Cuffed Jeans

[Trenchfriend]

Nowt against cuffs on other people, just not on me. It's funny really, I'll walk around in a, let's face it, yellow B-3 yet cuffs make me feel self conscious.

What's a B-3?

 

[zebedee]

Cuffed trousers on short guys with short legs (like me, sort of- I'm long in the torso but traverse this sorry world on sad stumps) give the impression of a child in hand-me-downs.

On tall people, cuffed jeans seem to work really well.

 

[navetsea]

What's a B-3?

it's a vitamin

 

[Dav]

What's a B-3?

This type of jacket

 

[Trenchfriend]

Aah, B-3 jacket!

 

[mattmiller1973]

it's a bit try-hard. does the store where you bought your jeans not hem them? DC4 here in Berlin offer that service for free.

 

[JMax]

it's a bit try-hard. does the store where you bought your jeans not hem them? DC4 here in Berlin offer that service for free.

Seems to me that having jeans hemmed is more try-hard, since it actually requires you to go out of your way and, you know, try.

Kidding aside, my cuffs generally are of the one time, small cuff variety. I like to look at my boots as I stroll by a window or mirror lol. Though I do have some pants that I double cuff like some others here. It's outerwear, not a tuxedo, put it on how you like and roll on down the street.

 

[Monitor]

Kind of strange to discuss what is basically an epitome of the clothing style of the era this forum is dedicated to...

 

[Blackadder]

it's a bit try-hard. does the store where you bought your jeans not hem them? DC4 here in Berlin offer that service for free.

As said, it is a choice, 1) to shrink them then take them back to the shop for alteration or 2) wear them as people did in the old days. I think more people has access to sewing machine in the 50s. It cost them nothing to hem them jeans at home then. Yet it seems they chose to wear the jeans cuffed. I doubt it was out of necessity that they wore jeans cuffed back then. It has always been a statement- fashionable, rebel, care free etc since the 50s.

 

[Mich486]

Also I think most people around here enjoy wearing selvedge denim... it’s got to be cuffed..

 

[SinSir]

I cuff my jeans a lot but not always. How many rolls depends on the jeans, shoes, and activity. Typically only one or two, 3 ends up being too thick at the ankle for me. Sometimes its for style but also for function, jeans are better for the bike longer but not so much off the bike. I'm not really a fan of too much stack and prefer the cuff if they are longer.

 

[Edward]

I will never understand the need for adults to cuff or turn up their jeans. By your age, you should be buying clothes that fit and wearing them properly. Something about trying to be fashionable rather than dressing for function seems less masculine to me (not trying to be offensive, just telling you why I feel this way). And IMO the whole point of vintage clothing, military, or work wear is that it was made for function and fashion had little to do with it — certainly the case with jeans.

No offence taken at all. The idea of whether I look 'masculine' or not (whether in my own eyes or those of others) is genuinely something that never crosses my mind at all when it coems to clothes - or much else. I expect in large part there's an element of male privilege, but my gender has never been high on the list of details by which I define myself.

I trend to find the notion that style is inferior to utlity when it comes to clothing amusing, really. If all that really mattered to any of us was basic functionality of clothes - durability, warmth, pockets to carry stuff, not being arrested.... then this forum (and many other like it) simply wouldn't exist.

Nowt against cuffs on other people, just not on me. It's funny really, I'll walk around in a, let's face it, yellow B-3 yet cuffs make me feel self conscious.

I'm always reminded of a sketch the late Jonathan Adams did (I bought a few from his estate, but regretably not this one) which featured two Scots in full Highland regalia, one of them pointing at a Zulu warrior and exclaiming in indignation "Look a' tha'!" I consider it healthy to be aware of the inherent subjectiveness of style... and agreed - we all like or dislike certain things, and there doesn't have to be any reason for that beyond the aesthetic. It's a great B3 that one, though.... my wariness with those lighter ones has always been I'd be scared of getting it filthy in no time! Did yours start out a yellowish shade, or is that how the undyed ones go in the Sun?

Kind of strange to discuss what is basically an epitome of the clothing style of the era this forum is dedicated to...

Outerwear is always amusing for the sheer number of comments you'll find over time from people who really don't like the looks of the period TFL more broadly is dedicated to. JUst the way it is - there's lots of folks out there who are into denim and leather particularly and gravitate here for that, despite not being into the period vibe. It is what it is.

Also I think most people around here enjoy wearing selvedge denim... it’s got to be cuffed..

Most of my denim over the years has been non-selvedge; I currently have a mix. I do think you're probably right though that for folks outside of stylistic niches where the cuffed look is popular (the rockabilly thing especially) in and of itself, denimheads wanting to show off that they are wearing selvedge as opposed to any other, "ordinary" denim, cuffing is away of showing that off.

 

[Dav]

In real life it's more cream but the camera always brings it out yellower than it is.
Well that's what I tell myself
Here's a better picture colour wise

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I'm sure there are hundreds like it, but this is the one I've read.

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/dress-pants-cuffs-no-cuffs/

 

[Edward]

I'm sure there are hundreds like it, but this is the one I've read.

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/dress-pants-cuffs-no-cuffs/

Nicely written, though - most such fashion blogs I've read tend to quickly descend into spouting arbitrary rules as gospel, often with an added dash of 'manliness' hangup. This avoids those pitfalls and is interesting to read.

 

[Stormy]

Yes indeed. I cuff my jeans and my khakis.

 

[M Brown]

Cuffed up jeans go well with a Stetson Open Road.

 

[tmitchell59]

I haven't cuffed my jeans since I was in grade school in the late 50s. Not sure why people do it today.

 

[Trenchfriend]

I haven't cuffed my jeans since I was in grade school in the late 50s. Not sure why people do it today.

And I further don't comprehend the 7/8-jeans fashion. We called it high-water pants, back in the old 90s. ;-)

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I haven't cuffed my jeans since I was in grade school in the late 50s. Not sure why people do it today.

Same here. We must be about the same age.
I buy my jeans to fit. 32W 32L. No need to cuff, hem or continually shrink to get a fairly decent fit anymore. That was always a hassle back when that was all that was offered. I'm interested in top tier leather utility type jackets, some newsboy style caps and fedoras but not the whole Vintage scene.
HD