Need input on good length to hem [ahem] BFs

Yes, I may have found my BFs.

They're a pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans found on consignment.

Never mind that I said I didn't want anything tattered or torn, these are plenty tattered and torn. (In fact, one of the rear pockets looks like it had a chunk taken out of it by an angry dog.)

Never mind that I said I can't stand low rises, these are low rise, but they're sized up so they're not jamming into my hipbones.

But they are bootcuts and about six inches too long. I want to get them hemmed and probably tapered to a length and width that will facilitate rolling, but I need some advice about where on my leg the hemmed jeans should fall, both before and after rolling.

My questions:

1. How many rolls should I allow for in deciding on a length? Does three rolls make the roll too chunky? Will two rolls stay rolled?

2. Where on your leg do your BFs hit, both before and after rolling? I'm wondering if I should get them hemmed a little on the short side, so the roll isn't gigantic?

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

For me, I've decided it's not possible to have one pair of BFs that does it all, length-wise. I like mine at the two lengths Angie mentioned in today's post, actually, either at the ankle (and tapered) or 6 inches above the ankle bone. I have two separate pairs for these purposes. The full length pair (second photo) I wear with a small double roll (maybe taking up 1 inch of length) at the ankle, and the shorter pair (first photo) I wear with a slightly thicker modified double roll. (I make one double-width cuff, then roll that cuff in half once more. I find this stays better). The difference in length is too much (for me anyway) to have a single pair able to do both. I also have a third summer-only pair that I roll up to more like a clamdigger length.

ETA: I think 4" or less is about what works in a roll. 3-4" is about what I've rolled in #1. At minimum you need to have double the width of the roll (because I think just cuffing it once looks odd unless said cuff is wide).

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April

Such helpful information, Diana!

I think one of the issues I had with other BFs I tried was that when they were both rolled and down to my ankle, they looked odd -- no doubt because of my short legs. I think I'm after more of the length you show in picture #1.

karymk

Okay this is gonna sound weird, but why not just CUT them off where you want them and have them frayed? I have seen this on Pinterest and thought about doing it to a pair of BFs. It looked so fresh compared to the "roll".

Just so you know, I cannot wear #1 unrolled. They look horrible. They are that no-man's land length that is too short to be full length and too long to look deliberately cropped, and the opening is a little too wide. FWIW I don't really like the look of true BF jeans without a roll of some sort, regardless of length. It just looks unfinished to me.

@kmk -- that is an intriguing option. I'm a little concerned about adding any more grunge elements to this particular pair of jeans, since they already have their share of rips, fading, and dog-bites. But I'm off to Pinterest to get a glimpse of the look...

Ah, I should add that my jeans will rarely be worn with heels, so they have to look okay with very low heels or flats.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Do these visuals help?

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They do, Angie, thank you -- but I think I need to roll higher on the leg or I know I'll look incredibly stumpy, especially without heels. That's why the VS BFs didn't work for me.

The jeans are in the wash right now, but I think I'm going to cut off the bottoms myself, per karymk's suggestion, and try rolling the raw edge. That way I can see how much "roll" I need and if I need to bother having them tapered. The roll might also be a little slimmer without the thickness of a real hem.

April, here is what I was thinking of when I suggested the frayed hem:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/233413193161502484/

Sveta

I like mine the same height above the ankle as Angie's pic#1. I find that with that length I don't need to worry which shoes to wear with them - heels and flats work equally well.
As for the roll I prefer 2 rolls for a regular denim weight and can go for 3 rolls if denim is lightweight. However if jeans are very tapered I find it is hard to roll more than twice - this is why I chopped off 2" of my white BF,

Lisa

Thanks for asking this! I have a pair of BF's and have also been wondering where the roll should land on the leg.

So now that I have chopped off a few inches, a couple of things are clear:

One, if these are to be rolled boyfriend style, they will have to be tapered.

Two, they look kind of cute as is (floor-touching bootcut with a raw edge).

I'm standing in ripped, distressed, faded, sized-up, low rise denim and thinking it looks kind of cute.

Who am I and what have you people done with April?

Your style may be shifting.

Okay, so after spending some time in my closet with a tape measure and every pair of non-flared pants I own, I have decided to get the jeans hemmed to 26" and tapered to 12".

I think that will let me roll a couple of times to get the cropped length I want.

Off to the tailor...

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