How wide do you like your leg opening on dress trousers?

[dieworkwear]

Which of these is closest to covering 2/3 of the shoe? Ethan's stance does not show off how well the pants fit. I like the way they look.

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I talked to Vox once about this issue (the person in the three-part photo above, for those unfamiliar). He said that he thinks it's more important to have a good tailor, rather than fuss over the exact opening. I agree, although think we're all still in same batting range for leg opening. Still think most men are 20 or 21cm. Vox's trousers are also the same.


Mark at The Armoury has a video about how trousers should fit. The leg opening is just a touch too narrow for my taste, but his in-store cut falls within that 19-21cm rubric.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

Which of these is closest to covering 2/3 of the shoe? Ethan's stance does not show off how well the pants fit. I like the way they look.

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You guys... I found this poll interesting in that assuming a normal distributions of heights, waists, and shoes sizes, almost everyone prefers a similar leg opening of 7" to 8".

Whose to say they all look great? Whose to say that any of us look great? But that's what the people want. Clearly, what works or does not work for you may or may not work for others. Head over to a WAYWRN thread to post your outfits and see outfits with different leg openings. We need more data.

Lastly, if you're looking for ill fitting trousers, you will find them at every leg opening width. Similarly, you can probably find well fitting trousers at every leg opening width if you search hard enough. There are people with 7.5" leg openings and a nice drape.

I'm sure those trousers fit well, but the wider leg bottoms aren't flattering, in my own view. I think Vox's could even be a touch wider perhaps.

I actually think that many different widths can look and drape equally well. I just don't believe we can say any one opening measurement - 9 inches, say - is good enough and leave it at that. There has to be some accounting for each individual's proportions.

 

[thedose]

There are people with 7.5" leg openings and a nice drape.

I want to see pictures and specs (height, weight) etc... Because from personal experience, at least on my height/weight/body type, that is impossible.

Editing my post to say that it is true -- if the overall cut/tailoring of the trousers is correct, this MAY be possible, but again, you would have to be around 120lbs, or even less than that, with some pencil legs

I still want to see pics though

 

[dieworkwear]

I'm sure those trousers fit well, but the wider leg bottoms aren't flattering, in my own view. I think Vox's could even be a touch wider perhaps.

I actually think that many different widths can look and drape equally well. I just don't believe we can say any one opening measurement - 9 inches, say - is good enough and leave it at that. There has to be some accounting for each individual's proportions.

I think his point was that your photos don't match your rule.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

I think his point was that your photos don't match your rule.

I didn't say they did either, I said that Vox came close. And that other guy's trousers are much wider than 2/3rds.

In any case, it's only a rule of thumb - and an idealised one at that. Human beings vary widely, and some of us are disproportionate.

 

[dieworkwear]

I didn't say they did either, I said that Vox came close. And that other guy's trousers are much wider than 2/3rds.

In any case, it's only a rule of thumb - and an idealised one at that. Human beings vary widely, and some of us are disproportionate.

If you follow the two-thirds rule, I think you end up closer to Ethan's silhouette. You can see where the hem hits the broguing just under the facings on the left foot. On the right foot, you can divide the shoe into thirds to see the broguing roughly bisects the shoe 2/3rds of the way.

Vox's leg opening is closer to 1/3rd

Or more simply, just look down at your own shoes and imagine a leg opening covering 2/3rds of that shape. That would be a pretty wide leg.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

I think his stance is an issue, because the trousers appear to ride up slightly from the hip and are also slightly rumpled. Were he standing straight, it would appear differently. But you may still be right!

On my own shoes, 2/3rds just about covers the lacing of an oxford. Again, bear in mind that my shoe size is fairly proportionate for me, but uncommon these days. A lot of men around my height wear size 9 or even up to 10. That's too wide for the 2/3rds rule to hold true, as you say.

 

[An Acute Style]

Again, bear in mind that my shoe size is fairly proportionate for me, but uncommon these days. A lot of men around my height wear size 9 or even up to 10. That's too wide for the 2/3rds rule to hold true, as you say.

So you're saying that average shoe size for a man of your height has increased one or two sizes since Flusser's publication of the 2/3 rule. Or the 2/3 rule, a common rule of thumb, works for you as you are uncommon compared to a lot of men around your height.

If it's not clear, I'm just pulling your leg. It's not that serious. I'm glad the rule works for you, but it would look silly on most people IMO. YMMV.

 

[An Acute Style]

I’ll volunteer myself for the 2 minute hate. These have a 7.5” leg opening and a decent drape IMO. This is not my normal opening preference anymore, but I use to like it. Roast me.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I’ll volunteer myself for the 2 minute hate. These have a 7.5” leg opening and a decent drape IMO. This is not my normal opening preference anymore, but I use to like it. Roast me.

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Exactly. Those are well cut and drape nicely. There’s no truth to a trouser with a narrow leg opening not being able to drape as well.

 

[TheShetlandSweater]

I’ll volunteer myself for the 2 minute hate. These have a 7.5” leg opening and a decent drape IMO. This is not my normal opening preference anymore, but I use to like it. Roast me.

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Those look nice. A lot depends on body size and leg width. People have to do what looks good on them. I could never get pants with a 7.5 inch hem over my calves. If I somehow did, they wouldn't drape after that. Your legs are clearly skinnier than mine.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

I’ll volunteer myself for the 2 minute hate. These have a 7.5” leg opening and a decent drape IMO. This is not my normal opening preference anymore, but I use to like it. Roast me.

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I actually think those are fairly good, too. I'd still have them a bit wider, but I've never argued that leg opening has anything to do with drape.

I do think my shoe size is less common these days, but that's why I say there is no hard and fast rule - not 2/3rds, not 19.433cm, nothing. The best we can say is that there is a basic starting point, and everyone must adjust from there to what suits them personally.

 

[thedose]

I’ll volunteer myself for the 2 minute hate. These have a 7.5” leg opening and a decent drape IMO. This is not my normal opening preference anymore, but I use to like it. Roast me.

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Thanks for the pics -- I stand corrected!

 

[Alan Bee]

And then you have the Alan Bee 10” (diameter) leg opening ...

Alan Bee

 

[Nobilis Animus]

And then you have the Alan Bee 10” (diameter) leg opening ...

Alan Bee
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All of this, especially the last one, is great.

That's how I aim to have my trousers fit with a jacket. The actual leg opening in inches will vary depending on the person - but it should look like that.