Skip to main content

How To: Shop for Trousers


Pants, trousers, slacks. Whatever you call them, there is a lot more that goes into finding a great fitting pair than you may think. Most guys just worry about the hem of the pant but the knee, butt and crotch (speaking frankly) all need to be assessed when standing in the mirror. If the pants fit fairly well, we always advise taking them to a tailor to get them just right.

To get the skinny (ha!) on pants, we spoke to Alex Wilcox, owner of the well respected New York based men’s haberdashery, Lord Willy’s. Here is what he had to say:

FIT:

  • First thing you should look for is the rise.
  • A good pair of trousers will sit very nicely just beneath your ‘family jewels’.
  • They won’t be tight but will sit elegantly on your backside.
  • From there on down is a personal preference.
  • You can have a slim leg fit but that may not be good for men with bigger legs and thighs.
  • Allow a reasonable amount for the knee area. It’s never attractive when you can’t sit.

LENGTH:

  • The length is always controversial but the safest bet is to leave a little bit of a break.
  • It’s nice to wear them sitting just above the shoe so that you can really show off your good-looking footwear.
  • It is all about personal preference. If you are really tall, short pants just don’t work. But if you are 5’ 6” and have a playful take on fashion, go for the shorter pant.
  • The biggest rule is: Own The Look! If you aren’t comfortable and the fashion is wearing you, that is never a good thing.

Photo credit: Haspel 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
How to Pick the Right Suit for Your Body Type
how to pick the right suit for your bod type man in fitted getty images

Why does James Bond always look so good when he struts into the room? It's not the martini in one hand. It's not the Walther PPK in the other hand. And it's not the winning smile, though that helps.

It's the suit. A man wearing a suit with a perfect fit is a man looking as close to perfect as he can.

Read more
How to Fold Your Clothes Like Marie Kondo, the Queen of Modern-Day Organization
how to fold your clothes marie kondo method man folding laundry gettyimages 103580114

Even if you haven’t read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or watched her insanely popular Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, chances are you’ve at least heard of Marie Kondo. After all, she’s everywhere these days, and for good reason: her organizational tips and strategies are helping folks around the world declutter their lives.

And though she’s got plenty of tricks up her sleeves (mostly involving boxes on boxes on boxes), the internet’s been particularly captivated by her unique style of folding and storing clothes, which is at once super effective and deceptively simple.

Read more
Swatch, Tate partner for watch collection that literally puts art on your wrist
Swatch x Tate Gallery collaboration inspired by paintings
Swatch x Tate collaboration watches

Swatch, renowned for its quirky designs and commitment to self-expression, has joined forces with the prestigious Tate galleries to create an extraordinary collection of Swatch watches that blur the lines between art and utility. The Swatch x Tate Gallery Collection isn't simply a collaboration but a celebration of creativity, individuality, and the appeal of wearable art.

Each Swatch watch is dedicated to the artwork of its respective artist. From Turner's Scarlet Sunset to Bourgeois's Spirals, every watch tells a unique story. Whether you're drawn to the whimsical charm of Marc Chagall or the bold simplicity of Fernand Léger, there's a watch in this collection to suit every taste and personality. This partnership further cements Swatch's position as a brand that bridges the gap between art and simple timekeeping with bold designs and vibrant colors.
The Swatch x Tate Gallery Collection: Wearable art

Read more