Ask Angie: Most versatile length to shorten leather pants?

I read Angie's post about the two different lengths that work well for ankle pants. I'm wondering if the community and Angie would be willing to give me some advice and thoughts on the most versatile length to shorten my pair of Isabel Marant H&M lace-up leather pants?

I know this is a fashion no-no, but my goal is to be able to wear the pants with either flats, heels, or low vamp booties without them looking terrible. I'm okay with them being "less than perfect length" for two out of the three options, I just don't want them to look ridiculous.

I've seen photos of women wearing these same leather pants at all kinds of different lengths, and none look bad to my eye (but most of these women are taller and leggy). Right now, mine are at least 1.5 inches too long to even hit me appropriately at full length (these were made to be cropped on most folks).

I've provided photos of other folks wearing them (including Marant herself worn with a pair of loafers in #4) and the last two photos show mine hitting right below the ankle with oxfords (confession, I tucked them up to where the side lacing bows end. There' actually another 1.5 inches of hem tucked under. What can I say, I just wanted to wear them when I first got them a few months ago).

So now I'm trying to decide what would be the most versatile length to have them shortened to? 2 inches above ankle? at ankle? higher? I'm very short and my inseam is only about 28 inches crotch to floor -shorter if I measure to my ankle instead. So I'm concerned about having them TOO shortened accidentally and making my legs look stumpy/shorter than they are and not being able to wear them with booties/shooties.

The pants weren't cheap (although I did get them for less than retail, of course!) so ideally I want to be able to wear them with different heel and shoe types. If it helps at all, these fit me like a looser trouser style, not super skinny/skin tight like they do on some of the model's shown.

I'd be most appreciative of any thoughts or advice around this!

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11 years ago

Neel

Veteran

No way!!!! How did you get those pants??? I waited and waited and waited AND it disappeared even before it got into the store!! Jealous here :D. Perfect slouch on them too! Wow!

leopardluxe

Neel, I stalked them on ebay post-launch. Most of the time people overbuy those big designer launches and buy multiples. I wasn't sure what size I'd wear and everything I read said Marant ran really small. So I originally snagged a pair new with tags in a size 4 from a girl on ebay for $225.

Got them and they were HUGE on me. So I found another pair NWTs that a different seller had in a size 2 that they had just listed for $175 and snagged them like within an hour of them being listed. Then I sold the too big ones via Buy It Now for $275. Since the average selling price of them was around $300-$350 and there weren't many available in the size 4 they got snapped up. The size 2 ones there were surplus of for sale at all different price points (many stupidly high priced!). So I just waited till one came up BIN for cheap and grabbed it before someone else did.

Mostly it's in the timing. My BF thought it was hysterical that I actually made money in the process of stalking and buying and then selling the too big ones.

I do so love the thrill of the hunt

Oh wow!! Hard work does pay off!! And here I just sat around and expected it to come to me?! Lol! Totally worth the efforts I say! And sorry for the thread jacking!! Hope you get tons of wear out of it!! I would live vicariously through you!

(website)

I'm interested to hear the answer. I just got my Vince leather/suede pants back yesterday. They are hemmed to 30" inseam. If I stand barefoot, they should just touch the floor at the back of my heel. Hope that's not too long! But they, like most skinnies, look like a hybrid of skinny/straight on my narrow lower legs. And I want them to be wearable for the duration, not just the latest fashion cycle!

Suz

I have no answer but those look like fun pants and I will bump for Angie!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Great pants.

May I suggest pinning them 3 to 4 inches above the ankle, and posting a pic.

Thanks, Angie. I'll give it a shot. Not sure I can pin them but I should be able to flatly tuck them under to hit that length (at least for the purposes of getting opinions).

So here they are tucked under about 3.5-4 inches. I've shown them worn with a flat oxford (the same ones as shown in my original photo), flat smoking slipper, 2 inch kitten heel slingback, and 3.5 inch wedge.

I *feel* like this length makes me look even more "squat" than normal (especially with the flats) even though this (I believe) was the intended cropped length they were designed to be. But honestly, it may just be my own bias and perception.

Thoughts?

Maybe the fact that they are less snug on your lower leg is affecting the look? Perhaps more taper would make the difference?

Diana

I like the length in #2 and #4, and the way you are wearing them. I also like #1, but I'm not sure that it would work without the super high heels.

I'm wondering though if in some of the longer ones (like 1 and 2) they have had them altered so the ankle fit is closer? (Because in #3, the length is not so bad on her but I really don't like the wider ankle opening.)

ETA: Just saw your new pics. I definitely think you're going to have to taper them if you go for that length. Can you try clipping the back ankle hem together a bit to see how it would look a bit narrower? (Use a binder clip or hair clip).

They actually have a nice taper but don't "cling" to the leg. They look *slightly* wider because of the extra material and bow/knot bulk being added by tucking the extra length under makes them appear to flare out a bit in the pics but they wouldn't do that once they're shortened.

I vote a little shorter than #1 and more tapered at the hems.

(You probably wished you never asked me, leopardluxe. I will spilt hairs about pant lengths).

Angie, nawwww, I'm always seeking others' input and I'm glad I asked. I really appreciate your opinion!

I do think I will have the seamstress taper them slightly when I bring them in. I think I'm going to go a little bit longer, though. Probably a couple of inches above the ankle. The way I figure it if I don't end up liking that length it's waaay easier to go back and have her shorten them further than the other way around.

I also think I just have some kind of perceptual bias on that 4 inches above ankle length with these, just because my legs are so short I simply *feel* like they exaggerate the effect. When I do go for super crop lengths (e.g around 4 inches) I usually stick to skinny fit jeans usually worn with sandals or summer sneakers.

Thanks again for your thoughts!

karymk

Being on the shorter side too, I would say keep them as long as is practical with different shoes. These were expensive pants so I wouldn't mess with shortening them. I don't like the shorter length on you.

rabbit

I think the shorter look could look really good, but I'm kind of team keep them closer to anklebone length as well. Maybe taper a little if you see that making a difference. I just think it would be more versatile over time (and temperature ranges).

I'd also want cuffs or bracelets or something made with the extra leather if that much was cut off

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