What is the proper length for denim jeans? (Or your preference)

Seems most people agree on "fitting" bootcuts, as do I...however I pefer my striaght legs bunched up at the bottom and I hate cuffing (folding the bottom outside, right?).

I wear all my jeans so there is a bit of bunching. I like a little on bootcuts too so that they don't flop around at all, but I don't like a lot. I like it so that the back just touches the floor but there is half an inch to an inch break in the front.

Do what you like, there is no rule.

I picked up some Edun and PDC and didn't have much time to try them on. I tried on the waist and that was great. I didn't worry too much about the inseam since I figure I can always hem anything. Anyway, they are both bootcut and so bunching is not really an option. Is it possible to hem or shorten bootcut jeans?

NEW STRATEGY: INSEAM + 2 INCHES

What I've done in the past is to buy jeans with my "true" inseam. So I get 30W/30L. The problem is, with straight leg jeans, the hem reaches to the top of the heel, so the bottom of the jeans are about an inch above the ground with most shoes.

I'd actually like my jeans to fall just above the ground WITH my shoes on, or stack a couple times. That means I should get a 32L instead of a 30". Does this sound about right? Anyone else utilize the same strategy (actual inseam + 2 inches)?

I just take a look at my straight leg or even bootcut 30L jeans and they fall an inch to an inch and a half above the floor with shoes/boots ond they just don't LOOK right.

Obviously very few if any manufacturers make jeans in a 31L.

Originally Posted by sygyzy

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Is it possible to hem or shorten bootcut jeans?

I have found this tricky, because most bootcuts begin to widen at about the knee. A few years back I didn't take that into account and bought some way-too-long boot cuts for a great price, figuring I could just hem them. I ended up with straight leg jeans that flared out right at the ankle, a weird look to say the least.

Well, I don't know if this is definitive or not, but I've been to a couple of tailors, and both agree in practice that jeans are hemmed so they fall just above the ground with shoes on. The younger tailor had them fall basically right to the ground. The older tailor (who is absolutely wonderful by the way) had them fall about a quarter inch off the ground, shoes on.

I've been paying attention to this (probably more than I should, he he), and just about every woman wears her jeans just to the ground so that the hem gets stepped on or at least wet in the rain if the hem doesn't get beat up.

This means I will have to "retire" three or four pairs of jeans I bought over a year ago. They all fall more than a quarter of an inch off the ground, varying from .5 (closer to .6" or .7"?) to nearly 1.5" off the ground with a pair of boots I own.

Is this "highwaters" range, or still within the acceptable range?


Adamm

Originally Posted by adamm411

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Well, I don't know if this is definitive or not, but I've been to a couple of tailors, and both agree in practice that jeans are hemmed so they fall just above the ground with shoes on. The younger tailor had them fall basically right to the ground. The older tailor (who is absolutely wonderful by the way) had them fall about a quarter inch off the ground, shoes on.

I've been paying attention to this (probably more than I should, he he), and just about every woman wears her jeans just to the ground so that the hem gets stepped on or at least wet in the rain if the hem doesn't get beat up.

This means I will have to "retire" three or four pairs of jeans I bought over a year ago. They all fall more than a quarter of an inch off the ground, varying from .5 (closer to .6" or .7"?) to nearly 1.5" off the ground with a pair of boots I own.

Is this "highwaters" range, or still within the acceptable range?


Adamm

I think 0.7" off the ground is fine, especially for bootcut jeans.

A lot of girls wear jeans that seem long because they're hemmed so they're to the ground when they're wearing heels. If they're wearing regular shoes then they will have extra length.

Honestly, I don't think you should listen to your tailor for style advice. He will give you the Saville Row Handbook answer. He's hemming your denim the same way as he does your grandfather's? Or you want to look like Steve Jobs?

I have a true 30 inseam. In theory a 30x30 jean would fit me perfectly. However, I always go for 32 or even 34 length. 32 is usually too short to cuff, but still doesn't show any sock. 34 allows the option to cuff if I feel like it, and has slightly more bunching. I hate showing socks when sitting down. Sorry if that sounds dumb to some older people here, but that's what I think. 30 is too short, period, unless it's slacks. BTW, I hate dragging pants, I never EVER drag my pants on the ground. I think it's unsanitary.

And lastly, many cult denim repros are 36 length. I think that's overdoing it for someone who has a 30 inseam, I won't wear 36 length, thats too much bunching. I pass on those.

the problem I have with short jeans, for example in they dont touch the floor when standing barefoot, is that when you walk the hems will probably rise to uncover your shoes and ankles and that looks really bad to me. same goes for sitting.

for me, jeans definately have to be longer than straight pants. I definately prefer bunching over short ones.

I like mine hemmed half an inch above the floor when I'm barefoot. Depending on how I stand sometimes it'll almost hit the floor there, and I wear very flat soled shoes. I can't stand stepping on my hem, although if it gets wet occasionally I can deal with that. I wear ankle boots or shoes so it looks alright for sitting down when the hem rises a bit.

**** I rock my apcs full length bunching from the knee down. Gives it character rather than looking like slacks.

Originally Posted by masqueofhastur

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I like mine hemmed half an inch above the floor when I'm barefoot. Depending on how I stand sometimes it'll almost hit the floor there, and I wear very flat soled shoes. I can't stand stepping on my hem, although if it gets wet occasionally I can deal with that. I wear ankle boots or shoes so it looks alright for sitting down when the hem rises a bit.

That seems a bit short. Wouldn't ankle boots have a bit of a heel on them?

My chelseas do, but I only wear them when there's a lot of snow or it's raining, so the extra height keeps them from getting wet (most of the time, occasionally they get a little wet but not enough to have it creep up the back of the leg). The cut doesn't look as great with chelseas either but since I'm wearing them in the same weather most people wear rubber boots I don't have to concern myself with the look. My wrestling shoes go over my ankle but have a flat heel, definitely no more than a centimetre, and since I wear them most of the time I like my pants hemmed to that length.

It's also the cut apparently used in Europe. I didn't pay attention to it when I was in Switzerland last April, but that's what the lady who hemmed my cords at Ermenegildo Zegna said, and my dutch godfather said the same thing, so I'll assume it's true.

Cool, if you like it then that's all that matters.