Men's Flared & Bell-Bottom Pants

Where the leg starts to open is the whole difference, and it changes what the rest of the outfit has to do. A leg that widens early reads long and gradual; one that holds close through the thigh and then breaks below the knee puts all of its volume into the length that follows, so the same hem measurement can look calm or theatrical depending on how narrow the leg is above it. Keeping the top half close is what stops the line from going shapeless.

Rises range from low-slung to high-waisted, and the higher ones stretch the line further by lengthening the leg above the flare. Denim carries most of the range, rigid and stretch alike, alongside corduroy and suiting wool that hold their shape, and satin and jersey that swing instead. Inseams run long, since the cut is meant to be worn with some height under the heel, and hems finish with a slight kick or a raw, frayed edge.