Trouser Leg Opening Size: What Range is Acceptable, How You Should Decide

[gringodaddy]

You've given clear answers and have your reasons, but your trousers still look way to full to me eyes, to the point of being ill fitting. And I'm a guy who favors a fuller cut pant.

 

[johanm]



I'm 6' 2" 190 and anything larger than 8.5" and I feel like I'm wearing pants from a 90's suit. I like 8" for a fashionable look and 8.25 for a more traditional look. I've come to appreciate how much of a difference 1/4" makes in the overall look.

I have similar dimensions and am in the same boat for trouser length - 8.25" on suits and heavy wool trousers, 8" on more casual trousers. My only additional caveat is that I need to have a decent trouser break or my legs will look like inverted carrots and/or my feet will look humongous. The amount of break shown in the pic of Cravate Noire above is about right for me.

 

[Terpo]

Shouldn't the trouser cover around 2/3 of your shoe?

I'm 6'3'', size 11 and my 8.25'' openings don't even cover close to that much. Next trousers will be an experiment with 9'' opening.

 

[johanm]



Shouldn't the trouser cover around 2/3 of your shoe?

Sounds like a completely arbitrary rule...

 

[gringodaddy]

^^^ I think it is a fairly old-fashioned default guideline, as I have heard it before. Suffice it to say that it isn't really the best advice to follow.

 

[Patrick R]

I'm 6'2" and 185lbs with an 11.5 shoe size. I just measured the pants from Chris Despos: 9". My RLBL pants: 9". My bespoke work from Bangkok: 9". I think it is safe to say I prefer 9" for my frame and so do those that make my clothes.

 

[wannabestyled]

I like the 2/3s rule mentioned earlier. Much less than that and my size 13's resemble canoes.

 

[Academic2]

I'm curious. Does anyone think the presence or absence of a break affects the optimum width?

Cheers,

Ac

 

[gringodaddy]

^^ if the leg opening is too narrow, the bottom of the trousers just stack up on top of your shoes regardless of the break.

 

[Mr Engineer]

I think this leg opening is perfect.

 

[kasper007]

my rule for a perfect leg opening is that the pant should only dover the first eyelet when i'm wearing oxford. it usually works out to 7.5 - 7.75" in and i'm 6'0 and 170 lb

 

[AlexE]



I think this leg opening is perfect. [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR]

I would disagree that this is perfect,... ...but I agree that these little leg openings fit this type of suit with a short jacket and a wide gape under the coat button providing a view on the waistcoat, which is much too short such that the belt confused is visible.

 

[alkydrinker]

I call the overly tapered pant leg popular among some #menswear types the "bird legged" look. I have to think people who wear that will later look back at photos and regret it as well as regret money spent at tailors ruining nice pants.

That said, having a tall/thinner frame and scrawny feet (size 9.5 at 6'1" tall), I like a moderately trim leg opening that still allows for the classic drape of mens dress pants (I think 8.5 - 9" usually works best).

 

[Chowkin]

I think this leg opening is perfect.

Trousers are too long. With slim openings you need shorter pants to gvie you a clean look:

 

[Gus]

I agree with what you are saying but I see that pant being just a bit too short. I don't need to see the sock when standing and I can from the side.

-Or-

As Luciano Barbera said.....


There are many schools on trouser length. In America they are often worn so that the pant leg tumbles over the shoes.
Many Europeans now wear them quite short. You even show a little sock.
What can I say? Perhaps we Europeans are secretly afraid of flash floods. The picture at right shows, quite literally, where I stand. I call this the Mid-Atlantic Solution since it is halfway between Europe and America.
The pants just breaking lightly on the shoe. I do not want to see your socks, but I do want to see your shoes.

Trousers are too long.  With slim openings you need shorter pants to gvie you a clean look: