The Secrets Of The Trouser Hem
There are few things more important in menswear than fit. Regular readers will be well aware of FashionBeans’ obsession with it, and any new visitors won’t be far behind. Alongside confidence, the way you wear your clothes and, of course, the garments themselves, fit makes the biggest impact on your personal style and any outfit you choose to put together.
In the most basic sense of the word, this relates to making sure that your clothes fit YOU perfectly – i.e. they are the correct length/width/size, as well as the right cut and style for your specific body type.
Yet fit relates just as much to alterations, which allow you to change the way something fits to make it completely unique to your personal style. These modifications can help turn the mundane into the exciting and will dramatically alter the overall aesthetic of any piece of clothing.
Trousers are an excellent case in point; even the most minor of adjustments to leg length can often be enough to separate your look from the crowd…
The Modern Suit Trouser
Few would argue against the suit being THE defining expression of menswear. More than anything else, a suit is the one thing we men can truly call our own.
It is also one of the only items that has clearly defined rules, particularly with regard to fit. Unlike casual trousers, shirts, t-shirts or coats, there is an accepted standard within suiting that creates a clear division between a suit that fits, and one that doesn’t.
Traditional tailoring guidelines dictate one break at the front of your suit trousers and straight down at the back, with the hems just brushing the top of the heel, ensuring that the trouser drapes properly and maintains its shape.
But with each passing year tailoring evolves.
Modern slim/skinny suit trousers sit higher up on the shoe, due to a slimmer hem opening, meaning the material bunches (‘breaks’) at a much shorter length. They no longer drape down the back of the shoe, so standard rules don’t apply. The solution is to opt for a smaller half break or no break at all. This solves both the issue of length and brings your suit
These shorter trousers look particularly great during spring/summer, allowing you to get playful with your choice of sock (or lack thereof) as well as really show off your shoes – perfect for those that are looking to embrace the colour-pop footwear trend. Furthermore, it shows a genuine understanding of fit in that you have made a conscious decision to step away from tradition in the search for something altogether more individual.
However, if you choose a half or no break, bear in mind that the trousers should, at the very least, be slim-fitting to keep the lines sharp and tight.
Lookbook Inspiration
The Cropped Trouser
Cropping is in essence a development of the rule breaking going on above, although it can be applied to all styles, from chinos to tailored trousers.
When it comes to leg length, the idea is to reduce the amount of material gathering at the ankle to maintain and preserve the drape of the trouser. Leaving your trousers longer allows for hem rolling (discussed later) while cropping builds on the concepts already discussed – namely showing off shoes, socks or ankles and creating a pair of trousers that have very tight, defined and confident lines.
Although perhaps a little too informal for all but the most creative of office environments, when used in conjunction with statement or special occasion tailoring cropped trousers can be a real point of difference. A cropped leg is a much smarter alternative to rolling your trousers, which means they combine well with formal pieces such as blazers and sports coats.
Yet they are just as relevant for casual dressing. A pair of loafers, cropped trousers/chinos and a fitted tee is a superb summer look that strikes the ideal balance between dressing up and staying comfortable and cool.
Cropping works best on slim to skinny cuts. Wider legs suffer badly from the dreaded ankle swing and will require a lot of tapering. Classic cropped trousers should be slim from top to bottom, keeping a constant taper throughout. For an updated look, try tapering the bottom half of straight-legged trousers to create more experimental silhouettes and really push the boundaries – these slot nicely into Scandinavian work wear- or sportswear-inspired aesthetics.
The height you crop to depends largely on your choice of footwear. Around ankle height suits the majority of shoe silhouettes but don’t be afraid to crop higher if you want to wear them specifically with boots. For example, a pair of cropped wool trousers will look fantastic when paired with brogue boots or minimal leather hi-tops.
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Styles
- Allsaints Hayden Trouser
- Asos Skinny Fit Smart Cropped Trousers In Cotton Sateen
- Asos Skinny Fit Smart Cropped Trousers In Cotton Sateen
- Allsaints Bermen Trouser
- Topman Selected Homme Crop Trousers
- Next Cropped Trousers
- Asos Skinny Smart Fit Cropped Trousers In Print
- Maison Martin Margiela Slim-fit Cropped Trousers
- Lanvin Slim-fit Cropped Trousers
- Uniqlo Men Cropped Trousers
- Topman Navy Grid Checked Cropped Trousers
- Uniqlo Men Cropped Trousers
The Trouser Roll
Rolling your trouser hems is by far the most casual approach showcased today and also represents the easiest way to manipulate the length of your current legwear collection. Of course, rolling removes the need to alter the trousers in any way whatsoever, ensuring versatility if your footwear regularly switches between shoes and boots.
Despite the fact that the roll up will always give off a more relaxed air, it can work well in both formal and casual ensembles. In looks centred on tailoring, the roll helps to break up the lines and makes everything more playful – try combining with unstructured suiting for summer events or dress-down Friday in the office.
When it comes to the finer details, many brands have begun lining their trousers with printed or contrast colour fabrics, enabling you to consciously reveal the pattern/hue when the trousers are rolled – helping introduce a new point of interest and touch of character to any outfit.
Similarly, with selvedge jeans a roll up is almost a given as it shows off the instantly recognisable red stitching and selvedge edge, subtly signifying both your investment and knowledge of men’s style.
If you do decide that rolling is the best way to go, always bear in mind the size, weight and style of your shoes. Footwear that is slightly higher or chunkier, in terms of sole or general construction, will benefit from a roll that sits closer to the shoe. A large break between the two draws too much attention to your comparatively skinny ankles, distorting the proportions of your outfit and making the shoes appear clumpy.
With slimmer footwear styles you can take the roll higher because the shape is much tighter and you want to maintain the flow from trouser to shoe.
Lookbook Inspiration
Final Word
When the finer details matter so much, it’s important that you get them right.
A tiny alteration here or a simple roll there can easily be the difference between a good look and a great look and it should always be remembered that there is a lot more to fit than first meets the eye.
But now it’s time to hear your view – do you alter your trousers to make them more personal to you? Have you invested in a cropped style yet? Or do you prefer the versatility offered by a simple trouser roll?
Let us know in the comments section…