Pants Cuff or No Cuff General Consensus?

[Kansai22]

I am interested to hear what the general consensus is on Style Forum for dress pants, suit pants, and casual pants. Should they always be cuffed, sometimes be cuffed, or always plain hemmed?

As I look around the forum in the various threads and on a number of the Instagram accounts I have noticed that almost every pair of pants I see has a cuff.

I like the look of cuffs but have heard that this should only be done if the pants are pleated or from a lighter fabric that wont hang well without the extra weight.

What are members thoughts on different types of pants do they look better cuffed, or plain hemmed or does it depend?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

This has been discussed often and there’s really not a consensus. If there is any, it’s cuffs with pleats and plain bottom with flat fronts. Otherwise, it’s personal preference.

my personal preference is in that order. With a suit, I prefer cuffs in order to balance out the top and to allow for better drape.

 

[double00]

to offer a data point i generally prefer

pleats, no cuff, and no break

 

[breakaway01]

Agree with @Phileas Fogg . The only real rule is no cuffs with black or white tie. Otherwise up to you. Lighter weight fabrics benefit more from cuffs. Very thick fabrics (heavyweight moleskin) might result in a bulky cuff. If in doubt, try cuffs since it is easy to go from cuffs to a plain hem, but usually not enough material to go the other way.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

The only real rule is no cuffs with black or white tie.

wasn’t aware of that. Then again, i’m not someone who really wears formalwear.

 

[FlyingHorker]

My rule is if my pants are going to have a crease: cuffs.

If no crease(casual pants): no cuffs.

With that said, I ended up getting a pair of OG107 fatigues permanently cuffed and I like the look.

 

[Andy57]

Cuffs are an aesthetic abomination. I never have cuffs on any of my trousers. On those rare occasions I have purchased RTW trousers finished with cuffs, I have the cuffs removed. On the other hand, if you like cuffs have 'em.

 

[Goofy]

Variety is the spice of life.

 

[vida]

”Cuffs are an aesthetic abomination.”
Well, there you have it…

 

[jack webb]

The preference here is no cuff under any circumstances. Just don't like the way cuffs shorten the leg visually. And in winter, cuffs collect snow and ice.

 

[TheChihuahua]

I think someone’s body shape can impact this a lot.
aome of those higher rise trousers with pleats on a smaller person look better with cuffs.
sometimes the cuffs can look bulky and make a person look frumpy or project too much of that early 2000’s look.

both can look good in the right situation.

I think no cuffs is tougher to mess up, while having cuffs can lead to poor results in the wrong situation.

 

[schraiber]

I have little baby ankles and ironically I think that means that I think cuffs look a lot better. Uncuffed pants tend to swing wildly around my dainty ankles, and get weirdly caught up on my shoes if I dare have even the slightest break. Cuffs help a lot with that.

Unfortunately, I also have hilariously short legs, and cuffs have a well known leg shortening effect. So, I tend to go with cuffs on the smaller side of I do, on the order of 1.5inch.

That being said, I do generally agree with the idea that cuffs on increases trousers (e.g. chinos) isn't the look I want, for whatever reason. But creases trousers with a pleat and cuffs is generally good!