Denim with wide legs has been having a major moment for the past couple of years. And this fall, the cuff has emerged as the way to finish the look. Bringing even more emphasis down to your ankles, the message you send the world with wide, boldly cuffed jeans is simple: I stand firm.
Cuffs have a practical backstory
Cuffs actually started for practical reasons way back in the early days of denim. Early denim began in North America and served as daily workwear for people who did physical labour. Jeans were made and sold with long inseams so they could fit men of varying heights and leg lengths.
Men didn't shorten their jeans right away. Denim wasn't pre-washed before it was used, so jeans tended to shrink up in length after the first few washings. Rather than hem them right away and risk making them too short, men simply rolled their jeans to the right length. This made cuffs easy, economical and adaptable.
Cowboys made their mark in denim history
For cowboys, cuffs helped extend the life of a piece of important clothing. Herding cattle sometimes meant riding or walking through mud, dust, or wet grass, so rolling up their jeans kept their hems from fraying and soaking up dirt. That meant they didn't have to wash them as often, which made them last longer.
So cuffs weren't always a style choice. They were more about durability and practicality. We resonate! And we're definitely inspired to avoid salt-stained hems this winter.
Jeans went from functional to fashionable
In the 1940s and ’50s, cuffed jeans walked out of the workplace and into the world of street style. North American teenagers adopted denim as a symbol of independence, and cuffing jeans became a small but powerful way to personalize a mass-produced garment.
James Dean was the poster boy
No one made cuffed jeans look cooler than James Dean. In Rebel Without a Cause (1955), he paired his rolled-up Lee jeans with a plain white T-shirt and a red jacket. It was a look that became shorthand for youthful defiance. After Dean, cuffs weren’t just practical anymore. They carried a symbolic meaning that suggested rebellion and individuality.
How to make the trend your own
The best thing about cuffs? They’re infinitely adaptable, no matter your body shape, age, or personal style. Here are a few ways to keep your cuffs feeling true to who you are:
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Balance proportions. If your jeans have really wide legs, go for a bigger cuff to balance the volume. With straight or slim legs, one neat single roll goes a long way.
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Consider your height. Are you taller? Go bold with cuffs of three or four inches. If you're petite, a one or two-inch roll keeps your legs looking long.
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Age is irrelevant. Cuffs can work at any stage of life. It’s less about age and more about assimilating cuffs into your existing style. Pair them with sneakers for casual energy, ballet flats for pretty polish, or chunky boots for a bit of edge.
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Show off your ankles. Let your cuffs draw attention to this alluring area by adding patterned socks or revealing a little flash of skin.
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Keep it effortless. Don’t fuss over perfect folds. A little slouch or asymmetry makes cuffs look lived-in and personal.
- Hack your hems: If you're really going big, don't be afraid to apply an inch of doubled-sided fashion tape between cuff and pant leg for all-day hold.
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