Jeans for short men

Hemming a standard 30 inch inseam jean changes the original construction. Todd Shelton does not shorten jeans from a longer inseam.

Hemming jeans is done two ways. The first cuts the leg, folds, and stitches a new hem — the same process used at the factory. The original hem's wash fades are lost. The second method cuts the leg and reattaches the original hem. The reattachment is either visible from the inside or bulky and looks unnatural. Thread color and weight rarely match the other topstitching on the jean.

Both methods widen the leg opening. A 30 inch inseam hemmed to 27 inches loses the taper that was graded into the original pattern.

The average cost is $25. Add two trips to the tailor. The jean looks hemmed.

Todd Shelton publishes leg opening widths in the size chart. They apply to every jean regardless of inseam length. Each pair is individually scaled and cut to meet those measurements. Leg opening width is confirmed before shipping.

Standard leg opening is available on all jeans. Slim (1/2 inch narrower) and Straight (1/2 inch wider) are available through Keys to the Factory, a made-to-order order method.

When jeans for short men are hemmed, the leg opening widens as the inseam shortens. A 26 inch inseam at Todd Shelton is cut and graded to 26 inches — not taken from the shelf and altered.

Exact leg opening widths by jean and size are in the size chart.

Men 5'8" and under typically wear a 26, 27, or 28 inch inseam. Find a pair of jeans you currently own that fit well. Lay them on a flat, rigid surface. Smooth out the fabric and keep the outseam straight. Place a measuring tape at the middle of the crotch seam, where the two legs meet. Extend the tape to the bottom hem.

Todd Shelton inseams are measured before shipping with a tolerance of 1/4 inch. A 26 inch inseam ships between 25 3/4 and 26 1/4 inches. All-cotton denim shrinks up to 1/2 inch over several launderings.

If your measurement falls between two lengths, order longer if you prefer the jean to cover more of your footwear. Order shorter if you prefer a clean line with no break.