Journal ·
How should trousers fit? Waist, rise, seat and length
Well-fitting trousers sit at your natural waist without a belt, lie flat over the seat without pulling or sagging, fall straight from the hip, and end where the hem just touches the shoe. If you can fit two fingers in the waistband and sit down comfortably, the size is right.
The five checks
| Check | Right | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Two fingers of room, stays up without a belt | Digs in, or slides down |
| Rise | Sits at the natural waist (high rise) or hips (mid) | Pulls when you sit |
| Seat | Lies flat | Horizontal pull lines or loose folds |
| Thighs | Cloth hangs, pleats stay closed when standing | Pleats spread open |
| Length | Touches the shoe, little or no break | Stacks on the shoe, or shows the sock |
Measure, don’t guess
Measure around your natural waist (above the hip bone), around the widest part of the seat, and from waist to floor without shoes. Compare with the size chart, not with the label on jeans you own: jean sizes and trouser sizes rarely match. Between two sizes, take the larger; a tailor can take a waist in, but cannot add cloth.
Pleats are a fit test
On pleated trousers, the pleats should stay closed when you stand. If they open, the trousers are too tight at the hips: go up a size.
Our size guide lists waist, hip and length for every size from XS to XXL, and we check your size by email before we cut.