Here’s a fashion faux pas that’s easy to avoid: pairing pants that are too short with heels. The bottom hem of your pants should fall to at least to the middle of the heel, like this:
Notice how this will make the front of the pant break right over the top of the foot. I personally prefer that the hem sit even lower, about three quarters of the way down the heel but NOT all the way to the floor.
Flats are a little more forgiving, as it’s more difficult to find the perfect long enough but not dragging on the ground length. But with a heel, if the pant is the wrong length, it’s way more obvious and looks sloppy.
If you’re going to wear a fab heel, you might as well wear pants that are the proper length to go with them. It’s a little detail that will make your outfit look much more streamlined.
The impossibly high heel pictured above is the Mylie pump from Gabriella Rocha available from Zappos.
6' tall. 36" inseam. My pants are never, ever long enough.
Posted by: ladyloo | November 03, 2009 at 02:47 PM
I'm only 5'8" and I have a hard time finding pants that are long enough. Couple that with being a size 18, and sometimes I am just happy to find pants that don't have an elastic waist band.
Bianca
Posted by: zaftigchicks.wordpress.com | November 03, 2009 at 03:07 PM
am I the only one who always gets her pants caught on my heels when I do this? I try to get them to go all the way down to the top of my shoe, but after that, I just trip on them
Posted by: kb | November 03, 2009 at 03:29 PM
It is so bizarre that you are writing this because today I was people watching and thinking how short everyone's (men too) pants are. @Ladyloo - I'm 5'11 and a size 18/20 and my pants are dragging the ground, but I understand your dilemma.
Posted by: C | November 03, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Man, I don't even bother with heels unless I'm wearing a skirt. My aim in heels is for everyone to see that I am wearing heels, and have bigger leg muscles than 90% of the population. Heels + pants = pointless.
And yet it looks SO AWESOME when someone else does it. Just one of those things I guess.
Posted by: anna | November 03, 2009 at 05:43 PM
I prefer pants to be 1/4-1/2" from the ground on me. At 5'4" I'm right in between petite (too short) and regular (too long) sizes. I know I'm lucky that I can get pants hemmed, but it's still a pain - and adds more money to what I've already spent. Not great for a student...
Posted by: Meems | November 03, 2009 at 05:57 PM
Does this mean that one needs pants that are only worn with heels and then other pants that are only worn with flats?
Posted by: hsofia | November 04, 2009 at 12:00 AM
hsofia: yep. Consider it an investment.
Posted by: lnz | November 05, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I love the patent purple heels! I want a pair now!
I've heard about the hem length for heels before, but it's always good to have a reminder. Thanks!
Posted by: GeekGirl | November 05, 2009 at 01:48 AM
Great Tip on hemlines and heels. I happen to be a big fan of Gabriella Rocha. This designer caters to those us with with plus-size, long, large-size, whatever you want to call it, feet. This particular shoe is available in sizes 10, 11 and 12. Readers of Your Feet Make You Unique loves this shoe designer too. Check out Your Feet Make You Unique, if you're looking for really cute large-size shoes in sizes 10 and up.
Posted by: Andrea | November 09, 2009 at 10:02 PM
I am a freak for having my pants the perfect length with a pair of heels. It drives me crazy when I see people wearing their pants to short with a pair of heels! I call it the high water ankle pant look! Ugh!
Posted by: sclingerie | January 04, 2010 at 02:08 PM