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

How wide?

  • 7”

    Votes: 139 18.6%
  • 7.5”

    Votes: 207 27.7%
  • 8”

    Votes: 207 27.7%
  • 8.5”

    Votes: 99 13.3%
  • 9”

    Votes: 49 6.6%
  • 9.5”

    Votes: 18 2.4%
  • 10”

    Votes: 10 1.3%
  • 10.5”

    Votes: 17 2.3%

  • Total voters
    746

epsilon22

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Quite surprised to see the majority of the poll votes are in the 7.5-8" range. I've found that 8" is probably my minimum, anything lower usually tapers sharply enough to get caught on my calves (something like 17" circumference).

Learned through mistakes of course. My next pair I'll probably try 8.5-9" and more room from thighs down.
 

DorianGreen

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22cm / 8.75" for me. Anything under 20cm / 8" just looks too skinny.

Acceptable, the minimum for me.

Here in Brooklyn, I'd say a majority of men are still wearing slim fit chinos and jeans (probably 7.5" and below). The exception are young men who seem to be leaning hard back to the JNCO days.

Most of my leg openings, from jeans to formal trousers, are 8" to 8.5", which works fine for me: easy-ish to find OTR and not too big, not too slim by my eye.

Definitely too narrow, but I understand, it's so difficult to find a bigger width in RTW trousers nowadays. MTM or bespoke are the only way to get the wished width.
 

paxonus

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tumblr_mzj9qbSFPF1qa2j8co1_1280.jpg
 

TimothyF

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Clearly a dandy of the 1920s. Also another example (of many) that most men back then didn't care how coats were buttoned. (last comment directly to the numerous nits here who read a few groupthink pieces on the Internet, and now believes there's a universal law about how suits should be buttoned)
 

jko

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This whole discussion is pretty useless if trouser size is not taken into account. If you wear big boy trousers, you need a wider leg opening. Something that is too narrow for you, might be perfect for someone smaller, and vice versa.
 

DorianGreen

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This whole discussion is pretty useless if trouser size is not taken into account. If you wear big boy trousers, you need a wider leg opening. Something that is too narrow for you, might be perfect for someone smaller, and vice versa.

The size is relative, you can have a similar silhouette on differently built men, proportions matter.

Here the same gentleman wearing narrower, much more tapered trousers (also with a shorter jacket), by far less flattering in my eyes.

Screenshot (2293).png
 

othertravel

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The only RTW brands I'm aware of that offer wider trousers are Stefano Ricci (made by St. Andrews - hem width in the 8.75 range for a 32 inch waist trouser), and Tom Ford (special order Windsor trouser). Any other ones?
 

Harwid

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The size is relative, you can have a similar silhouette on differently built men, proportions matter.

Here the same gentleman wearing narrower, much more tapered trousers (also with a shorter jacket), by far less flattering in my eyes.

View attachment 2251125

It is all relative. I don’t find either of those looks at all flattering.

Jeff
 

ppk

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The only RTW brands I'm aware of that offer wider trousers are Stefano Ricci (made by St. Andrews - hem width in the 8.75 range for a 32 inch waist trouser), and Tom Ford (special order Windsor trouser). Any other ones?
Kit Blake & Casatlantic are two
 

Corson

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The only RTW brands I'm aware of that offer wider trousers are Stefano Ricci (made by St. Andrews - hem width in the 8.75 range for a 32 inch waist trouser), and Tom Ford (special order Windsor trouser). Any other ones?
Husbands Paris - elegant suits with almost flaring trousers.
 

acconrad

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For me it depends on proportions. I have thunder thighs so if I wear what is popular (6.5-7.5" leg opening) I look like a carrot. I have to be closer to the 8.5"-9" which looks big compared to my ankles but for the whole leg is proportional.

Also it depends on the clothes. Jeans look better with a more aggressive taper than dress pants do. Same with a high waist. It's about proportion and context.
 

ppk

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For me it depends on proportions. I have thunder thighs so if I wear what is popular (6.5-7.5" leg opening) I look like a carrot. I have to be closer to the 8.5"-9" which looks big compared to my ankles but for the whole leg is proportional.

Also it depends on the clothes. Jeans look better with a more aggressive taper than dress pants do. Same with a high waist. It's about proportion and context.
Completely agree. One other attribute that needs to be factored is shoe length, and shape.

It might just be me, but heavy raw denim (>17oz) looks better with wider leg openings. Sanforized thinner denim seems to be OK in either style.

My $.02
 

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