Navigating pant fits: Standard vs. Slim vs. Skinny
When shopping for pants, it's important to determine what type of fit works best for your body type and personal style. For the most part, we recommend the not-so-tall man wear the slimmest cut he feels comfortable in, simply because baggy pants or a lot of excess fabric isn't flattering on our guys.
If you've been wearing baggier pants, it might take some time to get used to wearing a slimmer pant. Most of the time, the payoff is worth it. One customer's wife wrote us:
"My husband put on the PMNYC Slim Fit Jeans and he suddenly looked 10 pounds thinner."
Here are the three fits we offer:
Standard
Our standard fit pant has a medium rise, is relatively slim through the thigh and has a straight leg opening. It's definitely not baggy. It's the style of chinos that JFK would wear when vacationing in Martha's Vineyard. This is our most versatile cut and a risk-free choice, and perfect for guys who don't skip leg day at the gym.
Slim Fit
The is our most popular fit. It's a very contemporary look that shows the shape of your legs but still feels roomy enough for most men's comfort zones. This cut has a slightly shorter rise, is slim through the thigh and knee and has a narrower leg opening. If you've never tried a slim fit pant, we highly recommend it.
Skinny Fit
This a bolder look and works really well if you have a thin build. This fit sits lower on the waist (our shortest rise), is skinny through the thigh and knee and has a narrow leg opening for a more tapered look. A hint of stretch makes our Skinny Jeans extra comfortable. This is a more fashion-forward look and is great for those of us whose legs don't fill out roomier cuts. By no means do our Skinny Jeans look like women's leggings and they are quite flattering for the right body type.
Other factors to consider
The rise: All of our pants are cut with a rise we think appropriate for our guys. The rise is the measure from the top of the pants to the bottom of the crotch, and is important for both fit and style. For shorter men, too long a rise makes your torso look smaller, and can result in an exaggerated 'dad's jean' look - not good. A rise that is too short can be uncomfortable and result in the dreaded 'plumber's crack' - also not good.
Dressing up? Slim down: If you are matching more casual pants (chinos, twills, corduroys or jeans) with a blazer, go with the slimmest cut you can. In business settings, a more tailored cut looks neater and more polished. Your blazer or sport coat subtly outlines the shape of your body, right?
Have a few cuts in your rotation: Our team here at Peter Manning like to have a few different cuts in our rotation. Some of our thinner team members stick with slim or skinny pants. But those of us with medium-size builds may have classic, slim and skinny pants and use the different looks depending on the occasion. Date night might call for skinny jeans while Sunday brunch just a slim cut. Experiment with different fits to figure out what works for your personal style. Just don't go baggy!
