How to Cuff Your Pants (6 Ways)

How to Cuff Your Pants

So you’re trying to figure out how to cuff your pants.

Perhaps you’d like to show off that small red bit of your selvedge denim, or maybe you want to safeguard your new white shoes. Maybe you haven’t gotten your pants hemmed yet because you haven’t made it to the tailor yet.

In any event, understanding how to properly cuff your pants is really useful.

The majority of people can cuff their pants. It’s quite straightforward.

However, you may not be aware that there are multiple alternative methods that may be used in various situations and for various sorts of pants.

You’ll know all the numerous ways to cuff your pants and when to utilize each method by the end of this article.

Let’s take a look at how to cuff your pants.

Permanent Cuff

The first cuff is a permanent cuff that can only be used with dress pants.

The cuff of your dress pants is firmly sewed into the hem. This is usually done on wool or occasionally cotton trousers.

If I may rant for a moment, shorter men are frequently advised not to cuff their pants on the internet, in style forums, blogs, and YouTube videos. Supposedly it makes you look shorter.

In fact, I’m fairly certain I gave this advise years ago. But I’m no longer convinced.

Go for it if you prefer the cuffed look.

I always cuff my pants, and if the pant leg fits your body well and the cuffs are proportionate to your height (shorter cuffs for shorter guys), it’ll look great, not make you look shorter.

Get your formal pants permanently stitched in or turned up if you want the cuffed look. If you have enough spare length, you can buy formal pants this way or have it done at a tailor.

You don’t want to use one of the methods I’m about to mention to make a temporary cuff for your dress pants.

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This isn’t appropriate for dress pants and will detract from the overall appearance. Take your formal pants to the tailor if they don’t have a cuff and you want them cuffed.

Double Cuff

The double cuff is the second method.

This is the most common way to cuff your pants.

Turn the bottom couple of inches of your pant leg inside out and flip it up twice to double cuff your pants.

This is how most guys cuff their pants, and it’s convenient because you can customize the cuff height, making it shorter or taller. It’s simple and quick.

This strategy is always effective, and it is most likely your go-to. There is nothing wrong with it. However, one of the other approaches might be preferable.

Inside Cuff

The inner cuff is the third method.

You can make an invisible hem if your pants are too long but you don’t want a visible cuff or the turned-up look.

This is useful if you haven’t had your chino pants hemmed yet, or if you prefer to wear them at varied lengths depending on the shoes you’re wearing.

Simply turn your pants inside out to accomplish this. You turn the bottom with the top. The double cuff is the polar opposite. Then you simply change the length to your liking.

Remember that this will not work with jeans. When there isn’t visible stitching or a visible hem at the bottom of the pant leg, jeans look odd.

This, on the other hand, looks terrific with chinos.

Most people won’t notice that your pants are cuffed if you do it correctly.

I have a couple of pairs of pants that I wear all the time, and I appreciate that I can just make small modifications to the length of the pants depending on what shoes I’m wearing.

Mini Cuff

The turn up or mini cuff is the fourth method.

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You can use the mini cuff if you want the cuffed look but your pants aren’t too long.

You can show some cuff by flipping the bottom up one half to one inch, but it doesn’t truly shorten your pants.

This looks great with jeans because it shows off a little of the fabric’s contrast on the other side.

You’ll notice that small strip of selvage, either red or blue, if you’re wearing selvedge jeans, so everyone will know you’re wearing selvedge jeans, which is clearly incredibly nice.

This method is one of my favorites. Many of my pants are 29 or 28 inches long. My desired inseam length is 27 and a quarter inches.

I always wear the mini cuff, especially with jeans.

Japanese Cuff

The Japanese cuff is the fifth method.

This is especially useful for jeans that are a little too long for you.

If you have a 34-inch-seam pair of jeans but need a 28-inch pair, the Japanese cuff will work.

Although this method uses a lot of length, the end result is a short cuff. This is especially good for people who want to wear selvedge denim because it accentuates the selvage strip.

Cuffing three to four inches from the bottom hem is where the Japanese cuff begins. As though you’re making a huge normal cuff.

Then you fold the bottom section of this enormous cuff on top of itself, ending just below the stitching of the hem’s bottom.

This will reveal the chain stitching as well as the selvage edge of selvage denim.

It’s a stylish, well-made cuff that may also be worn with chinos.

Pinroll

The pinroll is the sixth method.

If you want to shorten and taper your pants at the same time, the pinroll is ideal. Pinroll is equally at home in chinos as it is in jeans.

However, if your pants are highly tapered and slim and sit very close to your leg, this will not work.

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Because the pinroll need a little extra width.

Straight fit or slender tapered pants are ideal for the pinroll. It’s not suitable for thin jeans or pants with a very wide leg.

Start with the turn up or the mini cuff when pinrolling your pants. Pinch the mini cuff’s edge and fold the excess fabric over itself.

You can pinch your leg on the inside or outside. For some reason, I usually start with the inside. I’m not sure if that’s the correct method, but both appear to function fine.

Then you pinch the entire mini cuff and fold it up. It should fit snugly and securely, and it should stay put.

Start afresh and do it again if it feels loose or if it’s coming apart.

If you need your pants to be a little shorter, you can fold it over one more time, although it’ll get fairly thick at this point. So be cautious as well.

If you go too high on the ankle, it will appear as if you are wearing capris.

That’s all there is to it. You’ve learned how to cuff your pants.

how to cuff pants that are too. wide or long

Author

  • Christopher

    Christopher has 9+ years of experience as a creative fashion designer who stays current with the latest trends.

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