The Leg Opening Makes All the Difference
When choosing between a straight and tapered fit, the key variable is how the leg is cut from the knee down to the hem. Both fits can share the same waist, rise, and thigh measurements — it's the lower leg that sets them apart and defines the overall silhouette.
What Is a Straight Fit?
A straight fit maintains a consistent width from the thigh all the way down to the hem. The leg opening is the same as, or very close to, the width at the knee. This creates a clean, uniform line.
Straight fits work well with a wide range of footwear since the hem doesn't taper in around the ankle. They tend to feel roomier through the lower leg.
What Is a Tapered Fit?
A tapered fit gradually narrows toward the hem. The leg opening is noticeably slimmer than the knee width.
How to Choose
If you already own a pair of pants you love, lay them flat and compare the width at the knee to the width at the hem. If they're roughly the same, you're wearing a straight fit. If the hem is noticeably narrower, that's a tapered fit.
Think about the footwear you wear most often and the overall silhouette you're going for. Straight fits pair naturally with chunkier shoes and bulky outerwear.
We offer both straight and tapered cuts across our made-to-measure range. Each style is cut to your measurements, so the fit you choose is the fit you get.
Not sure where to start? See our measuring guide to get your dimensions from a pair of pants you already own.