Depending on the fit of the pants, you’ll be able to give off a different impression that flatters your body type in various ways. Many people grab the first pair of pants that they see without thinking about the fit, but the fit is one of the most critical parts of how you'll look.
When choosing your pants, always start with the fit. You’ll need to choose between these two most popular fits for most occasions: classic fit vs straight fit. Which of these two will be the right one for you?
All About Classic Fit Pants
What are classic fit pants?
Sometimes known as regular fitting pants, Classic fit pants are the most common type of pants that people wear. These pants—as the name suggests—boast a very classic style that will never be out of popularity!
While some may prefer more modern fits, classic fit can be styled to suit any generation or type of event. Classic fit pants tend to have all of the following features:
- Sit at the waist
- Not too tight, not too loose
- Relaxed at the seat
- Tapers into a straight leg
- Comfortable enough to wear every single day
- Gives a nice formal look as chinos, khakis, and slacks
Remember, however, that every company will have its own take on this classic. While these features will generally describe any classic fit pants, there can be some exceptions to this because of brand specialties and differences.
Classic Fit Pants and Relaxed Fit Pants
Many people get classic fit pants confused with relaxed fit dress pants. While both have a lot of room in the waist and seat area, classic fits taper along your legs into a straight fit down through your ankle. Relaxed fit pants, on the other hand, do not taper like this and have a wider leg.
Relaxed fit pants tend to be more casual; classic fitting pants can be worn for a variety of occasions. The legs are straight, but there's still a lot of room for you to move around while you go about your day comfortably.
All About Straight Fit Pants
What are straight fit pants?
Straight fit pants have nearly the exact same leg as classic fitting pants. They're straight through the leg, so you have a slimming and clean look. The difference between these two pants lies in the seat!
While the seat on classic fit pants is quite relaxed, the seat on most straight fitting pants is going to be much more narrow and with less room. These pants are slim or tight-fitting, but they do shape more closely to your body than classic fit pants usually do.
Straight pants tend to have the following characteristics:
- Sits at or just below the waist
- Fitted around your hips, seat, and thighs
- Straight leg opening
Straight pants are often considered to be a slightly more modern version of the classic fit. While men used to prefer to have a lot of room in the seat, younger generations are moving more towards a fitted look throughout the hip area.
All in all, we can conclude that the straight fit adds in this need for a more fitted look while still giving you a very comfortable dress pants experience.
Classic Fit vs. Straight Fit Pants
Pants are one of the most varied yet versatile pieces of clothing. From denim jeans to fancy dress pants, there are many different styles of pants that you can try out to find what you like the best for your body.
When choosing between the classic fit and straight fit, keep the following key points in mind:
Remember Brand Differences
You must remember that all dress pants brands will have their own exaction variation of every pant fit. We have briefly mentioned this earlier.
Even though there are many characteristics that tend to be the same no matter which popular pants brands you look at, there are bound to be some significant differences between each pant fit that you might not expect.
When choosing pant styles, start with an idea of which fits you tend to like. Then, try on a few pairs of each fit from the preferred brand that you're shopping for. You’ll quickly realize which fits you want and which you don't from that brand’s offerings. Narrowing down your choices this way will save you both time and frustration!
Fit for the Right Occasion
If you're choosing a pair of pants for a specific occasion, you’ll want to consider how formal the event is, what type of material will best match the formality, and what color you want to wear.
If you’re comparing classic and straight fit options, you can often consider these two fits to be interchangeable! There are older generations who believe that classic fits are always more appropriate, but we know that the straight fit is just a slightly more fitted version of the classic.
In no way does the straight fit scream casual, though. Instead, it can be dressed up just like the classic fit can be to achieve a great formal look appropriate for any occasion. Both of these fits are good for all of the following circumstances:
- Casual day out
- Dates
- Office workwear
- Business meeting
- Formal events
- Weddings
The key to making either of these fits work is to dress the entire look in the right way with the right fabrics and color schemes. As long as you're careful about those factors, you can use either classic or straight fit pants to complete your look.
Conclusion
Now that you know what differences exist when comparing classic fit vs. straight fit pants, you probably have realized that both of these pant fits can be used for nearly any occasion. Ultimately, the choice about which fit of dress pants to wear is up to you.
We like to recommend that you choose the fit that flatters you more. Because they have similar leg shapes, the pants don’t make much of a difference in the legs, but some people will find that the narrow hip fit of the straight fit is going to make them look more in shape than the looser classic fit.
Regardless of what you choose, know that both pant styles are considered timeless and attractive choices!
Last Updated on December 19, 2021 by admin_comfortabledressshoes