‘Dem’s Da Breaks: How Long to Wear Your Pants

Let’s take a break to discuss breaks.

We have superb in-house tailors here at Harleys in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and so this post is in honor of them.

A break, in fashion speak, refers to the horizontal line that occurs in the fabric when your pants hit your shoes. A break is categorized based on how pronounced it is, or rather, how much fabric you have piling up around your ankles.

There are many names for pant breaks (deep, full, quarter, half, short, etc.), but basically, they all boil down to three lengths: short, medium, and full. Read on for a description of each.

1. Short
A short break is when the bottom of your pants hit just below the top of your shoes, leaving the laces exposed, with no crease in the pants. Short breaks are very fashion-forward, but I’m guessing you are a business man and that, unless you are the CFO of Vogue, shorts pants don’t fly in your office. That’s why the next break—medium—is likely the one for you.

2. Medium
Not too long, not too short, just right. The medium break is the standard among executives. In the front your pants cover the top of your shoe and most of your shoelaces, while in the back, the hem slopes downward, creating a mild horizontal break. It is classic, clean, and professional.

3. Full
A full break is when you just let it all hang down. I think the full break looks unkempt—as if you bought pants that were too long and didn’t care to get them tailored, but it is considered a trendier style for those who like to push boundaries. Either way, it is probably not the best look for the boardroom.

Of course, which break works best ultimately depends on the man. You have to take into account height and weight, and what looks best with your body shape. And, different types of pants, like jeans, are a whole different story.

If you are not sure what works for you, come into Harleys and one of our expert tailors will size you up (in a good way).