With trousers you only really see whether the fit is right when you both stand and sit. The waist should not pinch, the fabric should fall calmly around the hips and seat, and the leg should follow the line of the style. Drag lines, gaping pockets or a lot of excess fabric can be a sign that the size or style does not suit you well.
Five checkpoints for a good fit
Trousers are made for an average figure. That is why it helps to establish what needs to be right in each area. Go through the points before you buy trousers or have them altered.
- Waist. The waistband should stay comfortable when closed, also when you sit. There is no fixed 'one finger' rule that applies to every style and body.
- Hips and seat. Clear tension, gaping pockets or strong horizontal drag lines can point to too little room. A lot of loose fabric can mean a different style hangs better.
- Crotch and pockets. The pockets should lie flat without strong tension. A crotch that is too low or pulls can also come from the cut of the style, not only from the size.
- Leg. The leg falls straight or follows the line of the style. With a tapered leg it gets narrower towards the ankle, with a flared leg wider.
- Length. The right hem depends on leg shape and shoes. An ankle-length style deliberately ends higher than classic full-length trousers.
Which style suits which fit?
The name of a style says a lot about the fit. This table puts four popular styles side by side.
| Style | Fit | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tapered with pleats | Single pleat; narrowing towards the ankle | Harrison, men, beige |
| Slim-fit | Close fit over the leg | Vincent, men, khaki |
| High-waist with pleats | High waist, calm drape | Arabelli, women, navy |
| Flared and ankle-length | Fitted at the top, flaring at the bottom | Florence, women, grey |
The style name says something about the line, not about which body it 'belongs' to. Tapered narrows down, slim-fit sits closer, high-waist says something about the height of the waist and flared about the flaring leg. Which of these feels comfortable is personal.
Men: tapered or slim-fit?
The Harrison in beige has a single pleat and a slim-tapered fit: close at the waist and narrowing from the hips. The Vincent in khaki is slim-fit with a mid-rise. Ulysses in taupe grey has a slim-straight fit and a herringbone pattern. Those are three different lines; choose based on how you want the trousers to hang, not on a general rule about comfort.
Women: high-waist or flared?
The Arabelli in navy is high-waist, pleated and ankle-length. Florence in grey is flared and also ankle-length. The first puts more emphasis on the waist and pleats; the second on the flaring leg. Which shoe works with them depends mainly on hem height and the look you want.
Trying on in the fitting room or at home
Try the trousers on with the shoes you will probably wear them with. Walk, sit down and move. Pressure at the waist or strong drag lines do not automatically mean you need to go one size up; sometimes a different cut fits better. Compare the product measurements online with a pair of trousers you already like. If it does not fit, take a look at our returns page.
Fit problems and what to do about them
| What you see | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Drag lines around the zip | Size too small or waist too low | Check both size and cut |
| Loose fabric under the seat | Size too large or wrong style | Check both size and style |
| Waistband gaps at the back | Waist too large for the hips | Have a tailor take it in |
| Hem drags on the ground | Leg too long | Have the hem shortened |
The fabric plays a part
Stretch, weight and weave influence how trousers feel and hang. Elastane can give extra freedom of movement, but it does not fix a wrong size or cut. A brushed or more compact fabric can also hang differently from a thin, smooth one.
Alterations: what is possible and what is not?
Shortening a hem is often simpler than major changes to the hips, crotch or seat. What is possible at the waist or seams depends on the construction and the seam allowance present. Have a tailor assess the specific garment before you assume a size can be adjusted.
Discover more in the men's trousers or the women's trousers.
Shop the look
Harrison: tapered pleated trousers, beige
Vincent: slim-fit mid-rise trousers, khaki
Ulysses: slim-fit herringbone trousers, taupe grey
Arabelli: high-waist pleated trousers, navy
Florence: flared ankle-length trousers, grey
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my trousers are too tight?
Strong drag lines, gaping pockets or pressure when sitting can point to too little room. Sometimes a different cut is more suitable than simply a larger size.
How long should trousers be?
That differs per style. Classic full-length trousers, tapered styles and ankle-length trousers each have a different intended hem height.
How much room should there be in the waist?
There is no fixed finger gap. The waistband should stay comfortable when closed while you stand and sit, without slipping down.
What does tapered mean?
Tapered means the leg gets narrower towards the bottom. How roomy the upper part is differs per style.
What if the trousers do not fit?
If something does not fit, please check the current terms on our returns page.
