Why do some women pull up their pant legs before sitting? - YouLookFab Forum

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Why do some women pull up their pant legs before sitting?

Sarah

I've noticed when some women sit down, they pull up their pant legs before sitting down. Some women just barely pinch and pull them up, others grab a lot of fabric and pull up quite a bit which makes their pants ride up their leg considerably. Is there a reason they are doing this before they sit down or is it just a nervous habit? Or is it something that has to due with the fabric and the pants. I wanted to ask in person but I am an introvert and I am embarrass to ask them. Hope someone can answer my question.

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22 replies

Latest reply was from LJP

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I do this because if I don’t, the waistband in back slides down my backside further than I’d like, and sometimes the front waistband cuts into my stomach uncomfortably if I don’t hitch my pants a little and give a little more ease at the top.

It’s not just women. I’ve seen men do this too.

Allison

I hitch my pants up like this before sitting down to prevent the knee area from stretching out. Also, if you have a crease in your pant legs and you didn't do this, it will stretch and ruin the crease line. Used to do this with just dress pants but now do this as a habit with all my pants except skinny jeans since they are too skin tight. Both men and women do this.

Stephanie

They are probably pulling the pant legs up because it is more comfortable to sit down or they are adjusting pants that don't move much when you sit. When you sit down, the thigh and knee areas get taunt. When you pull the legs up, it adds more fabric to the thighs and the pants don't rub on the knees as the fabric rides up when you sit because you already pulled it up. The amount I pull up usually depends on the pants and the fabric materials. Office dress pants usually get pulled up higher than say a pair of jeans. If the pants doesn't have stretch like a pair of silk pants, then I make sure those are pulled up enough so when I sit, the knees don't rub against the fabric and ruin the pants. Also pulling them up before sitting prevents the pants from getting all wrinkled too. Since I been sitting this way for like ever, it is just now a habit. You should give it a try with some of your pants and see what you think.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don’t think I do this? But I might pull at them or fiddle with them if I am wearing ankle boots and they have got caught on the boots in a funny way as I sat down. I would adjust that to look better almost without thinking.

Sarah

Thanks ladies for answering my question! I didn't know that simply pulling up the thigh area of my pant legs would prevent wrinkles and stretch out knees. Makes sense now that if you lift the legs up, there is no stress on the knee area. I'm going to definitely starting pulling them up before I sit down!

Gigi

Veteran

I do this when I am wearing jeans that are pretty tight on the leg, because when I sit, it feels like my knee is going to pop through the fabric, since the fabric isn't moving much. So I think women (and men) do it to avoid extra wear on the knee area of the pants.

Anonymous

I totally do this with dress pants. It's all about ease in the thigh when you go to sit down! Bring up the knee, loosen the thigh= more comfort.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I do it a lot. Men do it, too. It prevents the knees from bagging and the back (if low rise) from gapping too much.

The Cat

Veteran

People (at least here in Scandinavia) did this much more in the '60s (that was when I myself asked --my Mum--about it ) and the '70s. Nowadays, I seldom see anyone do it. I had actually forgotten about this habit till you raised the question here.

Sarah

Thanks ladies!

Helena

Veteran

Yep to Allison and Suz ... my dad actually taught me this one, from his business-suit wearing days

TracyLiv

For ease! To avoid knee stretch and to provide a little more room and prevent waist gaping!

Anonymous

I'm not sure if I do, and pants season is over for me, but may to loosen the thigh area.

shiny

Veteran

I do this sometimes, rarely with skinny jeans (another reason I love them). I do it with flowy pants that have a rise that may be just a tad too long, and that are unforgiving stretch wise in the thigh. So that when I sit, the "bend" isn't in the right place unless I pull the pants up.

Also my thighs aren't all that wide but I have a little bit more on the quad than on the hamstrings. And I have wonky adductors (a factor of being born with wonky hips that turn my inner thighs inward) and not very much in the lower hip area, so that most pants pull inward, as there's not much to pull them outward in the hip area. The wonky adductors/scrawny lower hip mean that standing/walking a higher rise is preferable, but sitting is another story.

It's hard to explain but if you want to body swap for a day or two, you'd see what I mean!

lyn67

Veteran

I was taught to do and usually I still do for the same reason everybody said. Then modern fabrics(which have a certain amount of elastan or lycra) do not always need this kind of adjustment, or at least not of the same amount it needed in the previous era.

Also, do you loosen hosiery on toes before you slip into your shoes?
I sometimes do this, too-especially with high and slim vamp pointy toes, or slim and long boots. Otherwise I may and with holes after only one wear:-((.

Sarah

Thanks ladies

rachylou

Veteran

Ohmigosh! I totally loosen the toes on hosiery before putting on my shoes! I hate the feeling of socks pulling on my toes.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Huh - I’d never heard of doing this with their pant legs. I’ll be looking to see if anyone I know does it now! I may need to try it myself - I can always use more thigh room!

Sarah

I totally loosen my hosiery before putting on shoes too when I wear it. However I tend to go without it most of the time since I wear flats.

Jp

It's more for ease and prevents knees from bagging

The Cat

Veteran

Old thread.

LJP

Veteran

Removed .