Style Guides
Dress Pants and Jeans: Waist, Fit and Inseam
Use the product’s size chart to choose a size. These drawings show how to measure and compare shapes; they are not to scale.
Start with the waist size, then choose the cut and length. Measure a pair that fits you well using the product’s measuring instructions.
Go to waist and inseam, dress pants fits, jeans fits, hem choices or size labels.
Read the size label
A label such as 34 × 32 usually lists a waist size of 34 inches and an inseam of 32 inches. The waistband’s actual measurement can differ from the label.
- Body waist: measure at the waist position named in the brand’s guide. Keep the tape level and comfortably snug.
- Garment waist: lay the pants flat without stretching them. Double the waistband width only if the chart asks for circumference.
- Inseam: measure the inside seam from the crotch seam to the hem.
Compare body measurements with a body size chart and garment measurements with a garment chart. Use the measurements you take without adding extra inches, unless the chart tells you to.
Dress pants fits
Dress pants fit guide
| Fit | What to check |
|---|---|
| Ultra slim | A very close cut. Check the style’s seat, thigh and leg opening. |
| Slim | Close through the seat and thigh. The leg can be straight or tapered. |
| Modern / tailored | Usually roomier than slim and closer than classic. |
| Classic / regular | More room through the seat and thigh, usually with a straighter leg. |
Try the pants on and sit, walk and bend. The waistband should stay secure, with room to move at the seat and thighs. Check the fit before hemming.
Jeans fits
Jeans fit guide
| Fit | What to check |
|---|---|
| Skinny | The closest cut through the leg, with a narrow opening. |
| Slim | Close through the seat and thigh, with more room than skinny. The leg can be straight or tapered. |
| Straight | Similar width from knee to hem. Check the seat and thigh separately. |
| Tapered | Narrows toward the ankle. Thigh room varies by style. |
| Relaxed | More room through the seat and thigh. The leg can be straight or tapered. |
| Loose / wide | More room through the leg, with a fuller opening at the hem. |
| Bootcut / flare | Widens below the knee; a flare is more pronounced. Check length with the shoes you’ll wear. |
| Stacked finish | Extra length designed to gather above the shoe. It can be combined with other leg shapes. |
Rise affects where the waistband sits. Stretch affects how the fabric moves with you. Check both in the product description, then try the jeans with your usual shoes.
Choose the length with your shoes
Dress pants: no break has little or no fold at the front. A slight break makes a small fold, while a fuller break adds more drape over the shoe. Wear your shoes when deciding where to hem the pants. The fabric should stay off the floor.
Jeans: check whether the style is meant to end cleanly or stack. Choose the waist that fits rather than sizing up for extra length. Ask about alterations before shortening a distressed hem or a style with ankle zips.
Convert an inseam from inches to centimeters
| Length in inches | Same length in centimeters |
|---|---|
| 28 in | 71.1 cm |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 32 in | 81.3 cm |
| 34 in | 86.4 cm |
| 36 in | 91.4 cm |
These numbers convert inches to centimeters. Check the product for its offered lengths.
Size labels in our listings
Listings can use a single size, two numbers or separate waist and length selectors. These examples explain the labels; check the product page for available sizes.
| Listing example | How its labels work |
|---|---|
| St. Patrick Modern Fit dress pants | Choose Size and Length separately. The length labels are 30, 32 and 34. |
| Arketype Core Slim jeans | Labels such as 29/30, 32/32 and 38/32 give the waist size first and inseam second. |
| Jordan Craig Collins Alexander jeans | Labels include 32/32 and 34/34. The second number gives the inseam. |
| Makobi Sergio Straight Fit jeans | Labels 44/32 and 44/34 offer two inseams with the same waist size. |
Only one number? A single waist size does not tell you the inseam. Some Arketype Vital labels show 44, 46, 48 or 50 without a length. Check the style details or ask our team for that pair’s inseam before ordering.
Browse jeans and streetwear bottoms or our dresswear collection. For a complete suit, use the suit measuring guide. Contact our Birmingham team with the style, waist label and length you’re comparing.