In a world where perception is so often reality – how you look goes a long way to establishing who you are (at least in the eyes of others). Indeed, who “wears the pants” in a situation may depend on whose pants look best. There is a proper length at which pants should be hemmed. Pants hemmed too long or short look borrowed or shrunken – basically the opposite of smart and confident. But, the proper length for pants varies depending on the style of pant in question. So what’s a guy to do? Print this page out and take it to your tailor. Or better still, save some time (and a trip to the tailor) by measuring your inseam and then choose the perfect length from among our many pre-hemmed pant selections at www.ForTheFit.com
Chinos or Casual Slacks:
The bottom 2 or 3 inches should lie in a casual heap on your shoes.
Jeans:
Jeans should break around the ankle and just barely cover your shoelaces. They should crumple, but not to the same degree as chinos. Jeans should NEVER fall so low you step on them with your heal. Also, jeans must fit off-the-rack, or with the preserved original hem. Nothing looks worse than a home-made hem. Our apologies to Mom and your tailor – but it’s true.
Uncuffed Suit Pants:
These should be just long enough to create just a small break in the front crease. If there is no break, your pants are too short. Multiple or deep breaks mean your pants are too long. Also, the hem should slope toward the back.
Cuffed Suit Pants:
Unlike uncuffed pants, your trouser leg should be straight and the cuff should fall cleanly without a break or crease. It should not slope towards the back.