First: Welcome to the community! What you’ve stated you’re looking for out of jeans is how I stumbled upon raws as well. In my experience this subreddit is super welcoming and very helpful in sharing knowledge. I’d recommend reading the sidebar as well as taking advice from the comment section.
You’re likely going to get a myriad of different responses and recommendations with preference of one brand vs another as well as cut(fit) preference. One thing I think we’ll all agree upon is if you’re truly just starting out you’ll need to get a solid idea of what you’re looking for. Start by taking those Dickies you’re fond of and measure them. Look at (blue owls measuring guide)[https://www.blueowl.us/pages/measuring-guide] which is how most jeans are measured unless otherwise stated, and follow it to the best of your ability. Write these numbers down. Seriously. It may seem unnecessary but this is one of the biggest pieces of advice. Next, if you have a local store that carries some of the brands mentioned below then go there and try before you buy. You can eliminate so many potential mistakes by doing this. Give those measurements you wrote down to the person working there and ask them for help / a recommendation based on the brands and size you’re looking for. If you’re unable to do this then compare these measurements to the garments online. Bear in mind that some will stretch more than others. Do your research and ask people in this sub or your friends before committing. Do not buy unsanforized as your first jeans. That basically means they’re not preshrunk and is a bit more than you need to get into your first time.
The next step is to establish a budget. In this hobby there are some tiers that relate to varying degrees of cost, quality and fabrics. As you’re just starting out I would recommend sticking with lower cost options / entry level. Five options come to mind:
Levi 511 Rigid Dragon: this is where I started. Consider them babies first raws but they’re still capable of producing some awesome fades if cared for correctly. I have 2 pairs and I’d wear them more if they hadn’t blown out multiple times already. The cut is generally more form fitting and might not be in line with what you’re after.
Japan Blue: tight weave with typically little stretch, excellent value to cost ratio with their attention to detail and fabrics producing traditional fades, and a range of cuts including standard taper which sounds like what you’re going for.
Naked and famous: Bahzad is one of the owners of the brand and is very active in this subreddit which I personally find to be awesome. Cost is very reasonable in most cases. One of the more popular denim makers given their varying cuts, incredibly diverse offerings and cost to value ratio. You can go as crazy or as subdued as you like with them and if you nail a fit you’re set with damn near any fabric in the future. I’d recommend checking out their East guy ( more room in the thigh with a strong taper below the knee ) or their weird guy (more traditional standard tapered fit).
Gustin: Fabrics rotate consistently but they typically carry their more popular options nearly year round, such as the Okayama standard. Gustin is a crowd fund option which allows them to keep cost reasonably low. They get mixed reviews but I’ll say if a cut works for you, then roll with it because they come out with some solid basics and also very unique options. their “slim” cut is a standard taper and may fit your bill.
Bravestar: Popular option on this sub due to their cost being very low and the fact that they offer weights and fabrics that more experienced denim heads are after. I’m not overly knowledgeable with this brand so it would require more research on your part or another user to weigh in but they should be on your radar.
Hopefully that helps, good luck and ask any questions you may have!