How wide should my pants be at the hem?

[teddieriley]

Anything above 9" is a bit bell-bottomy to me.

 

[allcapitan]

I really wish I had seen this thread earlier in the day, as it answers the exact question I had also.

I have a pair of vintage slacks with a ridiculous looking leg opening. As in over 11"! It just looked a bit too...retro.

Anyway, I measured some of my other slacks and straight leg jeans. The straight leg jeans are around 8.5". My slacks are all around 9". So I went with 9". Anymore than that, even for my build, is a bit much. I am a bit thicker in the thighs and hips, and generally a slight bootcut looks pretty good.

Anyway, between 8.5 and 9" is pretty much standard. You could go smaller if you are exceptionally thin.

 

[Nicola]

http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/...nd-thighs.html

Fashion aside, the width of a man's trouser bottoms should be individually determined by the size of his thighs, so the fall of the trouser is properly scaled

Any comment on that? It makes sense to me but it sort of sounds like a forumla.

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]

7" to 7,5" for me.
5'7
31"inseam, 30" waist.

 

[TonyThe Tailor]

Shoe size plus 10" divide by 2

 

[PCyclone]

I don't think I'll be getting in line for my (12+10)/2 = 11" wide pant leg openings anytime soon...

 

[Spats]

It'll all come back around. Then there will be all the peg-leg, no break, low rise office pants you can grab for a dollar at the Goodwill; enough to staff the newly enlarged HUD discount office coming to a neighborhood near you. Many will be Incotex. Pair them up with a "slim-fit" darted office shirt. Don't forget to hack the sleeves off above the elbow and wear a pocket protector (did you get one off the table that said, "no pocket?" At least you got you an "office job.")

 

[maverick]

I like 9"

 

[ajv]

I go from 8'' to 9'' depending on the style of the rest, i.e. pants and jacket.

I am a 5'8, waist 32'', inseam 31''.

 

[ohm]

Originally Posted by Nicola

http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/...nd-thighs.html




Any comment on that? It makes sense to me but it sort of sounds like a forumla.

I agree with this generally, but think also that your pants should be proportional to the rest of your body as well - if you have a massive chest and relatively small thighs you may end up looking like a V. In the same way that you can play with lapel size, but that generally there is an appropriate lapel size for you depending on your proportions. You may intentionally get a trouser with a narrower width at the hem because you're looking for the tapered look (or wider, whatever), but you should get that because that's what you're aiming for.

 

[sho'nuff]

i have a variety of fits on my dress pants. some of them run slim and the hems are at 8.5 inches (9.5 inches at knee approx)
some are at 9-9.25 inches at the hem. (10.5 inches at the knee)

i have one pair , a marc jacob pair, flannel virgin wool in light solid grey dress pant, and it is 10.25 inchest at hem AND at the knee. but goes up slim up to the thigh.
it is an amazing pant. the look is very unique and while loose, it fits slim on the upper block so it has a different aesthetic than all my other pants. you got to see it.

 

[agavilanes]

Originally Posted by bowtielover

8 1/2 is standard but anywhere from 8 to 9 is acceptable.

+1 for the average guy

 

[alexmvargas]

I recently standardized on 8.5 - slim but not overly so.

 

[PSNY]

7.5" here, 6'0, 190lb, athletic physique. All of my pants are double pleated and are not slim fit. I have large things and calves. Anything over 7.5-8" begins to look large and too retro / vintage for my taste.

Disclaimer: this thread is about the hem (leg opening) size of ones pants

 

[DorianGreen]

I would say that it depends from various factors, as height, complexion, fit and personal taste. What I've noticed however is that the recent trend is towards narrower hems (besides shorter), till the limit of ridiculous and beyond. So the ready-to-wear standard has become 18cm (7inch), that is absolutely too narrow. I personally like wide trousers with a hem width of 23/24cm (9/10inch) with a light tapering, but would say that 20,5cm or 8inch is the minimum acceptable.