Guides
How to check a cropped trouser inseam before you order
Cropped trousers are sized by inseam, not by the word 'cropped'. This guide explains what 17 and 23 inches actually look like on a body, and how to compare them against a pair you already own.
Why the word cropped is not a measurement
Two pairs of trousers can both be called cropped and still finish a hand's width apart. The difference is the inseam: the distance from the crotch seam to the hem, measured along the inside of the leg.
The Giselle Outlet range carries two cropped cuts. The cotton-linen capri finishes at a 17 inch inseam, which lands just above the ankle on most people. The wide-leg cropped trouser runs to 23 inches, which lands around mid-calf.
What a 17 inch inseam looks like
A 17 inch inseam reads as a slightly shortened ankle trouser rather than a true crop. On a 5 foot 6 inch frame it usually sits a couple of inches above the ankle bone, which is why it works with sandals and low trainers without showing the whole calf.
The capri is cut loose through the leg and fitted with a high elasticated drawstring waist, so the drape is relaxed rather than tapered. If you normally wear a regular length and want a little ankle showing, this is the safer of the two.
What a 23 inch inseam looks like
At 23 inches, the hem drops to mid-calf. That is a deliberate cropped look and changes the proportion of the outfit, especially with a loose wide leg and a high waist.
The wide-leg cut also uses a 100% cotton woven cloth with a non-see-through finish. It suits fuller legs and curvy figures because it falls straight from the hip instead of clinging at the knee.
Measuring against a pair you already own
This takes about a minute and removes most of the guesswork. The same method works for any trouser you already own, not just ours.
- Lay a pair that fits you flat, on a table rather than on your body.
- Measure from the crotch seam straight down to the hem, keeping the tape parallel to the leg.
- Compare that number with 17 inches and 23 inches rather than guessing from photos.
- If your measurement lands between the two, decide by where you want the hem to sit, not by the label.
When to size for the waist instead
The capri and the wide-leg both have elasticated waists with an adjustable drawstring, so the waist is more forgiving than the length. That means the hip measurement matters more than the letter size when you are between two options.
For the fitted waist to sit properly, the hips need to clear the widest part of the trouser. If your hips measure larger than the labelled range, take the next size up and tighten the drawstring rather than sizing down.
Still unsure? Ask before you order
Send your usual size, your height and the inseam of a pair you already like to [email protected], and we will tell you which of the two cuts is the closer match.
It is quicker to check before the order ships than to arrange a return afterwards, and the answer comes from the same measurements printed on the product page.