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Written by Jennifer Cheng
Introduction to Cuffing Jeans
Jeans have come a long way from its controversial beginnings in the South, as now it can be used in both a professional and casual setting. But as it developed different styles, we also needed to learn a new way to improve the fit of our jeans, besides tailoring, and so people turned to cuffing.
Why do we need to learn about cuffing jeans? Because it not only adds multiple new styles for the same pair of pants, but it also cleans up the hem line for everything ranging from wide leg jeans to the tightest skinny jeans.
It’s not only something for women with sneakers or women with boots to consider and learn, but something both men and women need to know. It’s an easy way to style a casual outfit for men, and a great way to clean up pant lines for women.
Cuffed jeans are a simple question with many answers, all fulfilling the same purpose of cleaning up your style and increasing the versatility of your jeans. In this article, we’ll show you the five best ways to cuff jeans for all sorts of styles.
Which Cuffed Jeans Style to Choose From?
Fortunately, there’s many many ways to cuff jeans for women and for men. It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve. For example, cuffing jeans for women with sneakers will be very different from how to cuff jeans for boots.
Because the difference in footwear determines the style of the whole outfit, you’ll need a different cuff to ensure that the jeans match. It also depends on if you’re trying to show off a little bit of skin or just to shorten the jeans a bit for a cleaner hem.
The best thing is, it’s easy to learn all the styles once you’ve mastered one and it’s simple enough to try all different cuffs to see which works best for which pair of jeans.
Naturally, a pair of cuffed jeans goes well with not only the casual t-shirt, but also pairs perfectly with a white dress shirt to add a bit of professionalism in a business casual setting.
Top 5 Best Ways to Cuff Your Jeans
If you’re still wondering about cuffed jeans, it’s both simple and easy to learn. We’ve identified the 5 best and most versatile ways to cuff your jeans below from the single cuff style to the double cuff.
Naturally, all the styles listed below can be used for multiple outfits, as how to cuff jeans for women will be the same as how to cuff jeans for men. The only difference would come through personal preference and different jean styles.
1. The Single Cuff
This is the most basic and the most versatile of all the cuffs out there. If you’re looking for the easiest and most simple way on how to cuff jeans, this will resolve most if not all of your questions.
Step 1:
Take the hem of your pants and fold upwards around one to two inches, showing the underside of the pants.
Step 2:
Flatten the new edge of the cuff and make sure it’s an even and sharp cuff all around.
2. The Double Cuff
The double cuff is very similar to the single cuff, but cleans up the hemline a bit more and can take a bit more length out of the pants. Once you learn how to cuff jeans with the single cuff, it only takes another step to easily achieve the double cuff.
Step 1:
Take the hem of your pants and fold upwards around one to two inches, showing the underside of the pants, or perform the single cuff.
Step 2:
Flatten the new edge of the cuff and make sure it’s an even and sharp cuff all around.
Step 3:
Take the hem that’s now pointing upwards and fold it back down towards the pants, tucking it into the cuff that has already been created and that's how you fold the double cuff.
3. The Skinny Roll Cuff
The skinny roll is a great way to work with thinner denims and works great with tighter jeans. It’s a great cuff to learn if you’re wondering how to cuff skinny jeans.
Step 1:
Take the hemmed seam and fold it up a tiny bit at a time to create a thin cuff.
Step 2:
Smooth out the thin cuff and fold it up again.
Step 3:
Repeat step 2 until you’ve reached the desired length. Don’t roll up too much to avoid bunching of the fabric at the ankles.
4. The Pinwheel Cuff
The pinwheel is a more complicated style than the previous cuffs, but it’s still a great style to add to your repertoire on how to cuff jeans.
Step 1:
Take around an inch of the hemline between your thumb and forefinger where the seams meet on your jeans and pull it tight against your ankle.
Step 2:
Fold the material tight against your leg, creating a diagonal line of extra material.
Step 3:
Fold the now tight hemline up, making sure to even out and clean the cuff line between each fold.
Step 4:
Repeat the cuff once more until you have a clean tucked pinwheel cuff.
5. The Wide/High Cuff
The wide or high cuff is also one of the easier cuffs to learn. It’s similar to the single cuff, but works for wide leg jeans.
Step 1:
Take the hem of your pants and fold upwards up to four inches, showing the underside of the pants.
Step 2:
That’s it! You can choose to smooth out the cuff line for a clean look or keep it rough and uneven for a rockabilly style.
How to Cuff Jeans for Women’s Style
While there’s multiple ways to cuff jeans out there, some cuffs work best for tight jeans and some work best for wide leg jeans. Naturally, it’s important to distinguish both to avoid creating a faux pas.
How to Cuff Wide Leg Jeans
Wide leg jeans are usually not cuffed especially if it’s a fit and flair, but if you have mom jeans or boyfriend jeans, it’s important to know how to cuff wide leg jeans. The best way to cuff them would be to use the single cuff or the wide cuff. This showcases an easy going style without seeming too messy. Just be sure to not cuff too much or it will make your legs look small.
How to Cuff Skinny Jeans
If you’re unsure on how to cuff jeans, many people choose to simply let the material bunch at the ankles. While that’s certainly one solution, it doesn’t look clean. The best way to figure out how to cuff skinny jeans is to know how much skin you want to show and how heavy the material is. Naturally, both the simple and double cuff works well, but the skinny roll and the pinwheel roll are made for tight jeans. This creates a clean tapered look on the legs while taking care of all the extra fabric.
How to Cuff Jeans for Boots
Learning how to cuff jeans for boots is important for both men and women. It’s common to wear jeans with ankle boots, but it’s also easy to bunch the jeans at the ankles if it's not a perfect fit. The wide cuff is perfect for boots. You should also stay away from tapered cuffs such as the pinwheel roll or the skinny roll.
How to Cuff Jeans for Sneakers
It’s easy to cuff jeans with sneakers, as it’s often so versatile that it looks great with most cuffs. The skinny roll and the pinwheel roll are perfect, as it compliments the slim and narrow profile of sneakers. Depending on the look you're going for, a double cuff could work as well.
Conclusion
It’s important for both women and men to learn how to cuff jeans. There’s just so many styles out there and once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s easy to move on and improve your style with more complicated cuffs.
These cuff styles like the double cuff avoids the expenses of tailoring pants but also creates a great clean fit for all jeans. Not only does it pair well with a casual shirt and sneakers, but a properly cuffed jean shows a lot of professionalism paired with oxfords and a slim fit white dress shirt.
Frequently asked questions about cuffed jeans
Is cuffing jeans in style 2023?
Fashion trends can change rapidly, and styles can vary depending on the region and personal preferences. Cuffing jeans remains a popular style and has functional use for those looking to roll jeans that are too long.
How do you roll jeans that are too long?
To roll jeans that are too long, follow these steps: First, put on the jeans and fold the excess fabric inside towards your ankle. Then, create a single fold at the desired length, making sure the cuff is even on both legs. Finally, roll the bottom of the jeans up one or two more times to secure the cuff in place.
Can you cuff straight leg jeans?
Yes, you can cuff straight leg jeans. Cuffing works well with various jean styles, including straight leg jeans, skinny jeans, and boyfriend jeans. It's a versatile way to add some flair to your outfit and adjust the length of the jeans.
How do you cuff jeans with rubber bands?
For cuffing jeans with rubber bands, first, fold the excess fabric inside towards your ankle to reach the desired length. Then, wrap a rubber band around the bottom of each leg to secure the cuff in place. Make sure the rubber bands are tight enough to hold the cuff but not too tight to cause discomfort. Then, pull the top of the cuff or the hem towards and over the rubber band.
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