Trouser length depending on your shoes
Short answer: With low shoes, pants should just touch the shoe. With boots they can be a touch longer, and with sandals shorter.
Why the shoe decides
Pants length is measured to the floor, but it is the shoe that determines how high the foot lifts the pants off the ground. A three centimeter heel needs three centimeters more fabric to hit the same spot on the shoe as a flat sole would.
The three common cases
For sneakers and low shoes, the hem should rest lightly on the shoe without folding. For boots it can sit a couple of centimeters longer, so it does not creep up as you walk. For sandals it should end above the ankle bone. See women's bamboo pants.
Why it makes a visible difference
Pants too long for low shoes bunch up around the ankle and wear out faster there, while pants too short for boots reveal a bare strip of leg, which breaks the whole line from hip to foot and shortens the leg visually.
Sweatpants are a different case
Pants with elastic at the bottom are chosen by how high you want the elastic to sit, usually just above the ankle bone regardless of shoe type. If they are too long, the fabric bunches and bulks around the ankle. See bamboo sweatpants for men.
If you have two shoe types, choose two lengths
If you wear both sneakers and boots daily, the easiest fix is to keep a pair of pants for each. A single length rarely suits both well, unless you are willing to compromise on one shoe type every time you wear it.
The season's influence on the choice
In summer with sandals and bare ankles, a shorter length is often more practical and airy. In winter with boots and thicker socks, the same pants can feel too short, because the boot shaft takes up more room than a low shoe does.
How to measure correctly at home
Put the pants on together with the shoe you use them with most, and stand naturally. Ask someone else to check the gap between the hem and the shoe edge if possible, since it is hard to judge precisely on your own while looking down.
Alteration if the length does not fit
If the pants are too long, a tailor can shorten them fairly cheaply without it showing. If they are too short, sadly there is only cuffing or another pair to fall back on, unless there is extra fabric hidden in a seam. See bamboo jogging suit for women.
Frequently asked questions
How much shorter for sandals
Two to three centimeters above the ankle bone, so the pants do not drag on the ground or catch under the shoe's strap. The adjustment is small but makes a clear visual difference in how clean the legs look.
Should the pants fold over the shoe
A light touch is enough for most purposes. A deep fold looks accidental and wears out the hem faster, especially on knitted material that does not tolerate repeated rubbing against the shoe's upper well.
Can you roll pants up instead
Yes on firm, woven fabric. On knitted pants the roll gets bulky and often falls down again over the course of the day, so it is more of a temporary fix than a lasting one.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
