Explain the straight leg/shorter inseam phenomenon

Anonymous

I'd like to add some straight-leg jeans to my wardrobe and am having a heck of a time finding the right inseam length. I've noticed most straight legs range from 30-32." In most pants, I am happiest with 33" or 33.5," but that's darn near impossible to find in straight legs. So what's the deal? Is it because straight legs are intended to hit higher on the foot/leg than bootcuts? If that's the case, you'd think I'd be able to fudge the 32" length but they look like high waters on me if I wear flat shoes. 32" isn't long enough to be full length, not short enough to pass as ankle length or crops. (Both lengths drive me batty.) If my heart is set on straight legs, what should I look for, in terms of length? I've passed up so many otherwise nice pairs of jeans because I can't get the length right!

12 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from

Elly

Veteran

No help-- it could be worse, you could have a 35 or 36 inch inseam like me. I still don't have BFs because of this.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You're singing my tune. It drives me bonkers. I got rid of a couple of pairs of jeans that have always been too short for my emotional comfort, and I'm holding out for ones that have a longer inseam. I don't understand why this is so hard to find, especially in premium denim. Years ago I used to be able to find something as simple as Calvin Klein denim at Macy's in actual *inseam lengths* -- I would comb through for the 34s. Now it seems like everything defaults to about 32" at the longest.

One small light of hope. I did try on -- and buy -- a pair of grey narrow straight leg jeans at Anthro -- they're the Lily cut by Level 99 and the inseam is 34.5" on a size 30, enough that I have some scrunch -- yay!

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

This is funny, I find inseams too long all the time. My True Religion Billy's were at least 34", so were my Miss Me jeans.

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

No help here. I'm not long-legged, but have not been able to move to some of the tapered/narrower pants styles since I need a combination of curvy with the taper, and most that are anywhere close to that type of fit (meaning hip-skimming fits and fabrics) are made for ankle-length--29 " and such. I have been about to go over to the dark side.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I like a 32-33 inch inseam for bootcuts but an inch or two shorter for straight legs and skinnies. The thing is that with bootcuts you want them to almost touch the ground OVER your shoes. With slimmer straight legs and skinnies, the pants CAN'T go over your shoes (at least not over my chunky shoes, maybe if you wear delicate pumps they might be able to go to the floor), so you want them to hit at the top of your foot. The extra length translates into scrunch rather than the drape to the floor you get with bootcuts.

ETA: But I keep finding 28-29 inch inseams which is too short for me even for straight/skinny jeans! With those I either roll up or tuck into boots.

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

What Diana said. Totally footwear-dependent.It's a vamp thing.
Heeled pumps you could wear with both bootcuts or straights, but certain booties/boots won't work with straight cuts. Also the fabric stiffness affects whether a certain degree of scrunch is too much or just enough.

12 years ago

kkards

Veteran

try the gap--they have a straight leg with a 36 in inseam
http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....-C5664.jsp

12 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

It is also a matter of how big is the opening on straight leg pants or jeans. Some of them have it pretty wide bordering on baby bootcuts opening and for those you would need a longer inseam. Others are tapered more and therefore they scrunch almost like skinnies instead of going over the shoe - and for those 32" should be fine for you. My Paige Skyline straight leg jeans are like this, plenty of scrunch.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sveta makes an excellent point. And I have found that Paige often cuts a little longer, which I like. I also tried a pair of COH Ava jeans (slight low rise, straight leg) that had just enough length for me. Not sure what the inseam was.

ETA just looked it up. 33.5" inseam.

12 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Try Gap - in the store they sell a long length (34 inseam) and on-line they sell a xlong (36 inseam).

12 years ago

Anonymous

So very confusing! Once again, I'm so jealous that guys can walk into a store, pick out their waist/inseam, and BOOM, DONE.

I agree that there's a huge variation in what's interpreted as "straight fit." They can range from skinnies to baby boots, it seems.

I wondered how footwear would factor into this whole equation. I'm having a hard time finding a pair of all-purpose jeans that work just as well with tall boots, short booties, and the occasional sneaker. I may have to accept that this is a tall (if not impossible) order.

Sveta and Janet, thanks for the jeans recommendations. Not sure premium denim is in my budget right now, but it gives me something to compare.

Diana, thanks for your explanation. I've always been stymied by PPL and your explanation makes sense -- that with straights, I may not need as much length because I want them to skim rather than drape. Hmmm.

Unfrumped, I SO HEAR YOU on getting frustrated finding the right proportions for curves. I have this problem with work pants all the time. The cuts made for curves are almost always bootcuts. While I don't mind wearing bootcuts, I've gotten bored with the silhouette. The curvy fit issue makes experimentation harder than it should be!

12 years ago

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