Anyone tired of ankle-length pants? - YouLookFab Forum

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Anyone tired of ankle-length pants?

Gigi

Veteran

I've been shopping for some new jeans and pants for spring, and I feel like it's hard to find anything full length--it's all above the ankle. I also like to buy petite sizes so that I get a better fit in the rise, which limits my options further. I'm thinking about trying to branch out into regular sizes and see if I can get some length that way without an uncomfortable rise.

Is anyone else longing for full-length options, or is it just me?

General

42 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Nebraskim

Veteran

ME. I have not purchased new pants (esp jeans) for several years due to my hatred of ankle-length pants. They look terrible on me. I find them OK on others but on me, just no.

unfrumped

Veteran

My theory is that women don’t want to have to hem their pants, or have to figure out whether shoes will fight with pant hems , so ankle pants solved that. Ankle pants are all different lengths, and in my observation are worn as- is by most people, though of course one can shop around for specific lengths.
I like some cropped pants but still want and need full length. I also have a personal fondness for slight scrunching I’d pant hem with a lower- vamped flat or loafer. I have bought Tall sizes before, to get length if I liked the cut of the pants.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a difficult time with all the cropped pants too. I think it’s because I’m not wild about how my exposed (relatively skinny) ankles make my hips and thighs look even larger by comparison. The ice cream cone effect. :-/ Sometimes I can look past it but other times it’s all I can see.

elpgal

Veteran

As a fellow petite-bottoms shopper, I share your frustration. Shopping regular lengths works as long as the knee break is not terribly positioned.

I am over ankle length, high-rises and voluminous tops.

Echo

Veteran

I despise ankle-length pants. My eye has never adjusted, and they always look like floods on me. Fortunately, I have short legs and a long rise, so standard pants - sometimes even in "ankle length" - work for me and are often full-length for me. But cropped this and ankle-length that is getting tiring when one cannot find full-length pants anywhere.

Gigi

Veteran

I do like my pairs of ankle-length and cropped pants and jeans (I probably have six?), but I can't wear them with flats or my legs look really stumpy! I'm wanting to change up my silhouettes for a wardrobe refresh, and I thought wearing full-length jeans with flats would be good. I had no idea it would be this difficult.

Janet, my ankles are skinny too, and if the hem is at all wide at the ankle, i's not a good look.

Gaylene

Veteran

YES! Cropped takes a lot of effort on my short legged, long-waisted self to look even passable. I’m not buying any more cropped pants, so will keep my wallet shut until retailers, buyers, and designers come up with something fresher.

jill58

Veteran

Yes. I like them on other people but they're not for me. I too have a relatively short legs and a long waist.

kkards

Veteran

gigi....i like having a variety, and i like having options....maybe because i'm short (5'4ish) but not really petite, i've not had trouble finding both...
anyway, have you tried the gap? both of the finds below are full lenght and aviable in petites...if you are looking for work pants, try nordies...

Mid Rise Long & Lean Jeans

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Top Pick

3

Mid Rise Classic Straight Jeans

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1

Eileen Fisher Straight Yoke Slim Crepe Knit Pants

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1

NYDJ Marilyn Stretch Twill Straight Leg Pants

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2

Nic + Zoe 'The Wonder Stretch' Straight Leg Pants

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1

Murph11

Veteran

Yes! They only feel right to me with exposed ankles and that looks seasonally confused in winter. The struggle is real.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I have to say all ankle pants seem to be too long on me, just never quite right. It has been annoying. I don’t think I have short legs!

abby

Try men's pants. No, I am serious. Nearly all men's pants are full length. There are more sizes too, lots more sizes. There is a lot better quality control in men's sizes, so if you find a size that works, getting more will be easier. If you want full length, you probably don't want them tight. That may be just enough freedom in the sizing and shape to find some that fit. You may need to take in the waist for a female shape, but that is inexpensive and easy. And no one will know they are men's pants unless you tell them.

LaPed

Veteran

Check Boden! They definitely have full length options as well as ankle-length styles. And the offer petite, tall, and regular inseams.

Personally, I'm still enjoying the cropped trend, and struggling to figure out what sort of shoes one wears with full length pants -- I can't even remember!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ankle length depends on the taper of the pants, and the footwear you wear with the hems. Get those variables right, and it can be a great length.

Helena

Veteran

I love cropped pants and always have liked whatever version of them is most fashionable at the time (I even used to cuff bootcuts in summer!). That said, I think longer lengths are always sophisticated.

Anonymous

You can send me all of the ankle pants please. Even my version of full-length is shorter than most

Helena

Veteran

Lisa, high-five to the short-pants brigade - I very nearly bought the culottes from RW&Co that you WIW-posted a few weeks ago!!

Zibbets

Veteran

I'm looking forward to wearing my ankle length jeans in warmer weather, but I'm in the market for a pair of new full length ones and they're hard to find.

karen13

Veteran

I don't like them for me. I don't think I have the right footwear, and I don't like sunburned ankles.

Runcarla

Veteran

NO! PPL in my inseam is virtually impossible in this world of pre-hemmed bottoms at 30in and 32in. Ankle pants take care of that. Actually, those 30in and 32in are nearly ankle pants - thus my propensity for rolling the hems of my bottoms!

BrieN

Veteran

I am still fond of ankle-length pants because I am all about the shoes.

delurked

Veteran

I like ankle pants still, but am also trying to find some full length summer pants this year. Ankle pants work all year round in my climate, and it does take care of some of the issues Runcarla mentions. So I’m good with both.

Katerina

Veteran

I also prefer full length trousers. Always have.

Sal

Veteran

I love cropped pants - but as a taller long in the leg person they are quite easy to make work for me. I struggle in the depths of winter but for 10 months they are so useful for me.

tanstaafl

I’m never quite sure where the line is between cropped, ankle length, and full length straight pants. I have a pair that comes right to my ankle bone, but are they true ankle length or is ankle length above the ankle? If above, how much? And when do they become crops?

Deborah

Veteran

The things I love about an ankle pant is I feel the length can create an edgy look and there are some very cool footwear styles that look amazing with a crop pant:)

shiny

Veteran

YES

Except for regular ankle lengths which are perfect full length for me, no hemming required.

Mac

Veteran

I reluctantly waded into the shorter pants trend and enjoy them as a way to make me look a bit current. However, as a tall woman, I always feel that bracelet-(or shorter) length sleeves and cropped trousers make me look like I couldn’t find clothes big enough for me, and that I’m Bursting out of ill-fitting items.

Anonymous

I have short legs and really enjoy cropped pants. Hmm...What’s up with that?
Maybe it’s because I have good ankles and want to show them off.
Or maybe it’s the fact that I have never had the experience of pants being too short as a kid!

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