Men need fashion tips too, you know. It doesn’t cut it to just throw on anything at anytime. You may not need a personal stylist, but you need a guide on the sometimes rocky road that is elegant style and fitting. I have agreed to take on this job, bless my kind little heart. Today, we’re going to talk about trouser fitting. When I meet a guy, the first thing I notice are his shoes (that’s a topic for another day) and then his trousers. It’s really disheartening when he looks shabby in those areas. For me, a man who dresses himself nicely is a well-organized man (you can judge me for judging a book by its cover). Just like it is for women, choosing the right fit of trousers can make or break an outfit. It’s also important to consider body shape and size when making the choice. Read on as I give you a guide on how to choose the right trousers and save you from any fashion faux pas.
Know Your Size. What size of clothes do you wear? Do you do that test where you place the waistline of the trousers around your neck? The first problem most men have is not knowing the right size to wear. Get yourself measured for any trousers you might buy or make. Do you know where your waistline is? Your trousers should sit just on your waistline, not too high or too low (which seems to be just the case lately). Your waist is just around your navel, which is exactly where your trousers should start. With help from a tape measure and a friend, get the measurements for your waist and your in-seam (the distance between your crotch and ankle). This way, you also know the right length of trousers for you.
Now that you know your trouser size, you need to find the right fit for your body type. We’ll start with the tall guys. The number one thing you should avoid is a skinny pair of trousers (I think every guy should avoid this). They elongate your limbs more, and make you look lanky. A slim, not skinny, fit is good enough to accentuate your features, without over-powering the rest of your features. Wide leg trousers (not mom-jeans, please) add bulk to your figure and even out your proportions. Wearing cuffed trousers, such as chinos, also appears to shorten the distance between your crotch and ankle, thus shortening the length of your limbs.
Now we’ll move to large men. The best bet for you guys is to go with straight fits which elongate your body and fall over any inadequacies or flaws. You too should avoid skinny jeans. They take on the exact shape of your body and hug on to the extra pounds. Also stay away from wide fits and bulky trousers because they draw attention to your midsection and make it look bigger.
For the more “down to earth men”, stay away from drop trousers, carrot trousers, bulky trousers; any fit that will shorten your limbs and further compress your height. Pick a slim fit in dark, solid colours to lengthen your limbs for a leaner look.
Here are a few more tips on the fine art of wearing trousers;
1. Stay away from pleated pants.They don’t flatter anyone, they make everyone look schlumpy (which in case you’ve never heard, is light-years worse than unattractive).
2. Keep your underwear inside your trousers. It’s called underwear for a reason.
3. Say no to mum jeans. I think that says enough.
4. Pick the right shoes for the right outfit. Don’t pair your dress shoes with shoes, or wear sneakers to work on Monday morning.
5. Belts are not always necessary, but if you go without a belt, cover up your belt loop.