• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Ideal chino length

Ziss

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
161
Reaction score
3
I purchased two pairs of chinos a few days ago. The fit was great, but they're way too long, so I bought them with the intention of having them shortened to the perfect length.

But then it occured to me - what is the perfect length for chinos? For dress pants, I know the general rule of thumb is for the pants to break on the shoes and the back of the trousers should slightly touch the heel of the shoe, or end just above it. But when it comes to more casual pants like chinos, you often see them run a bit longer. I've even seen some who fold up them up, though I personally find that look only works for younger people in sneakers.

So here I am wondering if I should shorten them to "standard" length (ie. have the back of the trousers nearly touch the floor when standing with no shoes on), or let them run a bit longer. Any thoughts?

(This is probably the sort of thing that has been discussed here a million times, but I actually couldn't find any threads on the topic of chino length. Sorry if it's been up before.)
 

Despos

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
8,767
Reaction score
5,761
After you decide, launder/wash a couple times to get some of the shrinkage out before you have them hemmed.
I would consider the style of shoe you will wear with these in your decision process as well.
 

Kentishman

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
1,200
Reaction score
5
I think it kind of depends on the general fit of the pants – slimmer pants (and possibly not chinos) seem to be a little shorts on the whole, ofent with no break. Pants with more volume in the leg would look somewhat 'flappy' if cut too short, and should probably therefore have a modest amount of break in them. Might be worth flicking through here and seeing if there is any pictoral reference that takes your fancy?
 

Bird's One View

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
1,329
Reaction score
8
I like the back of the trouser hem two inches off the floor when standing normally (wearing shoes). There's some room for error either way -- especially as chinos are hemmed straight, not angled. I don't wear cuffs but if I did I'd have them a bit shorter, more like three to 3.5 inches off the floor.
 

NakedYoga

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
3,037
Reaction score
4,796
Sort of piggybacking off the OP, I'd like to ask Despos (or really anyone else for that matter) how much extra length on trousers is needed to cuff them? I've purchased RTW chinos before with the intention of having my tailor add cuffs to them, but she informed me that there was not enough extra fabric to create cuffs. Now, I purposely bought one pair in a longer length than necessary with the intention of having them shortened and cuffed. Does anyone know what a good rule of thumb would be for extra length needed in order to cuff pants? I was going for cuffs of either 1.5" or 1.75", and I believe my tailor said that I would need at least 3" of extra to do it. I honestly didn't really push the issue, because I was running late for a meeting and needed to get out of there.

And I guess as an aside, in case it matters, these chinos I brought in didn't have the an "unfinished" hem -- they weren't offered that way. So I bought ones with my normal waist size but with a few inches extra in the length.
 

Despos

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
8,767
Reaction score
5,761
The cuff requires twice the cuff width plus a turn up. 1 1/2" cuff = 3" for the cuff and its good to have at least an inch for the hem = 4".

1 3/4" cuffs need 4 1/2".

2" cuff need 5".
 

NakedYoga

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
3,037
Reaction score
4,796
Originally Posted by Despos
The cuff requires twice the cuff width plus a turn up. 1 1/2" cuff = 3" for the cuff and its good to have at least an inch for the hem = 4".

1 3/4" cuffs need 4 1/2".

2" cuff need 5".


Ah. Good to know, thanks... [cuff size] x 2 + 1".
 

Despos

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
8,767
Reaction score
5,761
The extra bit you have turned up is insurance if you ever have to make the trouser longer. Better to have more than less. If you have only enough to turn up 1/2", you're still OK.
 

NakedYoga

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
3,037
Reaction score
4,796
Originally Posted by Despos
The extra bit you have turned up is insurance if you ever have to make the trouser longer. Better to have more than less. If you have only enough to turn up 1/2", you're still OK.

I gotcha. I think at the time I hastily thought that having the exact amount of extra material that I wanted for the cuff would be enough, but I didn't consider the fact that it's "doubled over." How exactly does the turn-up work? The extra bit is turned up first, and then the cuff is made over that?
 

Gus

Stylish Dinosaur
Dubiously Honored
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
18,575
Reaction score
8,070
Full leg pants need more length and a bit of break. Narrow pants can be shorter. I like them with cuffs, and as mentioned above, a cuff is a bit of insurance in the event that you make them too small. You can always let out a cuff and get a longer inseam.
 

Despos

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
8,767
Reaction score
5,761
The cuff is folded under on the top edge of the finished cuff. The outlet/turn up is what you see on the inside of the leg at the hem.

I started to explain this here but think a pictorial explanation would be easier to grasp than a written description. Might try to do this sometime.
 

NakedYoga

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
3,037
Reaction score
4,796
Originally Posted by Despos
The cuff is folded under on the top edge of the finished cuff. The outlet/turn up is what you see on the inside of the leg at the hem.

I started to explain this here but think a pictorial explanation would be easier to grasp than a written description. Might try to do this sometime.


Oh, okay. That explanation makes total sense. I just went over to the closet and checked a few pairs of cuffed suit trousers, they all have exactly 1" on the inside turned up. I see what you mean with the turn-up "on the inside of the leg at the hem." I get how it works now. Thanks again.
 

UpperWestie

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
493
Reaction score
0
I think the ideal chino length should be about 6'0". Most of us chino's are too short.
 

Benzito

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
734
Reaction score
4
Whatever you do, don't leave them so long that they actually touch the ground and wear on the back hem. If you'll ever wear them with low-soled shoes or flip flops, keep that in mind.
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 36.7%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 59 39.3%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 15 10.0%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 26 17.3%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 26 17.3%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,126
Messages
10,578,699
Members
223,883
Latest member
FitsPresto
Top