Cuffless trousers - snagging problem

[Happy Stroller]

Cuffless trousers are supposed to have legs cut at the bottom sloping downwards from the front of the instep (the top part where the row of shoe lace eyelets are usually positioned) of the shoe to a point just above the heel of the shoe.

As long as a person keeps still while standing up straight, the cuffs look nicely positioned. But were he to bend his knees, the back of the cuffs tend to touch the ground. And if his foot is lifted up with the ankles bent in such a way that his toes point downwards, the cuff slips past the rear bottom of the heel of the shoe. Then when the wearer lands his foot toe first, the cuff gets trapped between the shoe and the ground.

This problem can be quite embarrassing. The wearer keeps feeling his pants have been cut too long. Must a gentleman always walk like a true soldier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea? Does anyone have a solution?

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by Happy Stroller

Cuffless trousers are supposed to have legs cut at the bottom sloping downwards from the front of the instep (the top part where the row of shoe lace eyelets are usually positioned) of the shoe to a point just above the heel of the shoe.

Uncuffed trousers can be cut either straight or with a fishtail; it's just a matter of personal preference.

I prefer cuffed trousers, unlike most of the world.

[Happy Stroller]

Hi, Tomasso

Thank you for your comments. Could you kindly elaborate a little more on what you meant by cutting uncuffed trousers with a fishtail? What is the fishtail?

[geo]

the cuff slips past the rear bottom of the heel of the shoe. Then when the wearer lands his foot toe first, the cuff gets trapped between the shoe and the ground.

If this happens, then the trousers are too long.

[JamesT1]

A fishtail is when the back of the trousers rise higher than the front in what looks like a fish's tail. This is done when one wears braces with their trousers.

Also, to solve the snagging problem, I usually hem my cuffs so they fall about 3/4 - 1" above the heel of my shoe.

James

[Marc Chevalier]

Originally Posted by JamesT1

A fishtail is when the back of the trousers rise higher than the front in what looks like a fish's tail. This is done when one wears braces with their trousers.

Did you mean to say "hang lower"? Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.


.

[JamesT1]

This is what I was referencing.

[Marc Chevalier]

Got it. Thanks! I was spacing out and thinking that you were referring to the bottoms of the trouser legs. Don't ask why



Here's another image of a fishtail waist:

[JamesT1]

It happens. I plan on doing that this afternoon in my costume history class .

James

[carebear]

In the US military anyway, trousers are to be cuffed or hemmed at an angle from front to back when standing erect so that there is a slight break on the front crease and the trouser goes to the welt of the shoe in back.

If your pants are hitting the actual heel of the shoe (which should be an inch or so high) they are being hemmed/cuffed too long. The bottom of the heel is way out of bounds. The welt is the seam where the leather body of the shoe is sewn to the sole.

At full toe point (not in any way a natural walking or running foot position) the hem of my pants just barely reaches the bottom of my heel in back. No way for it too snag.

You are probably, perhaps unwittingly, wearing your pants too long in back. Try having them tailored to the welt.

[Happy Stroller]

Originally Posted by Marc Chevalier

Got it. Thanks! I was spacing out and thinking that you were referring to the bottoms of the trouser legs. Don't ask why



Here's another image of a fishtail waist:

==================== End of quote ======================

Thanks, Marc, for the enlightening image. And I can only say great minds think alike, ha, ha, ha.

But why should the fishy gimmick work when the cuff will still meet the heel with the wearer standing still? Shouldn't the original problem I described still occur when the wearer is in motion?

[JamesT1]

Originally Posted by Happy Stroller

Shouldn't the original problem I described still occur when the wearer is in motion?

Ideally, no because the braces will hold the trousers in the proper position.

[Happy Stroller]

Originally Posted by JamesT1

Ideally, no because the braces will hold the trousers in the proper position.

===================== End of quote ======================

What is the fishtail for then?

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by carebear

In the US military, trousers are to be hemmed at an angle from front to back when standing erect so that there is a slight break on the front crease and the trouser goes to the welt of the shoe in back.

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[Happy Stroller]

Originally Posted by JamesT1

Ideally, no because the braces will hold the trousers in the proper position.

==================== End of quote =======================

Wouldn't it be a strange military where uniforms are worn with braces?

[CharlieH.]

All this talk about cuffs reminds me of a time when I almost dropped a $3000 lamp at a photo studio when the tripod somehow got caught on a cuff! I blame my less than magnificent sewing skills for that one.