Help with trouser length

[moon unit]

I need help with determining the proper length for narrow (leg opening) cuffed trousers, they were cut too long initially and I would like to have them shortened. I did a search here and only found one answer, that the pant should be cut to where the heel meets the shoe but that gives me a big sloppy break at the front and to be honest they are longer than that currently. After some experimenting (adjusting the waist up and down with my girlfriend measuring) I decided they looked best when cut about 1" above the heel, it gives me a full break and the sloppiness is gone. Does that sound about right for straight cut cuffed pants? Can anybody a suggest a different measurement to use?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[spence]

I'd trust your tailor over your girlfriend

My tailor measures from the floor, probably 1-1/4 to 1-1/2". The cuffed trousers are cut straight across...

-spence

 

[Jared]

Originally Posted by spence

I'd trust your tailor over your girlfriend

How do you think his trousers got that way in the first place?! Most tailors defer to the wishes of their customers and most American customers want break so most tailors give you break.

MU, you should try and get diagonal hems, so the pant leg is longer at the back than the front. Baring that, ignore the heel and concentrate on the front: they should be long enough to establish "good contact" with the top of your shoe.

 

[moon unit]

The trousers were cut (about a year ago) by a department store tailor, I assumed he knew what he was doing and I didn't offer any input. Since the heels in my shoes vary somewhat I thought a measurement off the heels would be more accurate. My girlfriend was only involved because I needed someone to measure - she had no say in the matter

I pulled them up until I thought they looked right and she gave me the 1" measurement off the heel. I want to have some say this time around.

I didn't realise cuffed trousers could be cut diagonally, I thought they could only be cut straight across?

So telling a tailor to shorten them to 1" from the top of the heel is a bad idea?

 

[Jared]

Originally Posted by moon unit

So telling a tailor to shorten them to 1" from the top of the heel is a bad idea?
Might be right, I just don't think post people do it that way. If you want to make sure it gets done right, pin one of the legs yourself before you bring it in. But now that you know what you're looking for, won't you be able to instruct a tailor who pins you in front of a mirror?