How to Cuff Jeans - The 5 Best Styles for Cuffing Jeans

how to cuff jeans

 

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 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. 

man wearing white Dress shirt with jeans

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 

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

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:

Single Cuff

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:

Double Cuff Jean Tuck

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

Skinny 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 jeans. 

Step 1:

Thin Cuff

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:

Skinny Cuff

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

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.

Step 1:

Pinwheel Cuff 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:

Pinwheel Cuff Step 2

Fold the material tight against your leg, creating a diagonal line of extra material.

Step 3:

Pinwheel Cuff Step 3

Fold the now tight hemline up, making sure to even out and clean the cuff line between each fold. 

Step 4:

Pinwheel Cuff

Repeat the cuff once more until you have a clean tucked pinwheel cuff. 


5. The Wide/High Cuff

Wide 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 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 Pants 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 pants 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 how to cuff your jeans

How to cuff jeans correctly?

To cuff jeans correctly, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the Right Length: Start with jeans that are slightly longer than your ideal length to allow for the cuff.
  2. Turn Up the Hem: Fold the bottom of the jeans up about 1 to 2 inches to create your first cuff. Make sure the fold is even all around.
  3. Adjust the Width: Depending on your preference, you can roll the cuff once more for a narrower look or leave it at the single fold for a wider cuff.
  4. Smooth the Fold: Ensure that the cuff lies flat and smooth against your leg. Adjust as needed to avoid bunching or unevenness.

How to do a Japanese cuff?

A Japanese cuff, also known as a "double cuff," is a stylish and neat way to cuff your jeans. Here’s how to achieve it:

  1. Start with a Single Fold: Begin by folding the hem of your jeans up about 1 to 2 inches, as you would for a regular cuff.
  2. Fold Again: Fold the newly created cuff over once more, ensuring that the edge of the second fold is even with or slightly above the original hem. This creates a double-layered look.
  3. Adjust the Width: The width of the cuff can vary based on personal preference; a narrower cuff will give a cleaner look, while a wider one adds more emphasis.
  4. Smooth and Secure: Make sure the double cuff is smooth and even all around. This style works best with slightly tapered jeans or chinos.

Are cuffed jeans still in style in 2024?

Yes, cuffed jeans remain in style in 2024. They continue to be a popular choice for adding a casual, stylish touch to both denim and chinos. The cuffed look offers versatility, as it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Current trends embrace various cuff styles, from subtle single cuffs to more pronounced double cuffs, making them a fashionable choice for modern wardrobes.

How do you cuff jeans without showing?

To cuff jeans without showing the cuff, follow these tips:

  1. Use a Hidden Cuff: Fold the hem of the jeans inside, so the cuff is not visible. This technique works well if your jeans are slightly long but still want to maintain a clean look without the cuff showing.
  2. Roll Tightly: Roll the jeans in such a way that the cuff is tight and close to the leg. This can help the cuff stay hidden inside the jeans.
  3. Choose a Seamless Fold: Make sure the fold is clean and smooth, with no visible lines or creases, which helps keep the cuff discreet.
  4. Wear with Tall Boots: When wearing jeans with boots, the cuff can be hidden inside the boots, providing a sleek, streamlined appearance.

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