Okay, let’s talk men’s pants today. The length of a guy’s pants, usually referred to as the break (as in where the pant leg breaks on the shoe), is one of the eternal debates in men’s fashion design. Should those pants be puddling on the ground, or raised up like high waters? There really are no hard and fast rules anymore, so let’s look at the three most common breaks and what they say about the man wearing them.
Medium break
Considered the most common length, the medium break has the bottom of the pant leg hitting between the top of the shoe and the sole. This classic look is perfect for buttoned-down, professional men who are more on the conservative side.
Pants with a medium break
Full break
In the full break, the back of the pant leg hits right at the top of the shoe sole, creating a deep crease in front. This is a modern look for the fashion-forward man.
Pants with a full break
Short (or no) break
The most daring look of all, pants with a short break stop right at the top of the shoe, allowing the guy to flash a little ankle. Men need confidence to pull off the short break, because much of the public hasn’t caught on to this trend yet. However, it’s the look we’re seeing in catalogs and on runways.
A short break on Ludlow Pants from J. Crew.
-Jonathan
