How to Tell If a Pair of Skinny Pants Is Designed for Women or Men?

How to Tell If a Pair of Skinny Pants Is Designed for Women or Men?

Summary

Discover key features to identify whether skinny pants are designed for women or men. Make informed fashion choices with our expert guide!

When you’re shopping for skinny pants—whether online or in a crowded boutique—it’s easy to get tripped up by the sea of similar cuts, washes, and finishes. You might pick up a pair that looks perfect on the hanger, only to realize later it feels off: the rise sits too low, the pockets gape strangely, or the waistband pinches in the wrong spot. Is it a mis-cut? A sizing fluke? Or did you accidentally grab a pair intended for the opposite gender?
You can tell if skinny pants are women’s or men’s by checking the waist-to-hip ratio, rise, and waistband shaping, the direction of the zipper and button closure, pocket size and placement, and styling cues such as labels and embellishments. Women’s skinny pants typically have a higher rise and curve-hugging hips, smaller functional pockets, and left-over-right buttoning, while men’s styles favor a straighter cut, deeper pockets, right-over-left buttons, and a lower rise.