Has anyone bought pants to hack into shorts?

I know a lot of folks hack old or existing jeans/ pants into cutoffs.
I seldom can do this because the most common thing to happen with my pants is no longer liking the fit in waist hips.

Despite my fun W&W shorts find, I feel very limited in shorts option for fabrics, color palette and length.
I was thinking I might consider “ long” pants that are more available in S/S - chinos and such- for an intentional hack , probably with a finished hem.
Now, in this same vein, great- fitting full- length or 7/8 chinos are also a HEWI for me. Am actually considering some very spendy ones but haven’t bit the bullet
But I’m thinking of lower - price point like LOFT, or sales , discount store ( and thrift, but not a lot of that here), that may fit pretty well but leg style and length is not right. I’d measure the thigh area width to see if compares with my best shorts.
I think shorts fit can be a little more forgiving because somehow you can allow more ease in seat ( for summer comfort) if not going down to full leg, which might sag or wrinkle in ghd knees, etc, plus the casual nature and wearing untucked shirts , seldom jackets. Or vice versa, size for seat and thigh fit only.
With this idea, I wouldn’t have to rush to execute— but I might start evaluating low- cost pants in a new light.

Advice or experience in this approach?

3 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I have tried cutting off pants into shorts, and it's a lot of work. Cutting is tricky: Trying to make sure you have the two legs at the same length, and cut so that they look even all the way around isn't as easy as cutting off a couple of inches to make a pair of pants shorter. Getting the taper just right on the legs is the next challenge. Even if you get a pair of pants on which the thigh circumference is basically right for you, tapering on a shorts leg is going to be necessary. And finally, you need to translate that taper into the turn-up for your hem so that the hem will lie flat. As much as I wanted to have some nice bermuda shorts from some former chinos, once I tried it on one pair, I wasn't willing to do it again. Part of my lack of enthusiasm was probably because I didn't like the pants well enough as pants to begin with, so they might not have been the greatest candidates for a dynamite pair of shorts!

Murph11

I wanted a pair of long cut-offs last year, so I purchased these Loft jeans (at a really great price) in a wash I liked and the size/fit I knew worked, and hacked them off to accommodate an optional two-fold cuff. This worked for me.

Loft

Curvy Chewed Hem Slim Pocket High Waist Skinny Crop Jeans in Light Wash

View Info

Top Pick

Helena

I haven't, but I think it's a great idea if it enables you to get what you want. Looking forward to seeing the result!

Glory

Yes I’ve done this a few times. I did it for fabrication and length reasons. I have done denim in a long Bermuda from a skinny jean. This worked so well for me because I have thin legs. I cut and cut and folded into a cuff - no sewing. They lasted for years. I tried with a chino cotton that has no stretch and it didn’t work as well. I feel they were not great because of the leg being too voluminous. I definitely feel it’s worth a try.

JAileen

I’ve bought pants at the thrift store. If it didn’t work out, no great loss. It did work, though.

unfrumped

Thanks for the feedback!

Firecracker, very good comments- valuadinevi know you see beautiful items and understand the issues.
It’s kind of paradoxical, because I don’t really want to create fitted denim Bermudas, yet the issues of taper may make some styles of blue jeans easier to hack. The chino fabrics may be more likely to have problems getting the right fit, and as you say, I’m not sure that with my limited hemming/ finishing skills I would do it right myself. So professional tailoring would change the hack/ so what price point.

Staysfit

It’s funny that you ask this question now because over the past two weeks I have been looking online for Bermuda shorts. I also alter most everything that I purchase so I am familiar with the cost of tailoring in my community, The price range to purchase new Bermuda shorts, of either denim or chino material seems to range between $40 and $130 at the stores I checked. The higher price range seems to buy fabrics with higher percentages of natural fibers, but I cannot say that there would be any other quality differences. If I hacked long pants into shorts, I would aim for a total price that fell at the low end of the range for a new pair of shorts. Our local tailor will hem legs for $15. (You should check pricing in your area). If the leg seams need alteration that might add $8. I would expect to pay about $23-25 for alterations. Therefore, the pants I purchase would need to be whatever price works along with the tailoring.

RobinF

I definitely think it would be worth a try, especially if they are a good price. It's smart to think about the leg circumference at the thigh, that would be the biggest issue I would see it that it would be too big at the hem. That can be adjusted but it would make the hack harder.

Staysfit and RobinF— thanks.

I was thinking of it that way- finding $15-20 pants! Because would be for casual wear, just some variety.
Mostly I think I’m just feeling the problem of so few Brick and Mortar options to try on first, since most are </= 5” inseam, and tired of ordering and returning.

So asking as I might be considering some tailoring expense, I would do better to look at LLBean, LE, similar sites that carry woven shorts with longer inseams and a range of neutral ms and some “ summer “ colors—get the best rise and hip and thigh fit, and tailor the waist, and hem to the sweet spot if needed.
Just like pants, but I haven’t been doing that with shorts — except now I will be spending a lot more time around house and outdoors in summer, so it makes sense.

Also, based on last summer, I know I don’t mind repeat wearing of shorts, but wanted some better fits, so having a few good - fitting pairs is more important than tons of variety.

Star

Take note of the pocket placement of any pants you decide to hack. I made this mistake with a pair of jeans. The pockets were placed quite low, which was okay on jeans but very odd on shorts.

Category