Full length pants and jeans are back. After years of relentless cropped pants trends, it’s great to see ankle covering bottoms take centre stage. Change is good.
Full length pants and jeans vary in length. Traditional full length hems skim the surface of the ground. The new shorter full length version rests on the vamp of the foot. Extra long, floor sweeping lengths scrunch and slouch at the hem. Take your pick.
Whichever specific length you choose, full length pants and jeans have their advantages.
1. Elongation
Visually, the length makes your legs look longer. This is especially so when you wear heeled footwear under bootcuts, flares, and wide legs with hems that skim the surface of the ground. You can’t see much of the shoes, but you gain inches in leg length. If creating a longer leg line is a personal figure flattering priority, you’re probably enjoying the return of full lengths.
2. Warmth
The ankle coverage of full length bottoms insulates the lower legs and feet. It’s remarkable what a difference this makes. You need to wear high shaft booties with cropped pants to prevent cold ankles. You don’t need to do that with full lengths. You can wear socks or knee highs with oxfords, loafers or sneakers and feel quite cozy as long as your bottoms cover up.
3. Drama
Extreme long lengths that scrunch and slouch around the ankles and feet create a dramatic effect. This is a tripping hazard when hems are very wide so please be careful. But when hems are tapered or not as wide, “ankle scrunch” can look textural and interesting. Excess fabric folds rest on the shoe, don’t get wet or dirty, and look a little luxurious. Too much scrunch can look ill-fitting and untidy. Just the right amount can be a winner.
Personally, I’m thoroughly enjoying the return of full length pants and jeans for these reasons. I continue to enjoy crops that showcase my ankles (or I cover up with high shaft booties), but enjoy the variation. I especially like wearing full length bottoms with flat loafers and booties. Their ankle coverage has extended the wear of my loafers in colder weather, which is good news for loafer-loving-me.
Over to you. Are you happy with the resurgence of full length pants and jeans? Can you think of extra reasons to like them?
