When done right, higher-hemmed pants can look cool, clean, and grown-up. Here’s a guide on how to wear cropped pants for men.
A few New York Fashion Weeks ago, we hosted Thom Browne, patron saint of the cropped suit pants, for a fashion show at my workplace. Many of my colleagues were very excited about the fashion show but others wanted nothing to do with it.
I wouldn’t call cropped pants as controversial as, say, socks with sandals. But there are clearly some staunch pro-croppers and anti-croppers.
Still, I think it’s an intriguing silhouette. It’s not that different from cuffed pant legs, after all. And yes, I do think there are ways to do it properly and ways you shouldn’t.
I’m going to give you some best practices when it comes to how to wear cropped pants, men’s edition.
How To Wear Cropped Pants Men
To really ensure it doesn’t look like your pants simply shrunk in the wash, the most important thing to do is go for a purposeful-looking fit. There are really just two main ways to do this.
The first is to go for a slim but not skinny fit that tapers towards the hem. If it’s too skinny, it will likely look unintentional. What I mean is that there should be enough room between your leg and the pants so that the fabric by your knees isn’t tightening up uncomfortably when you sit down.
Moreover, when you sit down, your hem will inevitably ride up. That’s fine. However, when you stand back up, that hem should fall right back into place instead of sticking. You shouldn’t need to constantly have to pull at your pant leg to put the hem back into place.
The second option is to go for a purposefully oversized look. It should still taper towards the hem, though. To navigate experimenting with the oversized clothing trend, check this article out.
Today, we’re going to focus on the former, as it’s a more classic look.
How to Style Cropped Pants
Here are some contexts in which cropped pants can work.
On Holiday
Going for a resort-chic vacation vibe is one of the most natural ways to wear cropped pants.
This is because, historically, European fishermen wore them. It gives the pants a coastal, nautical undertone, perfect for going on holiday. It has a similar effect to a Breton shirt, which is why they look great together.
Besides, cropped pants are the middle-ground between Bermudas and full-length linen pants. That being the case, next time you’re wearing a knit polo or slip-ons with no-show socks, feel free to finish it off with cropped linen pants. You can even go for sandals if that’s your thing.
A straw hat and neckerchief will fully cinch the look.
Even more, you still want a taper to the silhouette, but any holiday look can be relatively flowy. It can at least be flowier than a suit.
With a Suit
When it comes to how to style cropped trousers in a suit context, you do have to tread carefully. Getting the above-mentioned fit perfectly is paramount.
Moreover, it’s a more appropriate, or at least a less shocking, look in the summer. A light, cropped suit with no-show socks and loafers? That’s Thom Browne approved right there.
Another way to do it is to go for a low crop. This means you’re really only exposing a centimeter or two of your ankle, and there’s not a break in the pants. We talked a bit about that in our guide to suits for short men.
A flowy, regular fit with cropped pants can give the impression of a trendy oversized suit without it actually being baggy or overly fad-forward.
And, of course, you can always implement a middle-ground of the vacation approach and a professional suit with a full linen suit.
A cropped cream linen suit with a lightly-woven button-up and driving moccasins is an elegant combination.
Casually (Jeans and Chinos)
If you want to go for a classic casual look, I’d say to basically follow a lot of the same rules in the suiting section. Whether you’re wearing jeans or chinos, balance the look out with some structure.
Layers like a vest or Harrington jacket will add intentionality to the look. Also, when it comes to your top, either a classic fit or a purposefully wavy fit (like the kind you get from a summery linen button-down) will also look more purposeful.
The best way to make a cropped pair of pants work is to make it look like you’re doing it on purpose. That being the case, you have to either go with no-show socks or socks that go all the way above the crop of the pants.
A loose cropped pant paired with workwear, like a denim shirt, has a streetwear vibe if that’s your thing. Again, it doesn’t have to be overly baggy. The crop makes a regular-fit pant hang as if it were oversized, except the lines are much cleaner.
Another way to achieve a modern streetwear look is by going the fitted athleisure route. Cinched joggers pair naturally with
Conclusion: Just a Fashion Trend?
Cropped pants have been around forever. As mentioned, they’re a practical choice for fishermen.
Arguably, though, their current state as a fashion trend is relatively new. At least, it is in the grand scheme of history. That being the case, will they stick around?
Well, styles need to go in and out of fashion several times for it to become a classic. Since fashion is cyclical, we’ll at least know that if cropped pants go out of style, they’ll likely still come back at some point.
At least you now know how to wear them properly!
Do you like cropped pants? Would you try them if you never have? Let me know in the comments!
The answer is don’t.