Cropping Up: 6 Reasons Guys Should Go Higher

A few inches of ankle might not seem like it would make that much of a difference in your style game, but cropping your trousers might just be the revelation that takes you from boring bro to fashion killer.

Where do your hems end? If your pants stop at the top of your shoes, you might want to consider updating to a cropped style. The reasons to crop are many—we’ve outlined a few of them below.

1. Leg-Lengthening: Look taller and slimmer by raising your hemline to just above your ankles. A bit of volume around your calves also highlights their shape and slims down your ankles. Paired with a looser-fitting shirt, you’ll look inches taller.
2. Show off your socks and shoes: You’re proud of your designer shoes and patterned socks, but hidden underneath full-length trousers no one would ever know it. Flaunt your good taste in footwear by cropping your pants a bit shorter and sporting multi-colored oxford brogues with striped socks. An ankle boot also meets its match with a hem this length, which stops right at the top of the shaft.
3. Add a sartorial flair: The mark of a stylish man is all in the details. Wearing cropped pants is the subtle calling card of a gentleman in the know, who pays attention not only to what looks good on his body but also what’s fresh and new. Keep things extra-current by topping your look off with a trendy hat.
4. Unexpected: Go against the grain of traditional menswear and rebel in highwater trousers that defy fashion conventions. These cropped-hem pants can look just as professional as your regular wool ones when you wear them neatly pressed with a crisp button-down and oversized blazer.
5. Casual edge: Raising the length of your pants up, while it can look as formal as you want it to, automatically lends your whole look a casual flair. This makes them a natural choice for any weekend activity, from a rooftop party to a chilled-out hang in the park with friends. Wear canvas shoes and a casual tee with cropped jeans and kick back in style.
6. Diverse selection: From ultra-casual cargo pants to classy tailored silk twill trousers, cropped pants offer you a range of styles to choose from. Whether you’re prepping for work or getting ready to go off-roading, there’s a pair of cropped pants to help you look your best.

Cropped pants have the power to up any man’s appeal. Raise up your hems and celebrate those ankles, gentlemen.

An ankle is a terrible thing to waste.