Ahhh, Allison has a Burning Question for PB,
This ties into a question I had on ankle boots. Is the pant length acceptable if you are wearing ankle boots and there is a gap between the bottom of the pants and the top of the boots when you are sitting (even though there is no gap when you are standing)? To me it feels sloppy. Of course, crossing your legs makes the gap more visible. I am short and have to have all my pants hemmed and would hate to need two sets of pants – one to go with heels or ankle boots, and one to go with flats. What do you think?
I think you’re right! You. are. RIGHT! I hate to say it, but if your pants are riding up to that extent when you’re sitting, you may be suffering Too-Short-Pants-Syndrome. Don’t be embarrassed: lots of people have it. In fact, it’s practically an epidemic!
A well-fitted pair of pants (an elusive thing, almost like a unicorn or the Sasquatch) shouldn’t be riding up to your lower calf when you sit. I know I risk sounding like a frothing-at-the-mouth raving fanatic about this because I talk about it so much, but PEOPLE’S PANTS DON’T FIT!!! It’s one thing if you’re going super casual in a pair of capris (with beautiful flats, NOT FLIP FLOPS OR BIERKENSTOCKS, and NOW I’M JUST YELLING). It’s another thing when your pants are scanty in the hem region, as so many clergy and religious leaders and academics pants’ are. CAN SOMEONE DO THEIR DISSERTATION ON THIS?
So, dear Allison, it depends on what kind of ankle boot we’re talking about. If your boot is cut low (that is, hits you pretty much where a regular shoe hits) of course your pants might ride up a bit and show some sock, which is why it’s fun to wear cute socks that provide a pop of color or pattern with short booties. However, if your boot comes up higher on the ankle, past the ankle bone, your pants should be long enough to cover them no matter how you’re sitting.
So this may not be a matter of needing two sets of pants, but wearing your pants a bit longer.
I have a couple pair of pants that I only wear with higher heels and have the rest of my slacks hemmed so that they hit at the tongue of the typical Oxford tie-up shoe. I have some kick-around pants with “skinny” ankles, but that’s a whole different and more casual style, which you can have fun with on your more casual days. The pants we’re talking about here are for High Professional Days (say, funerals).
DUDES, this is a BIG PROBLEM among the male clergy!! Along with dandruff, clip-on ties, and short-sleeved dress shirts (an oxymoron right there), there is nothing quite so frumpy as giving folks a big length of hairy calf when you cross your legs at a meeting. You have two choices. Wear long socks or check your pants lengths. Or don’t cross your legs. I guess that’s three choices.
Thanks for the question, Allison!
Over and out, pigeons!
MWAH! Kiss of peace!
Thanks for your response, dear PeaceBang. You confirmed my suspicions. I was hoping I was wrong, but really, it was obvious the pants were just a bit too short for the delightful little ankle boots I was wearing.
I think it’s possible that I made the mistake of having my pants hemmed without wearing a belt, which would (I think) have slightly raised the bottom of the pants while the tailor was marking for hem length. And I wore flats when I had them hemmed, as the ankle boots were at that time only a gleam in my eye.
Alas, I recently discovered that I am now officially 4′ 11″, not 5′ 0″. This means that the dresssiest pants I own, tailored for my highest heels, are now too long. So I suppose that if I wait long enough, my too-short pants will eventually fit. Meanwhile, I wear them either with flats or with knee-high boots. My very cute ankle boots are relegated to around the house or running errands around town.
So my lessons learned are: wear the shoes or boots you expect to wear with the pants when having them hemmed, and wear a belt if there are belt loops (Duh!). And sit up straight!
Thanks again!