Men’s Formal Pants Fit Guide
Use our guide to find your perfect formal pants fit, from classic cuts to on trend slim and skinny styles.
Seeking the perfect fit for your men’s formal pants? When deciding between classic regular cuts, modern slim fits and everything in between, our handy fit guide is the perfect place to find out which of our formal pants will suit you. Find your fave pants style and get ready to pick from pared-back colors and classic prints for smart style.
Skinny Fit
Skinny-fit pants sit nearer to the body, skimming closely from the thigh through to the hem. It’s a modern, sleek look that pairs perfectly with lots of men’s formal shirts, making them perfect for creating sharp silhouettes.
Regular Fit
Regular fit pants are roomier. They’re generally cut with a straight leg and are more generously sized than their skinny and slim cousins for optimal comfort. Plus, they pair equally well with crisp shirts or casual men’s T-shirts.
Straight Fit
A classic fit that’s generally fitted at the waist, falling through the hips and thigh in a straight shape. They’re minimalist, universally flattering and work well for lots of events.
Tapered Fit
Tapered pants are a traditional tailoring style. They’re designed to fit closely from the hips through the thighs before tapering into a slimmer cut from the knee to the hem. They often feature a slight cropped hem, too.
Loose Fit
These give a generous amount of room through the leg and often have a wider opening at the hem. This style is great if you want full freedom of movement and don’t like anything that sits too closely to the body. A loose fit is also perfect for more casual looks, especially with low top men’s sneakers.
What's the difference between regular and tailored pants?
Tailored pants fit the body more closely than a regular fit without being as tight as skinny pants.
Tailored or Slim Fit?
Tailored pants are a little tighter than slim fits while still being looser than a skinny. Love sharp looks and classic suit style? Tailored pants perfectly balance the need for a form-fitting look that’s not too restrictive. Explore men’s suit jackets to pair with your tailored pants.
How should pants fit men?
Men’s pants should have enough room (around a finger's width) at the waistband, positioned at or just below the naval when wearing a regular-rise style. Perfectly fitting pants should have no wrinkles and clean lines to flatter your overall look.
How to measure for men’s pants
While there are many measurements you can take to get the perfect fit, the key ones are generally waist size and inseam. These are the two most often marked on men’s pants in stores.
Measure the waist (or where you like your pants to sit), generally be around the naval for a regular-rise design.
Measure your inseam (inside leg) by running a soft tape measure from the crotch down to the hem.
How should pants fit across the rear?
Pants should lay as smoothly as possible across the rear. Too little fabric and you’ll feel it pulling, while with too much material you’ll find the pants gapping at the waist. If you can pinch a half inch or more fabric at the waistband, they're too big.
How long should formal pants be?
For a traditional look, the perfect formal pants length will just about touch the top of your shoe, which is called a slight break. A break is the name for how much material rests on the shoe when standing. You’ll find styles with no break, a medium break or even a large break, but a slight break is the most classic.
What are crotch and rise and how do they affect pants fit?
The crotch is the part of the pants that covers the area between the tops of your legs; it should lay flat against the body. If this area of a pair of pants is too tight, you’ll see pulling across the crotch. If it’s too loose, the excess fabric will be obvious.
The rise is the distance between the top of the waistband and the fork in the crotch. Suit pants traditionally have a regular rise, which sits around the naval or natural waist. There’s a certain amount of personal preference when it comes to what type of rise is comfortable. Some like a low rise, while others opt for high-rise pants. Just make sure your pants sit where they were intended to when picking the perfect fit.