Mastering Your Denim Fit // Part 2: Inseam

finding your inseams, how to measure your inseams, sezane trench coat

We ran through the first of the series yesterday, finding your rise and I showed you how on Instagram. What were your numbers? Curious to know. Part two is the next step in understanding your denim fit, your inseam. People often ask me on social media, “how tall are you?” and while I’ll say 5’6”, because a jean fits a certain way on me, my height isn’t what determines how a jean would fit on them. Inseam is the second factor to consider. The length between your crotch down your leg. Someone who is petite may have longer legs, therefore a longer inseam as someone who is slightly average or taller. Once you know your numbers, you can compare online, and alter as needed!

The Three Inseam Measurements You Need to Know:

  1. Full Length

  2. Ankle Length

  3. Cropped Length

Having the correct lengths for your height is a matter of understanding how to find your inseams.

Full length - Measure from your center crotch down to the arch of your foot. (You can raise the measuring tape up or down an 1” based on if you like full length to be longer (to the floor) or shorter (just above the floor). This is a matter of preference and also a matter of which shoe height you want to wear with the pants - (For example, my full length measurement when I wear full length pants/jeans with a simple flat is 30”)

Ankle length - Measure from your center crotch area down to your ankle bone and then raise the measuring tape up 1/2 - 1”. That is your ankle length. (For example, my ankle length is 26"-26.5”).

Cropped length - cropped length looks best when it’s about an inch below your lowest part of your calf muscle. Measure from your crotch down to just below your calf muscle as it starts to narrow. Then add an inch or so. This may be about 1-2” higher than your ankle length. (For example, my cropped length is 25” or so.)