With Pants, How Long Is Too Long?

Long pants for the real world. Illustration: Edwina White

By

Teri Agins

Teri Agins
The Wall Street Journal
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May 25, 2016 12:08 p.m. ET

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Q: I just bought a gorgeous pair of wide white crepe pants. They fit perfectly except they seem way too long, and I’m not short. I guess this is a fashion look. What about shoes and just how long is too long? I am in my mid-60s.—BM, California

A: Forget those glossy images from high-fashion runways or the red carpet, where gorgeous women pose in flowing wide pants that puddle onto the floor like draperies. Sure, their ensembles are stunning silhouettes, but the look is strictly a stylish photo-op.

Too-long pants spell disaster in the real world. After one wearing, your white crepe pants might be ruined, heavily soiled or tattered after hours of dusting filthy floors and pavements. You can’t expect the dry cleaners to work wonders.

With that in mind, get those pants hemmed high enough to substantially clear the floor. Wide-legged pants are especially tricky to get the right length. If your pants are a couple of inches too short, they look goofy and high-water. Your tailor can help you find the right proportion so that what’s peeking out are your good looking shoes, but not too much ankle. Take your shoes to that fitting.

Speaking of shoes, stilettos elevate your pants off the ground, but why suffer high heels when your legs aren’t showing? Fortunately, there are lots of trendy flat and low heels available. Go original with white oxford bucks, or rock out with low-rise sneakers in white or burnished bronze leather.

When socializing, keep in mind your white crepe pants are dressy casual. Wear a fitted top of nautical stripes like navy and gold with a crisp navy linen blazer over your shoulders. For even dressier cocktail or black-tie affairs, wear them with a sparkly halter or off-shoulder white lacy top with bell sleeves. Go low on footwear with strappy metallic sandals on steady block heels. Consider a fresh pedicure in bright red or coral.

Trickier still are wide-legged culottes with hemlines that float anywhere from right below the knees to the ankles. Sleek boots are the fail-safe choice to fill that gap to cover your calves. Also try quiet low-heeled gladiator pumps in camel or skin-colors, which disappear on your feet.

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