designer, Arianne Phillips. This marks a unique opportunity to dive into the fashion era that defined the iconic musician, with a selection of carefully designed pieces mirroring his style in the early 1960s.

The collection includes a suede trucker jacket, brown leather D-ring belt, and an exclusive pair of modified 501s – each nodding to garments that might have been worn by Dylan during that period.

Historically Significant Jeans

The pièce de résistance is a specially designed pair of 501s, engineered to reflect the exact style Dylan wears on the album covers for The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) and Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964). From the customized U-shaped gussets sewn into the bottom hem to convert the pants into bootcuts, each detail is a testament to the musician’s unwavering commitment to authenticity. And interestingly, this design modification not only reflected a practical necessity but also foreshadowed Levi’s future experimentation with bootcut jeans by several years.

Innovative Design
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The original design of the modified 501s dates back to Dylan’s time, courtesy of his then-girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. As recorded in her memoir A Freewheelin’ Time (2009), this customization was no mere frivolity but a solution born out of practicality and a desire for functional yet stylish clothing.

In step with this spirit, Levi’s Vintage Clothing Design Director Paul O’Neill reveals that at the time, the brand had yet to produce bootcut jeans that effortlessly slipped over boots, making Dylan’s pair an industry- and history-making moment for both Levi’s and the world of denim as a whole.

Consulting for the Film
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O’Neill expressed his delight at being involved in this project, working alongside Phillips and her team to capture the essence of Bob Dylan’s early Levi’s wardrobe. “It was exhilarating to reproduce Dylan’s original jeans with the inserted panel,” he says. “I felt honored to be a part of bringing his authentic style to life.”

A Conversation Piece

These limited edition Levi’s jeans are sure to strike a chord among enthusiasts and collectors alike. For many, it will be an opportunity to own a piece of fashion history, as carefully constructed as the biopic it accompanies. For those attuned to the rhythms and rhymes of the original folk-rock sensation, they will serve as a vivid reminder of Bob Dylan’s enduring influence on style, music, and beyond.