Levi's introduced the 505 jeans in 1967, adding a zipper-fly style to its classic denim range.
The 505 was designed as a straight-leg alternative to the button-fly 501. Its zipper closure helped distinguish it from older Levi's models and made it convenient for everyday wear.
The model became especially associated with 1960s and 1970s American fashion. Artists and musicians helped give the 505 a strong cultural presence, although its defining construction remained its straight leg and zipper fly.
The 505 is sometimes confused with the 501 because both are iconic straight-leg Levi's styles. The key distinction is that the 501 traditionally uses a button fly, while the 505 uses a zipper fly.