Changing hemlines have long been a hallmark of women's fashion, but this summer, it's men's hems that are rising. Brooks Brothers has raised pant hems about half an inch in its top-of-the-line Golden
Fleece suits. J. Crew has been featuring models in rolled-up, ankle-baring chinos. Paul Stuart is producing suit trousers that touch the top of the shoe, rather than breaking slightly over the
shoe.
The wide adoption of the look reflects a new era in menswear. As the number of menswear lines and designers grows and younger men pay more attention to style, men's fashion trends
are changing more frequently. In recent years, for instance, menswear brands such as Michael Bastian, Band of Outsiders and Spurr have emphasized slimmer-fitting clothes and helped such items as
flat-front pants and skinny ties become significant new men's styles.
"Guys are the peacocks again," says Helen Job, director of content at fashion-consulting service WGSN. Style experts
trace men's rising hems back to 2004, when menswear designer Thom Browne's signature look of shrunken suit jacket and cropped, ankle-baring pants made its retail debut at Bergdorf Goodman.
advertisement
advertisement
Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal »