Formal pants are an essential part of the ensemble upon which the suit is structured. If your pants are not well-fitting, your whole outfit will amount to nothing, even if you wear the nattiest jacket. So, finding well-fitting formal pants for men could save you from substantial style disasters. Here are some factors you should look for when purchasing the perfect formal pants for yourself.
Factors To Consider When Purchasing Formal Pants For Men
The Waist
If you have a measuring tape, you can measure your waist by placing the tape slightly above the waist and below the belly button. Of course, having the right size of pants is essential. But even if you know your exact size, trying one size smaller or bigger is a better idea. The right waist size also depends on whether you’re wearing high-rise or low-rise pants, pleated or flat-fronts.
Moreover, in most trousers, in addition to the button closure at the middle of the waistband, you will find an additional tab-and-button closure on the outside that distributes the weight across the waist. In flat-front pants, you may have a french fly with an inside button tab that extends from the zip area. It keeps your fly flat and smooth.
The Rise
Pant rise refers to the length between the waistband and crotch seam. It determines where your pants will sit on your body and where your perceived waistline will be. A regular rise, also known as mid-rise, is where pants sit on the normal waist.
Low-rise pants sit on the hips. The high-rise pants sit slightly above the waist and are meant for taller men. Apart from these, some brands also offer short-rise pants for shorter men. These pants sit on a natural waist, but the rise will be shorter than the standard length.
The Inseam
Basically, the inseam is the length of your leg. It is the distance between the crotch and the bottom of your pants. When you buy trousers from some brands, especially international brands, you will find this measurement on the label after the waist. You can get this measured by your tailor or by yourself with a measuring tape by laying your pants on a flat surface.
The Pocket
On formal pants for men, you will usually find straight-slitted pants along the sides without much hemming. This hides the pockets and retains the coherence of flat front or pleated pants. Moreover, it is less prone to bulging out pockets when stuffed. Some formal pants also have slanted pockets with a more pronounced hem. On the other hand, horizontal front pockets are meant for jeans only.
Pleats VS No Pleats
Modern formal pants for men generally come in flat-front style. They are ideally suitable for men who are slim and fit. However, they can also create an illusion of slimness for slightly bulkier people. Pleats should be generally avoided unless you are very big because they exaggerate and draw attention to the midsection of your body.
The Hem
The hem in pants refers to the end part of the pants, which is generally folded and sewn. You will find cuffed parts in some of the formal trousers. But they are ideal for tall men, making their legs appear less skinny. Cuffed pants will ideally be pleated, but flat-front pants will never be cuffed.
The Break
The break refers to the part where the leg part of the pants meets the shoe. This is an area where most men still get wrong, as they just leave their trousers bunched up at the ankle. Ideally, the trouser bottom should rest with a slight break on the shoe, with the width that covers the part of the laces.
At the back, the hem should reach the top of the sole. However, in most modern versions of formal pants, particularly flat-fronted with narrow style, the break sits on top of the shoe at the ankle, just covering the socks.
Formal pants are an important part of your outfit and can make or break your look. Therefore choosing the right pants is essential. Here are some factors you should consider when purchasing formal pants for men.
